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Western Regional Council The following is an example of a prayer for home
• Western Regional Council takes in Alberta,
visitation, taken from “The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Prayerbook,” published by the Council of Scotland. Society of
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North West
•
Territories and Nunavut.
The first two Western Conferences started O God, someone in this house needs me.
St. Vincent de Paul
in Manitoba in 1965 and 1980. I don’t know how I will be received,
• In 1982 the first Alberta Conference but I go as Your ambassador,
however unworthy and weak I am myself.
started in Calgary. Currently there are 18
Give me Your power to help in the best way St. Pius X Conference
Conferences in Calgary and other
possible,
Conferences in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge,
offering what is needed,
Coalhurst, Taber, Brooks, Black Diamond,
giving the proper advice,
Edmonton, Okotoks, Moranville, St. Albert, saying the right thing.
and Athabasca. I am Your servant
• Vincentians are actively working in these and the servant of anyone who needs me.
conferences serving and visiting I am weak - You can make me strong:
approximately 10,000 people in their I am tongue-tied - You can supply my words:
homes, assisting them with basic I lack courage - You can reinforce me:
necessities and other services. I am perplexed - You can give the answer:
I am useless - You can make me useful.
Above all, make me recognise You in these
people,
Local Councils and seeing You let me love them as I love you.
• St. Pius’ Conference was aggregated in They need Your love,
1989. they need my love,
• In Calgary, St. Vincent de Paul operates a let’s love them together.
free clothing outlet run by Vincentian I’ll do my best:
volunteers. There are also smaller be with me in what is Your work, and mine.
household items, and usually bedding and
towels available. A list is kept of persons in Kind, gentle, understanding Saint Vincent de
need of furniture or appliances, as well, as Paul,
a list of persons wishing to donate specific inspire me in all my dealings with the needy
items, then a match-up is made (About whom you knew, understood and loved so
much.
1200 matches last year).
AMEN
• The Calgary Conferences provided 1,400
Christmas Hampers citywide in 2000.
Servants of the Poor
• Last year, St. Pius X Conference provided
165 food hampers, 89 Christmas hampers “For I was hungry and you gave me food;
of food and gifts; 73 families were I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was
provided with furniture, clothing and a stranger and you made me welcome;
household items, and approximately 100 naked and you clothed me, sick and you
The National St. Vincent de Paul office
visits were made to hospitals, hospices, to visited men, in prison and you came to
provides a website for additional information
the infirm in their homes, as well as see me. And the King will answer, “I tell
about the Society -- www.SSVP.ca
transportation of clients to medical you solemnly in so far as you did this to
appointments. one of the least of my brothers, you did it
Prepared November 2001 to me.” (Matthew 25: 35-40).
Society of HOW THE SOCIETY WORKS
Situations requiring assistance are referred
St. Vincent de Paul to the Conference based on their parish The Society of St.
boundaries. In teams of two, Vincentians Vincent de Paul
make personal visits to assess particular needs helping people in
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an
and take steps to alleviate physical needs
International Catholic Lay Organization, your
(food, clothing or housing) and to mitigate
founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam (1813-
other human needs. Vincentians serve neighbourhood
1853, Beatified: August 22, 1997) and his
everyone, regardless of religion, beliefs or
companions. The first St. Vincent de Paul
nationality.
Conference in Canada was founded in
It is neither their intent nor purpose to
Quebec City in 1846 by Dr. Painchaud. MEMBERSHIP IN THE SOCIETY –
assume the roles of social workers, welfare
Faithful to its founder it constantly
officials or psychiatrists, or to suddenly shatter A VOCATION
the poverty syndrome. Their objectives are Being a member of the Society involves a
strives to renew and adapt itself to the
simple and realistic:- commitment to:
changing conditions of the world.
• to supply food and clothing • Regular, confidential meetings to discuss
• to encourage the weary action and plans for assisting the needy.
It seeks in a spirit of justice and charity,
• to give moral support to the confused • Visiting the needy in their homes as calls
to help those who are suffering. It does this by
• to bring warmth into the often sterile world for assistance are received.
the person-to-person involvement of its
of the elderly. • Prayer and reflection on the service to the
members. Its work encompasses every form
of aid that alleviates suffering and promotes poor through the Vincentian vocation.
No matter how efficient and generous the • By collecting resources such as clothes
the dignity and integrity of all people.
Social Services provided by the Government and household items on behalf of those in
are, “The poor you will always have with you.” need.
Vincentians gather in groups, called
The work of the members of the Society will • Addressing the root causes of poverty and
Conferences, which meet regularly. They are
remain indispensable. The people will always injustice and a willingness to learn about
linked together locally, nationally and
need compassion, understanding and poverty and injustice by attending
internationally. Today, The Society of St.
sympathy. workshops.
Vincent de Paul is functioning in 132 countries
on 5 continents with around 47,000 • A desire to help all, regardless of race,
conferences and almost one million members. creed or origin.
In Canada the Society has about 15,000
members working in well over 1,000
Conferences. The Society relies on people like you to
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul relies on give as much time as they can. The only
funding through the Parish Poor Boxes, St. qualifications are a desire to care for, and
The objective, to bear witness to our
Vincent de Paul contribution envelopes, and befriend, Christ’s poor.
faith, was the cornerstone of our foundation
the generosity of our benefactors.
168 years ago and is today as well.
If you are interested in the Society of
St. Vincent de Paul, please contact
NO WORK OF CHARITY St. Pius X Church
2424 - 24 Avenue NW Phone:
IS FOREIGN (403) 289-3602
Calgary AB T2M 2A2
TO THE SOCIETY.
