OLPH Ministry/ Organization Spotlight Name St. Vincent de Paul Society

OLPH Ministry/Organization Spotlight

Name: St Vincent de Paul Society 
Who are we?

Founded in 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a worldwide organization of lay Catholics, following Christ’s call to serve the poor, the suffering, and the deprived.

Our founding activity, still practiced today, is the Home Visit. (Covid has changed this temporarily) Through these visits, Vincentian members establish personal relationships with our neighbors in need, not only providing material assistance such as rent, utilities, food, or clothing, but also offering friendship, understanding, and prayer.

Our organization consists of local Conferences and Councils, which are supported and represented among the global Society’s membership by The National Council of the United States, and through today, the National Council provides resources, training, and spiritual formation for nearly 100,000 Vincentians in 5,000 Conferences and Councils across the country.

Because “no work of charity is foreign to the Society,” Vincentians respond to many community and individual needs through programs such as disaster relief services, job training & placement, thrift stores, food pantries, housing programs, prison reentry, medical services, and many others, always seeking longer-term pathways out of poverty and towards the full flourishing of every person.

What we do for the Parish & Community?
Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity & justice.The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its cause, making no distinction in those served, because in them Vincentians see the face of Christ. Locally we attend to all the families that call for financial help, provide food for the needy & give out food baskets at Christmas.  

Fellowship
Our local conference meets every other month locally. We belong to the Westbank District where we meet four times a year at different parishes on the Westbank. Our Conference will host the next District Meeting on March 3. We also meet annually with our archdiocesan council which includes the Orleans, St. Tammany and Metairie and Westbank Districts.  
Commitment

Membership is divided into two roles: Regular members participate in outreach events described in the spotlight; whereas associate members like many do so already commit to year-round support of our local conference giving monetary and food donations using the collection boxes found at the entrance to the church.
How to Join For regular membership, call Laura Drewes 504-419-7477. I will invite you to join us at the next meeting under no obligation.   Come see what we do, and you decide if this is for you.  Our Conference welcomes everyone to become a Vincentian. Listen, is God calling you?