This year's Friends of the Poor Walk raised $67,000 for St. Vincent de Paul Conferences at St. Michael Parish, Sacred Heart Parish, St. Teresa Parish, and the Council.
SVDP's goal was $50,000 (our previous high was $40,000). We had a total of 191 walkers (previous high was 145). All funds raised by St. Michael members stay with our parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference.
Message from Dan Kearns | Executive Director | SVDP Richmond Council Thank you to all those who supported the 2022 St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk. Your generosity will help our friends in need take a step forward.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul works closely with those most in need, by providing financial, emotional, and spiritual support. The ministry helps friends in need make connections, which address what is causing their struggles. The society’s primary mission is the spiritual growth of members, through service to those in need. All Vincentians are trained and grow their faith through prayerful interaction, with those they serve and fellow Vincentians, at twice monthly meetings.
How can you get involved? If you’re interested in becoming a Vincentian, the ministry would love more help in several areas: computer data/intake info, home visits, and Vincent’s Pantry – sorting and data.
Why We Are Called Vincentians
The Society of St. Vincent DePaulisone of the largest Catholic charitable organizations in the world. It is based in Paris, France, with U.S. Headquarters in St Louis, Montana, with conferences and councils in many countries. Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or Vincentians, are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We are young and old. Regardless of our personal financial status, all of us are blessed with an awareness that our blessings (time, talent, or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need.
During Pope Francis’ visit, he reached Christians and non-Christians alike with his message of helping others. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been putting these words into practice for
more than 170 years.
The Society took on the name of
St. Vincent de Paul as their patron and was
formally founded in 1833 by six Catholic students in the University of the Sorbonne in Paris. They all agreed that they needed to not just discuss their faith, but put it into action, serving the needs of the poor. Soon, it became obvious that the leadership of one of the founders,
Blessed Frederick Ozanam, was especially gifted with the Holy Spirit. He was selected as their second president and leader.
A contemporary and mentor to Blessed Frederick was
Blessed Sister Rosalie Rendu, a daughter of Charity who taught the first members of the society the art of helping the poor and the sick. Frederick named the group the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul after the saint who lived (1581-1660) and whose mentor was
St. Rosalie Rendu, St. Vincent’s collaborator in founding the Daughters of Charity.
The Society in the United States began in 1845 in St. Louis, and it has grown ever since.
Nearly 100,000 trained volunteers provided 12.6 million hours of volunteer service in 2017, helping more than 5.4 million people through visits to homes, prisons, and hospitals at a value of
more than $3 billion dollars.
St. Michael Parish’s conference now consists of over 40 Vincentians and has served over 500 families in our area in the last three years. As one of the first in the Diocese of Richmond, our conference has been instrumental in helping establish five more conferences, with more on the way.
The need is ever present, as Vincentians answer Jesus’ call to be that Good Samaritan. Join us. Become a Vincentian or financially support our work with the poor.
Help Wanted
Our St. Vincent DePaul Conference is looking for employers who can offer manual-skill jobs. A repeating theme in many of our cases involves people who want to work, have manual skills, but are struggling to provide a steady income for their families.
Landscaping Painting Contract Laborers Agricultural Warehouse Retail Food Service Etc.
If you can help, please contact Deacon Andy Cirmo.
Need Assistance?
If you need confidential assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.
SVdP Assistance Line:804-527-1037 ext. 131
Contact
Rev. Mr. Andy Cirmo
Deacon & Spiritual Advisor | Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Michael Parish)