Our Mission St. Vincent de Paul...

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St. Vincent de Paul Society Our History, Our Mission, and Our Founders Our Mission - As a premier Catholic lay organization comprised of diverse and dynamic individuals growing spiritually through service, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society cultivates hope for those in need. In collaboration with other social service providers, the Society is the Voice of the Poor, working to reduce poverty and suffering and to correct the conditions that foster these injustices. - We aim to speak as an organization on behalf of the poor, the disadvantaged, and those who are so often ignored in our culture. Where injustice, inequality, poverty, or exclusion occurs, the Society tries to speak out with charity and with the aim of contributing to the improvement of unjust situations within culture. - We offer support such as emergency food, clothing, household necessities, and financial assistance, as well as emotional support through person-to-person interaction with those who are in need. - Members of the Society are to be on a journey to live more closely with Christ. This journey is partly accomplished by visiting and helping the poor, but also by prayer and reflection, worship, meditation on Holy Scripture, and by building strong relationships with other Vincentians. District Council Office 520 Crescent Avenue South Bend, IN 46617 574-234-6000 Donation/Home Pickup - Press 2 Emergency Food Assistance - Press 3 St. Vincent de Paul Resale Stores 1827 N. Bendix Dr., South Bend 9:00am - 6:00pm 2302 South Bend Ave., South Bend 10:00am - 7:00pm 4644 W. Western Ave., South Bend 10:00am - 7:00pm All locations closed on Sundays For more information, visit our website. www.svdpsb.org Contact Us Mission and History.indd 1 11/4/2015 1:53:54 PM

Transcript of Our Mission St. Vincent de Paul...

Page 1: Our Mission St. Vincent de Paul Societycloud2.snappages.com/16f0204cbd2b58d6ccbb7e3995425d068d0efa90...A third resale store, Vinnie’s Community Store, ... Currently, the St. Vincent

St. Vincent de Paul Society

Our History, Our Mission, and Our Founders

Our Mission

- As a premier Catholic lay organization comprised of diverse and dynamic individuals growing spiritually through service, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society cultivates hope for those in need. In collaboration with other social service providers, the Society is the Voice of the Poor, working to reduce poverty and suffering and to correct the conditions that foster these injustices.

- We aim to speak as an organization on behalf of the poor, the disadvantaged, and those who are so often ignored in our culture. Where injustice, inequality, poverty, or exclusion occurs, the Society tries to speak out with charity and with the aim of contributing to the improvement of unjust situations within culture.

- We offer support such as emergency food, clothing, household necessities, and financial assistance, as well as emotional support through person-to-person interaction with those who are in need.

- Members of the Society are to be on a journey to live more closely with Christ. This journey is partly accomplished by visiting and helping the poor, but also by prayer and reflection, worship, meditation on Holy Scripture, and by building strong relationships with other Vincentians.

District Council Office

520 Crescent Avenue South Bend, IN 46617

574-234-6000

Donation/Home Pickup - Press 2 Emergency Food Assistance - Press 3

St. Vincent de Paul Resale Stores

1827 N. Bendix Dr., South Bend 9:00am - 6:00pm

2302 South Bend Ave., South Bend

10:00am - 7:00pm

4644 W. Western Ave., South Bend 10:00am - 7:00pm

All locations closed on Sundays

For more information, visit our website.www.svdpsb.org

Contact Us

Mission and History.indd 1 11/4/2015 1:53:54 PM

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Our History Our Founders

St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was founder of the Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity, Confraternities of Charity, and Ladies of Charity. A man of deep faith and keen intellect, he has become known as the "The Apostle of Charity" and "Father of the Poor." His contributions to the training of priests and organizing services for the poor shaped our church's role in the modern world.

St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660), inspired and directed by Vincent's spiritual leadership, founded the Daughters of Charity.

Blessed Frederic Ozanam (1813-1853) founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as a young student with others of the Sorbonne in Paris. Frederic's writings on social justice anticipated the first social encyclical of our modern times, Rerum Novarum.

Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC (1786-1856), a Daughter of Charity, served in the Mouffetard area of Paris. Sister Rosalie mentored the founding members of the Society, sending them on home visits, forming them in the spirit of St. Vincent, and teaching them how to serve the poor with respect and compassion.

At the age of 20, Frederic Ozanam started The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He and some

colleagues began visiting the poor and outcasts in the streets of Paris, following the example of St. Vincent. Soon the Society and its work spread

around Europe and was carried around the world by missionaries.

1833

The Society was founded in the USA in St. Louis.1845

The first conference (parish group) was founded in Michiana in St. Patrick’s Parish in South Bend when

30 men gathered to discuss their outreach efforts to the poor. Following St. Patrick’s, other parishes

started their own conferences.

Up until 1950, each conference had its own “wardrobe” where clothing and household goods were kept. In 1950, the Council realized that this system was not adequate. The bishop provided a loan to purchase an empty store building and a used truck on W. Washington Street, which became a central collection and distribution point.

The space on Washington Street filled quickly and a vacant store next to the building was purchased and renovated. Eventually, that building became

cramped and in June 1969, made possible by a $200,000 loan from Bishop Pursley, a new store

was built on Sample Street.

More growth came in the 1980’s and 1990’s with an expanding thrift store operation and 18 conferences operating in parishes around South Bend and Mishawaka. Since more than 60% of those helped by the Society lived on the west side of South Bend, the Council offices and thrift store moved to Ardmore Trail, into an 80,000 square foot building.

The District Council Office purchased the building at 520 Crescent Avenue and moved its

administrative office and client choice pantry.

A third resale store, Vinnie’s Community Store, was opened on Western Avenue.

The Ardmore Distribution Center and Resale Store moved to Bendix Drive. The Society is the largest volunteer charity

organization in the world, active in 135 countries. Currently, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County has one District Council Office, three resale stores, one distribution center, and nineteen parish conferences.

1904

1950

1969

1999

2011

2014

2015

Present

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