The Society is a collection of men and women drawn from Saint Ann by the Sea and Saint Christine’s Parishes who strive to grow spiritually by offering person to person service to individuals in need. The members of this group are diverse and represent different socio economic backgrounds, they come from different occupations, but they all share the call to be disciples of the Lord and servants to the poor. They are part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which they nourish with prayer, the sacraments, reflection and mutually supporting one another. Members are energized by the awareness that service to our brothers and sisters in need becomes an encounter with the Lord Jesus himself. The Society of St. Vincent DePaul are aware that poverty suffering, and loneliness are present for millions in our communities. For that reason the group collaborates with all who seek to relieve such need and to address the causes.
The Society offers tangible assistance to those is need on a person-to-person basis; the aid may take the form of intervention, consultation, either through direct dollar or in kind services. It may typically help people in crisis who may need assistance with paying for essential utilities, food, clothing or rent.
The core values of the society are principles central to our Catholic Creed and ministry. We believe: in the dignity of the human person * in the preferential option for the poor * that Jesus is he Evangelizer and Servant of the poor * that growth in intimacy with Jesus is a lifelong process * that poverty of spirit is the primary beatitude * that our primary concern is charity and justice *that prayer is essential (personal and communal prayer) * in the virtue of humility and charity * in Divine Providence * in Friendship * in Community * in Simplicity.
Saint Ann by the Sea promotes the Society both within our parish and within the Archdiocese. The parish has two large St Vincent clothing bins located by the parish hall, and each day parishioners and community residents drop by their gently used clothes to these bins, which in turn are distributed to those in need, and the remaining clothes are resold and the proceeds used to help the poor in our area. Through the generosity of so many people, our parish has been able to donate hundreds of tons of clothing for those in need.
If your family is experiencing a financial crisis and needs assistance, please contact the parish office and we will in turn pass your contact information along to a member of the Saint Vincent DePaul Society; it normally takes about 72 hours or less for a call from one of the Vincentians. The parish also works along with other community organizations such as Sewing Seeds, the Good Neighbor Fund and My Brothers Keeper. If you need this help please call the office and ask to speak with the Pastoral Associate, Mrs. Catherine Rein.