Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
| Founder(s) | Frederic Ozanam |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1833 |
| Area served | 132 Countries |
| Focus | Relief of poverty and spiritual growth of its members |
| Website | http://www.ssvpglobal.org/ |
The Society of St Vincent de Paul is an international Roman Catholic voluntary organization dedicated to tackling poverty and disadvantage by providing direct practical assistance to anyone in need; addressing social and material needs in all its many forms.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
| The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 to serve impoverished people living in the slums of Paris, France. The primary figure behind the society's founding was Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, a French lawyer, author, and professor in the Sorbonne. He was 20 years old when the society was founded.,[2] and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
The Society took Saint Vincent de Paul as its patron under the influence of Sister Rosalie Rendu, D.C. Sister Rosalie (who was herself beatified in November 2003 by Pope John Paul II) was a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, and was well known for her work with people in the slums of Paris. She guided Frédéric and his companions in their approach towards those in need. The society gradually expanded outside Paris in the mid 19th century and received benefactors in places such as Tours where figures such as the Venerable Leo Dupont, known as the Holy Man of Tours, became contributors.[3] The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is part of the Vincentian Family which also includes the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian priests and brothers, also founded by St. Vincent de Paul), Daughters of Charity, Ladies of Charity (organization of lay women who help the poor, founded by St. Vincent de Paul), Sisters of Charity in the Setonian tradition, and several others, including some religious groups who are part of the Anglican Communion, like Company of Mission Priests. |
[edit] Today
The Society numbers about 700,000 in some 142 countries worldwide, whose members operate through "conferences". A conference may be based out of a church, community center, school, hospital, etc., and is composed of Catholic volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to help those in need in their community. Non-Catholics may join with the understanding that the society is a Catholic organization.
[edit] United States
The Society’s first Conference in the United States was established in 1845 in St. Louis, Mo. Membership in the United States totals more than 172,000 in 4,600 communities. The national headquarters is in St. Louis. Programs include home visits, housing assistance, disaster relief, job training and placement, food pantries, dining halls, clothing, transportation and utility costs, care for the elderly and medicine. The Society in the United States provides more than $595 million in tangible and in-kind services, serves more than 14 million people in need each year, performs more than 648,000 visits to people in their homes, and delivers more than 7 million service hours to those in need.
[edit] United Kingdom
[edit] Youth SVP
Youth SVP (England and Wales) has involved over 10,000 young members since its founding 1999. Further to the success of Youth SVP, a new project, SVP 1833, has been started with the aim of involving younger adults. The target age group is 18-33.
[edit] Australia
In Australia, the society has engaged over 40,000 members and has many more volunteers. 'Vinnies Youth', the youth membership of the Society in Australia, engage young people from the age of 10 to 30 in the society's many works throughout the country.
[edit] India
St Vincent De Paul Society is very active in the Southern part of India especialy in Kerala Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is playing an important role in St Vincent De Paul Society works. The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 4.1 million believers.[4] It is also the second largest Eastern Catholic Church in communion with the Bishop of Rome.[5]
[edit] CEO Winter Sleepout
The aim of the CEO Sleepout is to raise awareness of the plight of the homeless.[6]
Starting out as a local community venture in Sydney’s Parramatta in 2006, the CEO Sleepout launched nation wide in 2011, exceeding expectations with almost 700 CEO’s participating.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Encyclopedia Americana, Volume 25, 1951 page 206
- ^ Herbert Hewitt Stroup, 1985 Social welfare pioneers Roman and Littlefield ISBN 0882292129 page 185
- ^ Joan Carroll Cruz, OCDS, "Saintly Men of Modern Times" (2003) ISBN 1931709777 page 195
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedOfficial_Website; see Help:Cite errors/Cite error references no text - ^ Annuario Pontificio- The Pontifical year Book for 2008
- ^ Schenkel, Gerd (3 June 2011). "Could you sleep outside tonight?" (in Australian). Blog. http://exchange.telstra.com.au/2011/06/03/could-you-sleep-outside-tonight/. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
[edit] External links
- SSVP Web site
- SSVP Canada
- SVP - Ireland
- Youth SVP (England & Wales)
- SVP - England & Wales
- St. Vincent de Paul, Los Angeles
- St. Vincent de Paul, Alameda County
- St. Vincent de Paul, Phoenix
- St. Vincent de Paul, Chicago
- St. Vincent de Paul, Milwaukee
- St Vincent de Paul Society Australia
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul United States
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore, Maryland
"Society of Saint Vincent de Paul". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. 1913.- Watch on YouTube
