1. Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Who We Are and What We Do
1

2. Who We Are and What We Do
• Catholic Lay Organization
• Organized Locally in Parishes
• Known as “Vincentians”
• Person to Person Service to Those Who
are In Need or Suffering
• No Distinction in Those Who are Served
• In Those They Serve, Vincentians See
the Face of Christ
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 2

3. Mission Statement
• Inspired by Gospel Values
• Poverty, Humility, and Sharing
• Adherence to “The Rule”
• Prayer and Reflection
• Mutually Supportive Gathering
• The Society leads women and men
to join together to grow spiritually
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 3

4. Origins of the Society
Blessed Frederic Ozanam, St. Vincent de Paul,
Our Primary Founder Our Patron
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 4

5. Purpose Of The Society
Spiritual
Primary Growth Of Its
Members
Secondary Serve Those In Need
And Bring Them Closer To God
We continually seek to combine these two aims.
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 5

6. Scope Of The Society
• To Address All The Needs, Trials And Tribulations Of
Human Life, Both Corporal And Spiritual
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 6

7. Essential Elements Of The Society
To bear witness to Christ
and to His Church by
Spirituality showing that the faith Of
Christians inspires them
to work for the good of
humanity
Friendship Service
To establish personal
To draw nearer to the contact between its
Divine Model by fulfilling members and those who
His essential precept-- suffer, to bring charitable
The Love Of God In The aid, and to promote self-
Person Of Others sufficiency
* Based on the Original Manual Of To The-Society”
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign SVDP 1845 7

8. Our Core Values
We believe...
• In the dignity of the human person
• In the identification of Jesus with the poor
• In the preferential option for the poor
• That poverty of spirit is the primary beatitude
• That prayer is essential: personal & communal
• In Charity and Justice as our primary concern
• In Humility: personal and corporate
• In Divine Providence
• In Friendship
• In Community
• In Simplicity
Jesus is the Evangelizer and
Servant of the poor
Growth in intimacy with Is Foreign To The lifelong process
“No Work of Charity Jesus is a Society” 8

9. Vincentian Virtues
Simplicity Humility
Accepting the Truth of Our
Frankness
Frailties, Gifts, Talents, and
Integrity Charism Knowing that All
Genuineness that God Gives Us is for
Others and that We Achieve
Nothing of Eternal Value
Selflessness Without His Grace
Dying to Our Ego
with a Life of Self- Gentleness
Sacrifice Friendly Assurance and
Members Share Invincible Goodwill,
Their Time, Their Which Means
Possessions, Their Kindness, Sweetness,
Talents and and Patience in Our
Themselves in a Relationship with
Spirit of Others
Generosity Zeal
A Passion for the Full Flourishing and
Eternal Happiness of Every Person
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 9

10. The Core Work Of The Society
It Always Starts With A Home Visit
Twinning
Disaster Relief Food Pantries
Networking
Thrift Stores
Churches & Agencies
Immediate Needs
$$$
Home Prison Ministry
Visit
Evangelization Housing
Advocacy Immigration Services
Eldercare
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 10

11. Summary
• Who We Are and What We Do
− Catholic lay organization
− Person to person service to those in need or suffering
• Purpose
− Spiritual growth of its members
− Serve those in need and bring them closer to God
• Essential Elements
− Spirituality, Friendship, Service
• Core Values
− Our beliefs are based on Jesus love of the poor
• Vincentian Virtues
− Simplicity, Humility, Selflessness, Gentleness, Zeal
• The Home Visit
− The central component of our work
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society” 11