Society of St. Vincent
de Paul:
A Grass Roots
Organization
In
1833, Frederic
Ozanam, and a group of students from the
Sorbonne
University
were challenged to
prove their faith in Christ through action, not just words.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was formed when they took
up this challenge and began to work with the desperately poor
in
Paris
. Developing a simple
system, they went in teams to help the poor in their homes, in
the streets, in the hospitals and the asylums. Adopting as
their patron St.
Vincent de Paul, a 16th century cleric renowned
for his work with the poor, the Society arose from humble
beginnings to become an international organization found in
130 countries with one million members.
Our
story in
Canada
begins with Dr.
Joseph Painchaud and the first Canadian
Conference in 1846 in
Quebec
.
In 1850, George
Manly Muir founded the first Ontario Conference
at St. Michael’s Cathedral in
Toronto
.
Continuing
the tradition of visitation of the needy in their homes,
Vincentians organize themselves into parish based units called
Conferences to serve those in need through person-to-person
contact. Emergency assistance is given by way of food,
clothing and furniture; giving those in need access to basic
necessities. Friendship, guidance and advocacy are also
offered to enable individuals and families assistance through
community programs and parish involvement. As well, from the
beginning the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has operated Special
Works which in a spirit of social justice seek
to offer a helping hand up to those seeking assistance. These
include supportive residential programs, children’s camps,
community clothing stores and court services.
Toronto
Central Council
The
first Toronto Conference started in 1851 at St. Michael’s
Cathedral, under the leadership of George Manly Muir, a
circuit court judge.
-
There
are 110 active Conferences through out Toronto Central
Council
-
Over
1,200 Vincentians are actively working in these
Conferences
-
Over
65,000 people are being visited each year by Vincentians
-
250
people have a place to call home in a residential program
operated by Toronto Central Council
-
Over
1,100 girls attend Marygrove Camp free of charge each year
-
350
inmates are visited each month by Court Services
"
Flying squad seminars compiled and adapted by Michael
Burns"
See
also:
History
of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Our
Founder: Blessed Frederic Ozanam
Our
Canadian Founder: Dr. Joseph Painchaud
Founder
in Ontario: George Manly Muir
History
of St. Vincent de Paul Society in Toronto
Special Works in
History
Annual Meeting 1879
(Report on first Conference in Toronto)
Additional information re. the founders and key figures in the
history of the Society, both internationally and in Canada, as
well as relevant feast days (from the new National Rule of
Canada)
Additional information re. the founders and key figures in the
history of the
society, both internationally and in Canada, as well as
related feast days
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