St Vincent de Paul Society celebrates Bicentenary

On 23 April, the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) celebrates the bicentenary of the birth of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam. The words and actions of Frédéric have come to be seen as contributing to the development of Catholic social teaching, dear to the heart of our new Pope, who said the role of the Holy Father is to open his arms and protect all of humanity, but “especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison.” Members of the SVP seek to respond to that call.

The SVP is one of the largest Catholic lay organisations with 700,000 members worldwide. The work of befriending and helping people in need, whether they be families, the elderly, asylum seekers, those who have been in prison or the homeless, goes on quietly, confidentially and without publicity. This attests to the social concerns of ordinary members putting their faith into action on a daily basis.

Last year, in England and Wales over 10,000 SVP members and supporters made over half a million visits to 85,000 people in need. The SVP’s quiet and continuous work in Britain has been going on for nearly 170 years starting in London and spreading across the nation. The SVP network of parish groups provides a befriending support system for vulnerable people across the country. Many children and families are given assistance to enjoy a much needed holiday and children’s summer camps are organised. Support centres offer debt advice and counselling and a friendly face to those who are lonely. Residential projects offer short term accommodation and care to those who are vulnerable.

National President, Adrian Abel, reflected how important it is to continue to attract new members to undertake this work. “In this special year let’s put together a programme of prayer and action to recruit new members, ensuring that in years to come we can maintain and expand the work of the SVP.”

For more information, see: www.svp.org.uk