By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic
MIAMI | “What are you doing for the poor? Show us your works!”
That taunt during a 19th century history debate so stung one of its participants, he founded one of the best-known charity groups: the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
They share not only goods and services but prayers, consultation and emotional comfort. They often quote their patron, St. Vincent de Paul: “Charity is infinitively inventive.”
Blessed Frederic Ozanam, founder of the society, was born in 1813, a son of a French doctor. Frederic became a scholar and law student in Paris. Troubled by doubts about his faith, he emerged not only stronger but dedicated his life “to the services of the truth which had given me peace.”
Blessed Frederic Ozanam, French layman and founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society
He wrote and spoke widely, vigorously defending faith and democracy alike. He helped petition the archbishop of Paris to send a corps of religious teachers to Catholic school children.
And after the taunt from a debating opponent, he banded together with several friends to launch what would become the St. Vincent de Paul Society. They chose as their model the patron saint of charity. The 17th century Vincent originally ministered to the wealthy, but his viewpoint changed when he became chaplain of a poor parish.
When Ozanam and his associates began their own charitable work in 1833, they drew on help and advice from Sister Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity, one of the groups founded by St. Vincent.
Ozanam’s fellowship grew to 100 within a year as word of their ministry spread. As it grew, it developed branches known as conferences. In a little more than two decades, the movement spread to seven other nations.
Ozanam died in 1853 and was declared blessed by Pope John Paul II in 1997.
Today, the Vincentians have grown to 900,000 members in 155 countries. They organized in the United States in 1845, only 12 years after the society’s birth in Paris. The local council in the Archdiocese of Miami is observing its centennial.
A distinctive of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is the personal attention. By making home visits, the members can verify need, as well as listen and pray with recipients.
Despite the COVID pandemic, the archdiocesan Vincentians racked up a sizable list of numbers. During the 2021 fiscal year, the members:
- Helped 196,257 people in 62 locations in South Florida.
- Made 8,828 visits to homes, hospitals and elder-care facilities.
- Provided $15,083,500 of financial support, food, goods, and services to those in need – more than $1.1 million of them in cash payments.
- Volunteered 76,100 hours.
- Drove 118,156 miles to serve the needy – the equivalent of nearly five times around the Earth.
The Vincentians also tell about their work via a one-hour program on Radio Paz, broadcast every Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
The organization funds its work with grants, raffles and donations from corporations, foundations and individuals. But most of the funds still come from poor boxes and other collections at the parish level.
And because all the society members — also known as Vincentians — are volunteers, more than 97% of the cash donations received go directly to the needy.
The all-volunteer status is just one way the St. Vincent de Paul Society is distinct from other benevolent groups. Most important is the constant emphasis on dual priorities: personal holiness through charitable work. Furthermore, members seek to develop not only their own holiness, but that of those they serve.
In so doing, of course, they are serving an even more important recipient. As the mission statement for the Miami branch states: “In attending to the needy and suffering, a Vincentian is ministering to Jesus Christ himself.”
