1. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. “The Society” (9 min film)

7. 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 Donald J. Hying,
Gary, Ind..
National
Spiritual
Director

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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 – *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

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

12. 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

13. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Organization
Renato Lima de Oliveira
International
President General
Ralph Middlecamp
National President

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. “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.”

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

23. 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.

24. 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.