Use of this presentation This presentation is for four purposes: After an “Invitation to Serve” after each mass or after the last mass If not after the Mass(es) than at the first meeting of potential members Existing conference new members within 30 days of attending their first meeting To any group that has little or no knowledge of the society Notes: -For purposes 1 and 4 use the presentation with slides 2, 3, 4, 23, 24 and 25 hidden. To hide any slide right click on it in the Slides Tab (little slides) at the left of the screen and select the hide slide choice. Hidden slides will not show up in the presentation. To unhide the slide repeat this procedure again. -For purposes 2 and 3 use all of the slides in the presentation. -Always keep slide 1 (this slide) hidden for all presentations. This slide is for your use only. -Slides 8 & 9 are the same except to add picture of Bishop Quinn in slide 9. This lets everyone particularly clergy know that we have a Bishop National Spiritual Director overseeing our spiritual growth. -Slides 13, 14, and 15 are also the same. Slide 14 adds a picture of Michael Thio the International Council General and slide 15 adds a picture of Sheila Gilbert our current and first female National President. It is good to place a human face with a title.

Opening Prayer In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. All: The Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary L: Come Holy Spirit, live within our lives, All: And strengthen us by Your love. L: Send forth Your Spirit and new life will be created, All: And the whole face of the earth will be renewed. L: Let us, reflect on the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, recalling his unity and presence among us: “Where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in the midst of them,” (short silence) All: Lord Jesus, deepen our Vincentian spirit of friendship during this meeting, make us responsive to the Christian calling to seek and find the forgotten, the suffering or the deprived so that we may bring them Your love. Help us to be generous with our time, our possessions and ourselves in this mission of charity. Perfect in us Your love and teach us to share more fullyin the Eucharistic Sacrifice offered for all.

Opening Prayer (cont.) L: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, All: Have Mercy on us. L: Immaculate Heart of Mary, All: Pray for Us. L: St. Vincent de Paul, All: Pray for us. L: St. Louise de Marillac, L: Blessed Frederic Ozanam, L: Blessed Rosalie Rendu, In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Introduction to the Society Presented by the National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul

“The Society” (9 min film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTArfk8BL3M&list=PL5C8CCA04F3A90C1B&index=27

Society Mission Points Inspired by Gospel values Catholic Lay Organization of men and women Joined together to grow spiritually Prayer and reflection Person to person service to those who are in need or suffering Blessed Frederic Ozanam, our primary founder St. Vincent de Paul, our patron Members known as Vincentians Bishop John Quinn Winona, Minn. National Spiritual Director

Society Mission Points (cont.) International society of charity Poverty, humility and sharing Mutually supportive gathering Adherence to the Rule No distinction in those who are served Organized locally Address injustice and its causes In those they serve, Vincentians see the face of Christ

Essential elements and Scope of the Society 1. Spirituality: (Primary Purpose) To bear witness to Christ and to his church by showing that the faith of the Christians inspires them to work for the good of humanity 2. Friendship: (Second Purpose) To bring together men of good will and to assist them by mutual example and true friendship in drawing nearer to the Divine Model by fulfilling his essential precept, namely, the love of God in the person of others

Essential elements and Scope of the Society (cont.) 3. Service: (Above is physically accomplished through service) To establish a personal contact between its members and those who suffer, to bring the latter the most efficacious and charitable aid possible and to promote self-sufficiency and to bring them closer to God *Excerpt from original Manual of SVdP – 1845 *Scope of the Society Society engages in a number of works covering all the needs, trials and tribulations of human life, bother corporal and spiritual

Our Founder, Patroness and Patron Blessed Virgin Our Patroness Frederic Ozanam Our Founder St. Vincent de Paul Our Patron

Rapid Growth of the Society Worldwide Began in France in 1833 Spread to Italy in 1842 England in 1844 Belgium, Scotland, Ireland and the United States in 1845 Holland and Mexico in 1846 Switzerland and Canada in 1847 18 countries by Blessed Frederic’s death 1913: 8000 Conferences and 133,000 members Today: Approximately 800,000 active members in 150 countries

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Organization Renato Lima de Oliveira International President General Sheila Gilbert National President

The Society is Governed The Society has a rule to govern its operations The statutes of the Rule help Nurture the Vincentian spirituality Enhance the relationship among members Enrich service to those in need The Manual is a companion to the Rule and serves as the basis for the Ozanam Orientation “Love your Rule and keep them as the road which God intends to lead you to Himself.” -St. Vincent de Paul

The Conference is the basic and essential grouping of the Society Small groups typically made up of 8-15 members The members are the Conference They discuss and vote on all matters affecting the Conference, especially how money is spent Frequent meetings (usually weekly) but at least twice a month

Conferences (cont.) Grow spiritually together through weekly meditations Read and reflect on the Gospel using spiritual reflections provided by the National Council Each Conference MUST have a spiritual advisor who attends meetings regularly Service to the poor and needy Resources (black back, poor boxes, etc.) Close relationship with the pastor Led by a president elected for a three year tern (can only serve two consecutive terms) President, as a servant leader, ensures that meetings remain focuses and Conference business is accomplished according to the Society Rule

The Core Work of the Society Always Starts with a Home Visit

Why do home visits? To see the face of Christ in the poor To maintain the dignity of those in need Meet in their home Eliminate the need to stand in line at social service agencies Visit on a person-to-person basis Expedite assistance to those in need Can’t leave work during agencies’ operating hours Can’t get someone to babysit Don’t have transportation

Home Visits (cont.) Better understand the real situation See the need first hand The client is likely to be more open in their own home Allows for more time with the client Affords for the opportunity to pray with the client Better protects the privacy of the client

Basics of home visits Visit in pairs! Makes the people we serve more comfortable Protects the Society Confidentiality is absolutely essential to protect the people we serve Confidentiality is also important to us Only provide your first name Don’t give out your address or home phone number Never give cash to client Conference makes payments directly to utilities or landlord

“Go forth and bring his love to those in poverty.” Jesus said: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, A stranger and you welcomed me, Naked and you clothed me, Ill and you cared for me, In prison and you visited me… Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for the one of the lease brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me. (Matthew 25:31-46) “Go forth and bring his love to those in poverty.”

End of Presentation “No work of charity is foreign to the Society.” –Blessed Frederic Ozanam

Closing Prayers L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen L: St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, All: Pray for us. L: St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, L: Blessed Frederic Ozanam and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, L: For all the benefactors of the poor, that God may reward them with eternal life, All: Lord hear us. L: For our Society and all its members that God may renew their spirit of service and union, L: For all who are sick or suffering, that God may give them courage and consolation, L: For the deceased members, the deceased poor and our deceased benefactors, that God may grant them eternal rest.

Closing Prayers (cont.) L: That the unity for which Christ prayed – all men one in truth and charity – may be realized, All: Lord hear us. L: For families and those who have no homes that they may quickly find a place in which they can live a decent and happy life, L: That if it is God’s will, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, our founder, may be canonized by the Church, L: That our Holy Father the Pope may be granted the protection, guidance, strength and consolation that he needs to discharge his duties as Christ’s vicar on earth, L: For all the sick that we wish to pray, All: Hail Mary, etc... L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, All: Amen.