Mission Statement
Inspired by Gospel Values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Fredéric 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 gathering and adherence to a 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 fact of Christ
Description
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) is an international organization, committed to serving the needs of the poor and to providing an opportunity for others to serve. Founded by Frédéric Ozanam and a handful of university students in France in 1833, the Society main objective remains to assist the homeless and working poor individuals through person-to-person visits by Vincentians (volunteer members of the Society). Services are provided without regard to race, origin, religion or gender.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) is the largest lay volunteer charity organization in the world, currently operating in 142 countries, with a membership of more than 650,000. There are over 116,000 active and supporting members in the U.S.in over 4,200 local communities. In 2010, the United States Councils of SVdP served more than 14 million people nationally. SVdP services include: person-to-person in-home visitation; assistance with food, shelter, utilities, rent; visitations and assistance with the elderly, sick and disabled; visitation with the institutionalized and incarcerated, job education/training/coaching, special services through its thrift stores, food pantries, feeding kitchens, housing and shelters, and disaster relief.
