Our Ambassadors
Our volunteer Ambassadors are a group of 14 Vincentians based across the world, helping the FHA team spread the word about our work. Our ambassadors work in their communities and within existing Vincentian Family structures to encourage engagement and help those serving our homeless neighbours. As you can see below, our ambassadors represent the diversity of the Vincentian Family, with a range of ages, backgrounds, continents and branches. Many are engaged in homelessness ministry themselves. Want to get in contact with one of our ambassadors? Message us and we can link you up.
Luis Absel Camarena, Guatemala
I am a Vincentian missionary priest, a member of the Congregation of the Mission of the Central American Province, and of Panamanian nationality. I studied Philosophy and at the Seminary in Panama, and Theology at the Central American University José Simeón Cañas of El Salvador. While a student in El Salvador, I accompanied the VMY for six years at a national level. With the VMY of San Salvador, we started the accompaniment of street children. I was ordained a priest on August 21, 2004, in my hometown of Santiago de Veraguas, Panama. I have been a missionary in Guatemala, Panama and El Salvador. Since 2016, I offer my services as Provincial Councilor. Within the ministry that God has given me the opportunity to live, I have always tried to promote social work and commitment. Currently, in my parish we are supporting and promoting the “I was a stranger” Shelter and kitchen soup, an English academy, a water project for poor families (75 beneficiary families), solidarity scholarships for girls and boys from seven years of age and a parish pharmacy for people with few economic resources.
Ricardo Cruz Huamán, Peru
My name is Ricardo Cruz Huamán, I have been a Vincentian priest over 20 years ago. I am Peruvian by birth and a teacher by profession. In all this time I have dedicated myself to the various pastoral services where I have been sent. I have worked in the missions; I have been a trainer for over 5 years and for a decade I have been working on educational management in a school in northern Peru and on social work with the poorest. As part of my ongoing training I have done 2 masters, one in educational psychology in Peru and the other in Educational Management at the University of Santiago de Compostela in 2016. I have published a simple book for young people and Vincentian Family members called: Give me to drink from that water. A spiritual path for young people today through evangelization and service.
Ada Ferreira, Brazil
I am Brazilian and a graduate in psychology. I have extensive experience in hospital psychology in the public and private service, and in clinical, social and higher education teaching. I joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in March 1990 at the St Bernadette of Lourdes Conference, where I still participate. I am currently part of the National Council of the Vincentian Family. I participated in the International Collaboration Commission of the Vincentian Family, coordinated Zone 2 of South America (Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru) of the SSVP International General Council. I was also president of the National Council of Brazil. I have participated in national and international events, including giving talks. I consider myself a person enchanted by the Vincentian Charism. The testimony of Saint Vincent de Paul is my greatest inspiration for the mission.
Rodolph Haddad, Lebanon
I have been working with the Vincentian Family for 13 years, and I am a volunteer of the Missionary Group of Charity in Lebanon. For the last four years I was able to work with homeless people such as refugees, people living in the streets and families all over Lebanon with the Group. I am managing a program supporting 300 Syrian families in a refugee camp. The purpose of this project is to match the needs of the camp with available resources and ensuring sustainable goal. Therefore, we are doing a linking with different Vincentians groups to benefit from all available resources to meet our goals
Tendai Kusembedzera, Zimbabwe
I am a mother of three children, I live in Mutare, near the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where cyclone Idai left a devastating trail. I have been the national president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul since 2015. My second term will end in 2021. I joined the Society in 2006 and have had various responsibilities as a trainer and vice president. I am studying Project Management and Evaluation at the Catholic University of Mutare, and I am a qualified teacher of Home Economics in Secondary Education.
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Henri Matsinga, Rwanda
I am Father Henri Matsinga, CM. I was born in 1983 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In 2010 I finished my first cycle of Philosophy at the Great Seminary of Buhimba in Goma (DRC). From 2011 to 2016 I was in Ethiopia to spend a year in the novitiate and 4 theology courses at the Franciscan Institution of Addis Ababa, affiliated with the Pontifical Urban University of Rome. I graduated with a postgraduate degree in Theology. In 2017 I am ordained a Lazarist priest in Rwanda, one of the regions of the Province of Colombia. Since my ordination, I am chaplain to the Burma refugee camp of Mahama in Rwanda. I am also a Lazarist delegate of the Vincentian Family in Rwanda. I am a National Director of the Vincentian Marian Youth in Rwanda and Burundi too.
Justin Mumba, Zambia
I am Justin, father of three children and member of the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Zambia. I have 10 years experience working in NGOs as an administrator and developing and implementing projects, always guided by my passion to help others. I have also worked in communication, media relations and advocacy in various organizations, such as the National Council of the Catholic Laity, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Society of Friends of the Catholic Diocese of Monze.
Christiana Olachi Oronsaye, Nigeria
My name is Christiana Olachi Oronsaye. I am a legal practitioner with extensive experience in the private sector in Lagos, the city I was born and I live. I speak English, Yoruba and Ibo. I am the National President of AIC Nigeria, and in the past, I was financial secretary and regional president of AIC Lagos. I am a member of the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), the Confraternity of Christian Mothers (CCM), the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary Society and the Ladies of Charities (AIC). I was conferred with the honour of Worthy Daughter by the CWO of the Imo State on Mother’s Day in 2019.
Gina Paredes, Dominican Republic
I was born on November 27 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where I still live. I studied primary and secondary education at the Marillac Educational Center, run by the Daughters of Charity, Santo Domingo. I am trained in the areas of architecture, teaching enhancement, technical facilitation, social project management and senior management. I have worked in the public sector (administrative assistance and architecture) and in NGOs (facilitator, project management and executive coordination). As a Vincentian, I have been an active member of the VMY serving in different spaces nationally and internationally. I volunteered in the commission of the Vincentian Family Haiti Initiative and, currently, in the FHA. For five years I have participated, as a member of the Dominican Street Pastoral, ministering to people in living in the streets. I am a believer of the culture of the welcome and the care of our Common Home.
Michael Raposa, USA
I serve as the Chief Executive Officer of St. Vincent de Paul CARES – a comprehensive homeless services provider located on the edge of downtown St. Petersburg. Under my leadership, SVdP CARES has experienced 800% operational growth and 200% staff expansion. It manages the Veterans Administration Supportive Services for Veteran Families grant in surrounding Tampa Bay area. The program serves over 1,200 veteran families annually. SVdP CARES offers services for the entire homeless services continuum including day services, shelter, transitional and rapid re-housing, and permanent housing (with and without supportive services). Prior to joining SVDP, I spent 13 years working in neighborhood and community Services for the City of Sarasota and Hillsborough County. I also have worked full and part-time for the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg for 25 years. I was born in Massachusetts and have been living in Florida since 1987 after completing my undergraduate degree at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.
Álvaro Tamblay Godoy, Chile
I am Álvaro Tamblay Godoy, priest of the Congregation of the Mission of the Province of Chile since 2018. I studied Philosophy at the Pontifical Major Seminary of Santiago and Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. In addition, I have experience working with people living on the street and with addictions, and I am a facilitator for the National Drug and Alcohol Service of the Government of Chile. I have worked as a volunteer and teacher of the Laughter Therapy workshops for drug rehabilitation at the Esperanza Foundation, and I have collaborated with other NGOs fighting against poverty. I have been part of the Penitentiary Pastoral Care for young people and adults in the Archdiocese of La Serena. I am the Founder of the Vincentian Youth Service Network Foundation, National Chaplain of the Vincentian Colleges of the Daughters of Charity and National Director of the Vincentian Marian Youth. I am part of the International Commission of Vocational Culture in the CM summoned by the Superior General.
Tomy Varghese, India
My name Tomy Varghese, I am a professor of Economics in Bangalore, India, specialised in the are of Capital Markets. I have two published two books. I am also the National Secretary Vincentian Family in India and member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, where I have been Unit and Area Council President and Zonal coordinator.
Rosa Tere Vicedo, Spain
My name is Rosa Tere Vicedo Castello, Daughter of Charity since 1975. I live in Barcelona where I am Social Actions Advisor for Spain-East. I have been called to be ambassador by the other Spanish Social Action Advisors. In my vocational journey I have always served people in risk of exclusion, both minors and adults. Now, I work with people asking for International Protection, humanitarian aid and homeless people.
Frander Vindas Hernández, Costa Rica
I am Costa Rican; 25 years old and I am a psychology student. Since I was a child, I have been part of different ecclesial groups such as Missionary Childhood, and during my adolescence I served actively in Youth Ministry and as a confirmation catechist. In several conversations with Father Rolando CM, I talked with him about the possibility of learning more about the Vincentian Family, and he offered me the opportunity to join the Vincentian Vocational Pastoral Team (EPVV), made up of young lay people and who have the objective of making known the vocational culture from the Vincentian perspective. In 2015 I was appointed representative of the EPVV in the National Council of the Vincentian Family of Costa Rica and for 2017 I am serving as vice president in the same instance. In addition, I have been coordinator of the EPVV for two years. I am still actively participating in the Vincentian Vocational Pastoral Team and with the desire to continue working for the poorest.