We serve the needy by providing essential resources such as food for the hungry and emergency assistance for rent and utilities. Our faith and scripture guide us to serve with humility and compassion, showing God’s love and bringing hope to our community. Motivated by recognizing Jesus in those we help, we aim for spiritual growth within our organization and parish.
1. Form Missionary Disciples in Christ
2. Be A Church of Encounter & Witness
3. Strengthen Family Life
- By encountering the people we serve, we form missionary disciples of Christ, this is part of our Vincentian formation
- We are missionaries in bringing Christs love and presence to those in need.
- “We encounter our friends in their homes so as not to create any barriers for them”
- “Our material assistance brings hope to individuals and families. We have listened to them and cared for them”
- Sharing service experiences can foster connection and shared values within families.
- Allowing family members to participate in the ministry to see how their service impacts the lives of those in need
We Nuture Our Own Spiritual Growth
- Members live the life of the corporal acts of mercy – Feed the hungry, Give drink to the thirsty, Clothe the naked, Sheltering the homeless, Visting the sick.
- We encounter the face of Christ in those we serve.
- We are the hands feet and mouth piece of the lord on earth.
- Our meetings always begin with a spiritual reflection by our spiritual director, a reflection on the rule of the societywhich guides how we are to serve. We consider our selves to be a family in our love for christ in the poor.
A message from the SSVP Western Regional Council President
At the annual Ozanam Day with the Calgary Diocese Vincentians on Saturday September 7. It was a time to reconnect with our community, our faith and our works. Beginning with a Mass and the renewal of our Commissioning to serve as Vincentians, we reflected on the challenges we face as we strive to fulfill our commission in today’s world. Bishop McGrattan joined us for lunch, and challenged us to be the first lay association in the Diocese of Calgary to align our mission with the Diocese wide renewal of faith, focusing on three pillars
- Form Missionary Disciples of Christ
- Be a Church of Encounter & Witness
- Strengthen Family Life
As Vincentians, we are missionary disciples as we carry out our works of serving those in need in our communities. When we invite others to join us in that work and take the time to help them grow in the Vincentian spirituality that guides our works, we are forming missionary disciples. As you reflect on your conference, what are the ways that you intentionally invite others to know Christ, teaching the great story of Jesus and his church and leading them to practice their faith through the service of the poor as Vincentians?
Every time we respond to a request for assistance with temporal aid and personal contact, we are a Church of encounter and witness, listening to others’ lived experiences and responding with compassion and mercy. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul exists because Blessed Frederick Ozanman was moved to bring substance and structure to our Catholic faith in action. Our Society continues today because we are a Church of encounter and witness.
As we reflect on the statistics that summarize our works, we know that much of our outreach directly affects families within our community. What if we were to focus on strengthening our parish families through providing the opportunity to serve the poor? How would our parish and Vincentian communities evolve in the future if we intentionally provided ways for families to practice being a Church of Encounter and witness?
When we form Vincentians, missionary disciples witness to Christ in word and deed, families are strengthened, our works flourish and the poor are served. We follow Christ when we teach others to serve him in the poor.
-Heather Schilling, Western Region Council President, SSVP