Society of St. Vincent de Paul

1. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Orientation

2. Opening Prayer Come Holy Spirit, live within our lives, And strengthen us by Your love. Send forth Your Spirit and new life will be created, And the whole face of the earth will be renewed. 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). 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 gener-ous with our time, our possessions and ourselves in this mission of charity. Perfect in us Your love and teach us to share more fully in the Eucharistic Sacrifice offered for all. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,Have Mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary,Pray for us. St. Vincent de Paul, Pray for us. Blessed Frederic Ozanam, Pray for us.

3. Spiritual Reflection And Discussion

4. Ozanam Orientation Agenda Welcome & Opening Prayer 15 • 1 - Mission 30 • 2 - History 30 BREAK (10 mins) 10 • 3 - Vincentian Spirituality 45 • 4 - Organization 25 • 5 - Rule 25 LUNCH (30 mins) 30 • 6 - Society Today 15 • 7 – Reports and Accountability 20 • 8 – Home Visits 45 BREAK (10 mins) 10 • 8 - Home Visits (Cont.) 45 Question & Answer 10 Closing Prayer 5

5. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Part I Who We Are And What We Do

6. 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 the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic 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. MISSION STATEMENT

7. MISSION STATEMENT • Inspired by Gospel Values • Catholic Lay Organization of Men and Women • Purpose: To Grow Spiritually • Method: Person to Person Service to needy and suffering

8. MISSION STATEMENT • Blessed Frederic Ozanam, Our Primary Founder • St. Vincent de Paul, Our Patron • Members Known as Vincentians • International Society of Charity

9. MISSION STATEMENT • Poverty, Humility, and Sharing • Prayer and Reflection • Mutually Supportive Gatherings • The Rule

10. MISSION STATEMENT • Organized Locally • All Works of Charity and Justice • No Distinction in Those Served • In Those We Serve, Vincentians See the Face of Christ

11. Purpose And Scope Of The Society • Purpose Of The Society • Scope Of The Society “No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”

12. Essential Elements Of The Society Spirituality Friendship Service

13. Vincentian Virtues • Simplicity • Humility • Gentleness • Selflessness • Zeal

14. Vincentian Organizational Values • Holiness of Life • Service of the Poor • Humility • Simplicity • Charity & Justice • Friendship

15. The Core Work of the SocietyIt Always Starts With A Home Visit Twinning Disaster Relief Food Pantries Thrift Stores Other Agencies HOMEVISIT Immediate Needs Prison Ministry Evangelization Housing Advocacy ImmigrationServices Eldercare

16. Reflection, Sharing & Questions: 10 Minutes • Take a Moment of Silent Reflection. • Break into Groups of 3 or 4 to Discuss the Following: • What in the Mission, Essential Elements, and Core Values Resonates With What Is Already In Your Heart? • What Invitation is God Offering You For Further Insight and Growth?

17. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Part Il What Is Our History

18. History of Vincentianism The Prophets • What inspired the creation of the Society? • How was the Society started? Jesus St. Vincent de Paul St. Louise de Marillac Daughters of Charity 1633 Frederic Ozanam Blessed Rosalie Rendú Society of St. Vincent de Paul - 1833

19. History of Vincentianism The Prophets • “Rescue the oppressed; defend the orphan; plead for the widow” Is. 1:17 • “When you gather the grapes … what is left shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.”Deut 24:21 Jesus St. Vincent de Paul St. Louise de Marillac Daughters of Charity 1633 Frederic Ozanam Society of St. Vincent de Paul - 1833 Blessed Rosalie Rendú

20. History of Vincentianism The Prophets • “And who is my neighbor?” (Lk 10:29) • “Give to everyone who begs from you” (Mt 5:42) Jesus St. Vincent de Paul St. Louise de Marillac Daughters of Charity 1633 Frederic Ozanam Society of St. Vincent de Paul - 1833 Blessed Rosalie Rendú

21. History of Vincentianism The Prophets “You will go and visit the poor ten times a day, and ten times a day you will find God there!” Jesus St. Vincent de Paul 1581-1660 St. Louise de Marillac Daughters of Charity 1633 Frederic Ozanam Society of St. Vincent de Paul - 1833 Blessed Rosalie Rendú

22. History of Vincentianism The Prophets “You will have for a convent the houses of the sick” – St. Vincent de Paul Jesus St. Vincent de Paul 1581-1660 St. Louise de Marillac Daughters of Charity 1633 Frederic Ozanam Society of St. Vincent de Paul - 1833 Blessed Rosalie Rendú

23. History of Vincentianism The Prophets “Never have I prayed so well as in the streets.” Jesus St. Vincent de Paul St. Louise de Marillac Daughters of Charity 1633 Frederic Ozanam Society of St. Vincent de Paul - 1833 Blessed Rosalie Rendú 1786-1856

24. History of Vincentianism The Prophets “Let us go to the poor” Jesus St. Vincent de Paul St. Louise de Marillac Frederic Ozanam 1813-1853 Daughters of Charity 1633 Society of St. Vincent de Paul - 1833 Blessed Rosalie Rendú

25. The History • Bl. Frederic Ozanam and his Companions were students at The Sorbonne • Participants in the “Conference Of History” • Challenged by anti-Catholics to “show us your works.” • Formed The Conference of Charity, August 23rd 1833 with St. Vincent de Paul as their Patron. • Later changed to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

26. Beginning Of The Society In The United States • First Meeting Of A Conference In The U.S. Held On November 20 , 1845 • At “The Old Cathedral” – The Church Of St. Louis Of France • First Conference Aggregated On February 2, 1846 • Dr. Moses Linton, A Prominent Physician, Elected President

27. 1847 -- Buffalo & NYC 1849 -- Milwaukee 1851 -- Philadelphia 1852 -- Pittsburgh 1853 -- Louisville 1855 -- Brooklyn 1856 -- St. Paul 1857 -- Chicago & D. C. 1858 – New Orleans 1859 -- Dubuque 1860 -- San Francisco 1861 -- Boston 1864 -- Baltimore 1865 -- Cleveland 1869 -- Cincinnati & Portland 1871 -- San Antonio 1880s – Spokane 1920 -- Seattle Rapid Growth In The United States

28. Reflection, Sharing & Questions: 10 Minutes • Take a Moment of Silent Reflection. • Break into Groups to Discuss the Following: • What in the Life of St. Vincent de Paul Inspires You? • What in the Life of Frederic Ozanam Inspires You?

29. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Part Ill What Is Vincentian Spirituality?

30. What Is Vincentian Spirituality? Vincentians seek to bear witness to the love of Christ through… • Prayer • Reflection on Sacred Scripture • The teachings of the Church • Our daily lives • Our relationship with those in need and with our fellow Vincentians

31. Life of Prayer • Prayer is the Essential to Being a Vincentian • Open and Close All Meetings with a Prayer • Pray Before a Home Visit • Pray with Those We Serve • Pray after a Home Visit • Pray to Sustain Us in Our Daily Vincentian Activities

32. Grounded in Sacred Scripture • Jesus’ Mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me … he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor…” (Lk 4:16-21) • Gospel Values (Beatitudes): “Blessed are the poor…” (Mt 5:2-11, Lk 6:20-22) • Last Judgment: “Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you also did for me…” (Mt 25:36-46) • Greatest commandment: “Love one another” / “Love your neighbor as yourself”(Lk 6:32-37; Lk 10:25-28; Jn 13:34-35; 2 Cor 14) • Service: “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mt 20:28)

33. Reflection on Sacred Scripture Vincentians regularly reflect on Sacred Scripture: • At home, using weekly or daily readings • In meetings, with the help of a Spiritual Advisor • At mass.

34. CHARITY Social service, direct aid Relieve suffering Immediate Action by private individuals or organizations Example: pay a hospital bill for emergency room treatment JUSTICE Social change in public attitudes, institutions or policies Address root causes Long-term Action by the community or the government Example: advocate for universal health insurance Two Feet of Catholic Social Action

35. Catholic Social TeachingCharity and Justice • St. Vincent’s Words: “There is No Charity that is Not Accompanied by Justice, Nor Does it Permit Us to Do More Than We Reasonably Can.” • Frederic’s Words: “The Order of Society is Based on Two Virtues: Justice and Charity…”

36. Daily Life – Lay Spirituality • The Laity Live in the world, …They Live in Ordinary Conditions of Life in the Family and in Society, from Which the Web of Their Existence is Woven. • Frederic Ozanam • “Faith Without Good Works is dead.” • “Let Us Go To The Poor.”

37. Daily Life – Vincentian Virtues • Simplicity • Humility • Gentleness • Selflessness • Zeal

38. Relationship With Those In Need • Frederic Saw Vincentians Not as Good Samaritans But as “Weak Samaritans” • “Let us dare….to approach this Great Sick One, perhaps he will not be frightened of us.” • Frederic thought that wounded humanity would be initially more receptive of Vincentian lay persons approaching them rather than Clergy or Religious. • St. Vincent “The Poor are Your Masters, You Will See the Face of Christ in the Poor. It is for Your Love Alone that the Poor Will Forgive You the Bread You Give Them.”

39. Above all… Divine Providence Trust In and Reliance On Divine Providence • Frederic trusted that God was providing for him • He believed that God was acting in his life and the lives of others Frederic’s Words: “Our Little Society Has Grown Large Enough To Be A Providential Fact”

40. Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-control The Result… Fruits of the Spirit How can we recognize progress on the journey? Listen to St. Paul: “The fruits of the Spirit are:

41. Reflection, Sharing & Questions: 10 Minutes • Take a Moment of Silent Reflection. • Break into Groups to Discuss the Following: • What in Vincentian Spirituality Resonates With What Is In Your Heart? • What Is a New And Fresh Idea That You Find In Vincentian Spirituality?

42. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Part lV How Are We Organized?

43. Goals of this segment • Local & Worldwide Organization • What makes a Conference effective

44. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Organization The Poor Conferences(4600 in the US) District Councils (Arch)Diocesan Councils US National Council(includes 8 regions) International Confederation of SVDP (142 Countries)

45. The Society’s International Logo International Logo Serving in hope The Circle The Crossing At The Tail The Eye of The Fish

46. Conferences Basic And Essential Grouping Of The Society • Small communities of faith & action • Purpose: Grow Spiritually Together • Method: Service to the Poor and Needy • Method: Meetings (2 per month) • Each Conference Must Have Spiritual Advisor [Doesn’t need to be a cleric] • Resources (Envelopes, Poor Boxes, etc.) • Close Relationship with Pastor • Led by a President elected for 3 year term • President represents the Conference on District Council

47. Purpose of Councils FIRST: To Support Conferences • Foster spiritual growth of members • Further their charitable activity SECOND: To Enhance Unity & Cooperation THIRD: Works of Charity and Justice

48. District Council Purpose & Scope: • Animate and coordinate the Society in a local area • Support Conferences, Enhance Unity, Works of Charity & Justice • Regular Meetings(at least quarterly, open to all Vincentians) • Internet: www.svdpsea.org/members Members: • District Council President (elected 3yr term) • Appointed Officers (VP, Sec., Treas.) • Spiritual Advisor • Presidents of attached Conferences

49. Diocesan Council Purpose & Scope: • Animate and coordinate the Society in a Diocese • Support Districts and Conferences, Enhance Unity, Works of Charity & Justice • Regular Meetings(at least quarterly, open to all Vincentians) • Internet: www.svdpsea.org/archdiocese Members: • Diocesan Council President (elected 3yr term) • Appointed Officers (VP, Sec., Treas.) • Spiritual Advisor • Presidents of attached Districts

50. The Western Region Western Region • Alaska • Arizona • California • Hawaii • Idaho • Montana • Nevada • Oregon • Utah • Washington