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The Saint Agnes Society of
Saint Vincent de Paul
1581 - 1660
The Mission
It is the mission of the Saint Agnes Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Society to continue the works of Saint Vincent by helping those in need.
"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" (Matthew 25.35:36)
History of the Society
A 20 year old college
student began the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Paris in 1833.
Frederic Ozanam, a fervent Catholic, had been defending the Church
during a debate with fellow students. One of the students asked
Frederic, "What is your Church doing now? What is she doing for the poor
in Paris? Show us your works, and we will believe you..."
From that chance remark and challenge, Frederic and six other students
formed the "Conference of Charity". Later the group chose Saint
Vincent de Paul, patron saint of the poor, to be the Society's patron.
The Society spread rapidly throughout the world and in 1835 was
officially named, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Throughout his
life Ozaman's simple hope was to "become better-to do a little
good." Today the number of Vincentians has surpassed 1 million
and the Society is active in 132 countries.
Purpose of the Society
The Society of
Saint Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic organization of
lay men and women who seek, in a spirit of justice and charity and
by a person-to-person involvement, to help those in need.
The Saint Vincent
de Paul organization of Saint Agnes Parish was created in 1995.
Assistance is essentially local and our primary goal is to serve
people within the parish and community.
Vincentians seek
through prayer, meditation on scriptures and Church teachings,
through their daily lives and in their relationship with those in
need, to bear witness to the love of Christ. The society does
not attempt to convert the needy to Catholicism, nor does it limit
its aid to Catholics.
For Vincentians,
every person in need is a brother or sister and an image of the
suffering Jesus.
Saint Vincent pray:
"May God grant us the grace to move our hearts in favor of the
miserable and to believe that, in giving them relief, we are doing
justice and not mercy."
Programs
Saint John's
Breadline. We provide service to the Saint John's Breadline on
behalf of Saint Agnes Parish. Volunteer services include
donating, preparing, and serving the meal (Sloppy Joe's), greeting
patrons and providing kitchen help. The volunteer time slot
for the Parish is the first Saturday of every month from 10:30AM to
1:00PM. To volunteer for Saint John's Breadline call Mary Bales
at 698-9258
Assistance. The organization
provides financial assistance for food, clothing, rent and utilities
and other aid to those in need. The society seeks out cases,
offers moral support, meets with those in need and provides
additional resources referrals.
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