Today is the Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, the 17th century French priest renowned for his generosity in serving the poorest in society. Happy feast day!
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, named in his honor, is a Catholic lay organization founded in 1833 by Blessed Antoine Frédéric Ozanam and five other university students at the Sorbonne in Paris. Today there are over 800,000 “Vincentians” throughout the World including over 4,500 local conferences across the United States.
The President of the Diocesan Council of Lansing of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Joseph Tomczyk, now explains a bit more about the history of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and it’s daily work of mercy carried out for the love of Christ across the 10-counties that make up the Diocese of Lansing. Joseph says:
In 1833, after the French Revolution young Frédéric Ozanam and five other students at the Sorbonne were challenged by other students who believed the Church was unnecessary. The challengers believed that modern, scientific methods should address society’s problems. “What is the Church doing today?”
In response Blessed Frédéric and his companions met and formed the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (originally the “Conference of Charity”). In Blessed Frédéric’s words: “We must do what is agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the gospel. Let us go to the poor!”
Under the tutelage of Emmanuel Bailly, a faithful lay Catholic newspaper publisher, and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Daughter of Charity (founded by Saint Vincent de Paul) these college students served the poor. They adopted the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Vincent de Paul.
Today, the Society is in over 150 countries, with 800,000 Vincentians and 1,500,000 volunteers. Every day, it helps over 30 million people.
See the Face of Christ in those we serve; Be the Face of Christ to them. This is the goal of the Society’s Vincentians (members) as we engage in our ministry.
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is a Catholic Lay Organization. In imitation of our Patron, Saint Vincent de Paul, we offer person-to-person service to our Neighbors in need. In the Diocese of Lansing, the Society’s 700+ Vincentians serve in 30 parishes/oratories.
Life can be tough; Vincentians offer help and hope to our struggling Neighbors. For some it is a one-time need. For others, the assistance is ongoing. We assist with housing, food, transportation, utilities, and medical expenses, along with other needs: “No work of charity is foreign to the Society” (Our Rule §1.3). Last year we touched the lives of over 50,000 Neighbors in the Diocese. In addition to providing material assistance, we are there to listen, to support, and to encourage.
Vincentians seek to grow in holiness through friendship and service. Heeding Christ’s admonishment, “…whatever you did for one of the least of those brethren of mine, you did unto me” (Matthew 25:40, New Catholic Bible, St. Joseph Edition,), the Society welcomes anyone to join and serve with us. We are often blessed to see the Face of Christ.
* Want to know more about the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul within the Diocese of Lansing? Click here: https://stvincentdepaullansing.org/