Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Symbol of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul USA.

Mission Statement: Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an international Catholic organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering tangible and spiritual support through prayer and person-to-person services to the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

As a reflection of the whole family of God, members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an International Society of Charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to basic Rule.

Organized locally, Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served, because in them Vincentians see the face of Christ.

Philosophy: “No work of charity is foreign to the Society.” “Need, not creed” determines who is helped, and how.

Services: The Society’s purposes are to offer tangible assistance to those in need, and to offer spiritual services through prayer and person-to person contact, which makes the Society unique in its role as a charitable organization. A key strength of the Society is in the personalized delivery of help. This aid may take the form of intervention, advocacy, consultation, or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. An essential precept of the Vincentian work is to provide help while scrupulously maintaining the privacy and dignity of those that are served. The Society, at the same time, recognizes that it must assume a role of advocacy for those who are defenseless or unable to speak for themselves.

Membership: In addition to the Council Officers/Staff that are part of any organized structure, the Conferences have three types of members, which include 60,000 volunteer lay Catholics: men, women, and youth.

1. Active members, regular participants in all Conference activities.

2. Associate or auxiliary members, who assist with specific tasks when called upon. (They may include lawyers, repair technicians and others with special skills.)

3. Benefactors, who support the work of the Conference with regular contributions and individual gifts for specific needs.

For information on the St. Vincent de Paul Society:
http://www.svdpusa.org

For information on the SVDP Rhode Island Council:
http://www.svdpri.org

For information on the SVDP Friends of the Poor Walk:
http://www.svdpfriendsofthepoor.org

For the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store in Providence, RI call
401-941-8076.