top of page

Saint Vincent de Paul Ministry

The Mission of the Ministry of St. Vincent de Paul

 

     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 Frédéric 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 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 face of Christ.

 

How does this Ministry differ from other charities?

 

     The Ministry of St. Vincent de Paul is composed of women and men who seek their personal holiness through works of charity. In this essential way, the Society differs from charitable associations or agencies whose principal objective is not the spiritual advancement of their members but the doing of good for someone else. 

 

     President-General Adolpe Baudon, in his Circular Letter of January 1, 1877, writes: 

 

     "It is laid down in our Rule, and it has been always understood among us, that in uniting to serve our masters the poor, as St. Vincent de Paul expresses it, our object is not only to relieve material misery, a very laudable purpose in itself, but to aspire, especially, through the practice of that most sublime of virtues "charity" to render ourselves better and more fervent Christians, and to make our poor enter on the same path, if we have the happiness of succeeding." 

 

     In his Circular Letter of December 12, 1915, Vicomte Hendecourt, President-General writes: 

 

     "The Society has two aims: to do a great deal of spiritual good to its members through the exercise of charity, and to do a little spiritual and temporal good to a few poor families in the name of Jesus Christ. If it did not continually seek to combine these two aims, it would lose its raison d'etre. If it were to seek only the holiness of its members through pious exercises, there is no lack of Confraternities and Third Orders to meet that need. If on the other hand, it were to seek only the relief of the temporal miseries of the poor, it would only add one more to the list of public and private institutions founded for that purpose." 

 

     The Mission Statement is clear: Vincentian ministry is a means for acquiring holiness. The ministry of a Vincentian to those and with those who stand in need is the powerful means that affects holiness of life for the individual Vincentian. Vatican II states that the principal means of holiness for bishops and priests is their ministry. This applies to the laity also, because, in attending to the needy and suffering, a Vincentian is ministering to Jesus Christ himself. 

     The Ministry of Saint Vincent de Paul is a Catholic-lay organization which is active here at Saint Peter Church.

St. Peter Church, Merchantville ... St. Vincent de Paul Hotline ... 856 - 904 - 7397

(You must remove your caller block before calling.)

Pantry Day at St. Peter Church, Merchantville, St. Vincent de Paul Society

3rd Saturday of the Month

10:30a until 12:00 noon

(our next Pantry Day will be on April 8th, since Easter is the following week.)

Saint Vincent de Paul

Your help is needed!

Dear Fellow Parishioners:

  At this time of the year we are overwhelmed with calls on our hot line from families needing their power turned on after the power companies have turned it off due to non-payment.

   The utility companies will not turn off power during the winter months, but as soon as we have warm weather, they turn the power off.

We are trying to help as many families as we can, but our funds are running low. If you can feel it in your heart to put a few extra dollars in the poor box, it would be greatly appreciated.

Also, we are currently preparing our pantry bags for our May Pantry Day. We are in need of the following: cereal, mac & cheese, peanut butter, jelly, tuna, canned fruit, cookies, coffee, and canned soups.

 

   If you cannot donate food, please feel free to make a monetary donation in our Poor Boxes located at the entrances of the church.

 

   If you or someone you know needs help, please call our hotline at 856-904-7397

   Thank you for your generosity to our Ministry!

SVdP Easter Hams

Frédéric Ozanam, Founder of the

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

bottom of page