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Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Who We Are and What We Do

2“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”

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

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Mission Statement

• Prayer and Reflection• Mutually Supportive Gathering• The Society leads women and

men to join together to grow spiritually

• Inspired by Gospel Values• Poverty, Humility, and Sharing• Adherence to “The Rule”

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Origins of the Society

• Blessed Frederic Ozanam,

• Our Primary Founder

St. Vincent de Paul,Our Patron

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• Primary

Purpose Of The Society

Serve Those In Need And Bring Them Closer To God

Secondary

We continually seek to combine these two aims.

SpiritualGrowth Of Its

Members

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• To Address All The Needs, Trials And Tribulations Of Human Life, Both Corporal And Spiritual

Scope Of The Society

“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”

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Essential Elements Of The Society

Spirituality

Friendship Service

To bear witness to Christ and to His Church by showing that the faith Of Christians inspires them to work for the good of humanity

To draw nearer to the Divine Model by fulfilling His essential precept-- The Love Of God In The Person Of Others

To establish personal contact between its members and those who suffer, to bring charitable aid, and to promote self-sufficiency

* Based on the Original Manual Of SVDP - 1845

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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 Jesus is a lifelong process

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Vincentian Virtues• Simplicity

− Frankness− Integrity− Genuineness

GentlenessFriendly Assurance and

Invincible Goodwill, Which Means Kindness, Sweetness, and Patience in Our Relationship with Others

HumilityAccepting the Truth of Our

Frailties, Gifts, Talents, and Charism Knowing that All that God Gives Us is for Others and that We Achieve Nothing of Eternal Value Without His GraceSelflessness

Dying to Our Ego with a Life of Self-Sacrifice

Members Share Their Time, Their Possessions, Their Talents and Themselves in a Spirit of Generosity

ZealA Passion for the Full Flourishing and

Eternal Happiness of Every Person

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“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”

The Core Work Of The SocietyIt Always Starts With A Home Visit

Disaster Relief

Thrift Stores

Twinning

Immediate Needs$$$

Evangelization

Eldercare

Food Pantries

Advocacy

NetworkingChurches & Agencies

Prison Ministry

Housing

Immigration Services

Home Visit

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“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”

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