You a Vincentian

Your Parish Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul invites you to join it in works of charity:

• Quietly, discreetly aiding needy families.
• Personal visits to homes, hospitals, and institutions.
• Seeking and serving the distressed.
• Growing spiritually through a gift of self to others.

The purpose of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to fulfill the two great Commandments - love of God and love of neighbor. We seek out God's needy, both materially and spiritually, and help where we can. No need is too great or too small. Sometimes great resources are needed - we have them - sometimes we can do no more than listen and comfort - we are very good at it.

In coming closer to the needy, you are coming closer to God!

Outside the Society itself, no one knows which families are being aided, or what material and spiritual help has been provided. Vincentians are doctors, office workers, lawyers, factory workers, housewives, students, and retirees - people JUST like you. Your next door neighbor could very well be a Vincentian and you would never know it. We like it that way - it protects the needy and makes our work more effective.

Vincentians are not professionally trained social workers. The important thing is the desire to serve as Jesus served. All of us have a great deal of expertise in various areas and by working together we can move mountains. Many Vincentians have raised families, run a household, built buildings, repaired autos or done just what you do so very well. The needy have need of your talents, your know-how, your concern, and your love. Anyone who's willing to lend a hand is welcome to join the Society. Even a few hours of your time are very precious to the needy and the distressed. You can be an apostle right in your own parish.

The Society is formed into parish conferences consisting of 2 to 20 persons. They meet weekly, pray together and discuss current cases being handled. All calls are made in pairs to avoid scandal and to help the recipients feel more at ease. Wherever there is a need the Vincentians go two-by-two and do what they can to ease the suffering of their fellow human beings.

Conferences work with and through the pastor and the parish council. Every parish has some people in need either spiritually or materially. Lay people, in many instances, are better able to reach these people than a priest. The Society is not just an "emergency food order giver" - Vincentians are also concerned with the needs of the aged, lonely, handicapped, permanently sick or housebound and of persons in convalescent nursing homes and hospitals.

Persons to be aided are to be met "on an equal basis," at their level, never looked down on and always with the thought that they are our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. When making calls, Vincentians determine first the immediate needs, which frequently are food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. Material assistance is given on an emergency basis. In subsequent follow-up calls, Vincentians attempt to eliminate the underlying causes of the distress. In this area, they are able to call on a vast number of people who are able to open doors in the medical, legal and business Fields. WE GET PROBLEMS SOLVED! Follow-up visits continue as long as the needs are present.

The Society was born in 1833 in Paris, France - its founder was a layman, Frederic Ozanam. By 1845, the first conference in the United States was formed in St. Louis.

Financing of a conference is seldom a problem. Proceeds from poor boxes plus support by honorary members and special collections are the usual methods of support. In cases where no other funds are available, the Council can be requested to provide help.

There are no dues charged to members, although conferences are encouraged to take up a secret collection at each meeting so members can give of their own goods as well as their time (many times the secret collections are sent to needy conferences around the world; this is called "twinning").

In conclusion, may we say that Christ has just knocked at your door!