The Society of St. Vincent de Paul welcomes anyone who believes they have the grace of desiring to devote some of their time and energy to following Jesus' command to all of us to help the poor and the needy around us.
The purpose of being a Vincentian is to grow in holiness by serving the poor. We believe that being a member of the Society helps us to obey Jesus' command to us.
Being a Vincentian is a religious activity. You grow in holiness by your work in helping the needy. It is your own personal journey and the purpose of being a Vincentian is for you and your fellow Vincentians to help each other on that journey.
Becoming a Vincentian is easy. Just contact an active Vincentian in your parish, or if your parish is not affiliated with a conference, just contact the District Council of Huntsville for the name of the conference closest to you.
Over a period of several weeks, you will be exposed to the activities that Vincentians do to help the needy. (What We Do). After this, if you find that you wish to go ahead and become a Vincentian, you will be accepted as a formal member into the Society. Most members feel that being a Vincentian is one of the most important and fulfilling things in their lives.
As a Vincentian, you will find yourself doing various works that help those who are in need. The major activity is visiting the poor in their homes so that you can help them on a personal level. Other activities may include delivering food baskets to the needy, serving meals for the homeless, keeping a food pantry stocked and orderly, or visiting someone who is homebound or in a nursing home. There are numerous charitable activities that one can do.
Of all the activities that Vincentians do, you will be encouraged to do those works that you feel comfortable doing and enjoy doing. You will not be asked to do anything that you do not like to do.
For more information of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, visit our national website www.svdpusa.org
But he said to him: What is written in the law? how readest thou? He answering, said: Thou shall love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said to him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shall live. But he willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead.
And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by. But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him; and seeing him, was moved with compassion. And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two pence, and gave to the host, and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever thou shall spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay thee
Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbor to him that fell among the robbers? But he said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do thou in like manner.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 18:19-20
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