St. Vincent de Paul Society encourages new membership

By Matt LaBarre | Special to The CFP

Friendship, spirituality and service are the three pillars of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
“I’ve made a lot of friends that I would not have made if I hadn’t joined my parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society conference,” Dan Crowley, president of the society for the Worcester Diocese said.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is comprised of parish groups that are called conferences. Currently, there are twenty-two conferences in the diocese, organized into three districts.

“We help people experiencing some sort of crisis make a way forward,” Mr. Crowley said. “We’re an emergency kind of service.”

The organization is described on their website as “a lay organization that brings women and men together spiritually to serve families and individuals who are in need of assistance – regardless of race, color, or creed – and a network of friends inspired by Gospel values.”

Since first joining the St. Leo’s Parish conference in 1982, Mr. Crowley has found being part of the society’s work truly inspiring, as well as a wonderful way to make many friends.
He said that “spirituality is also a big part of this.”

Parish conferences develop their own goals, determine how that individual group can best assist people in their community.

“A pastor or other parish member may alert us to someone facing a crisis, or someone may be referred to us by calling our office, or an individual dealing with a difficult time might call us, and we’ll get in touch with that individual, generally to set up a home visit,” Mr. Crowley explained.

“One of the hallmarks of the society throughout the years has been volunteers conducting home visits, always in pairs, to provide a true sense of our caring for other community members, as well to determine the most effective ways we can help.”

Often, the individuals and families that the society conferences assist are in desperate situations.  Many of our neighbors go hungry, need heating fuel, or rent/mortgage aid.  “We listen, sort out ways we can help, and often can make referrals to agencies, programs and other resources in a position to help,” Mr. Crowley said.

Some of the parish conferences organize their own food pantries, or work with local food pantries, or provide food vouchers for people to use at local grocery stores. Many of the conferences run a Thanksgiving meal project or provide Christmas baskets to individuals and families who have no resources to purchase a holiday meal. Homelessness has become a significant problem that local conferences try to help with. “We work with shelters and police departments and other organizations to help people find short and long-term solutions to finding themselves with a home.” Mr. Crowley said.  

Each individual conference determines what activities to undertake.  Several raise funds through the Walk for the Poor, or for their own programs. Other conferences run food pantries. “Our only limitations are the numbers of volunteers who belong to the society,” said Mr. Crowley. “Local St. Vincent de Paul conferences already accomplish a lot of good, and every conference has the ability to help people in as many ways as possible, depending on the interests of that conference, and the number of volunteers interested in helping.”

Mr. Crowley stressed the friendships made as men and women work together to assist neighbors in some sort of real need. “Most pastors are enthusiastic about having an active conference in their parish, the spiritual growth that occurs in the parish conference, and the friendships that result as people work together helping others in the community!”

He invites anyone interested to visit svdpworcester.org and either call the number provided on the website or contact via the email address provided. Anyone needing help should also visit the website and will be directed to the nearest conference.