St. Vincent DePaul Thirft Store (Toledo)
Mission
Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.
Organized locally, Vincentians witness God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ.
Vision
Like that of its founder, Frédéric Ozanam, the vision of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul "is to embrace the world in a network of charity."
Description:
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul adheres to a group of core values; these are principles central to our creed and ministry.
We believe...
In the dignity of the human person
In the identification of Jesus with the poor
In the preferential option for the poor
That Jesus is the 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
In the virtue of humility: personal and corporate
In the virtue of charity, inside and outside the Society
In Divine Providence
In Friendship
In Community
In Simplicity
History:
Frédéric Ozanam left his home in Lyon, France, in the autumn of 1831, for Paris. He registered in the School of Law at the Sorbonne, University of Paris.
Frédéric collaborated with Mr. Emmanuel Bailly, editor of the Tribune Catholique, in reviving a student organization which had been suspended during the revolutionary activity of July 1830. They called their new association "The Conference of History." The group met on Saturdays to discuss various topics, everything but polititcs.
At one of their meetings, a student challenged Frédéric and the practicing Catholics. He admitted that the Catholic Church had done much good work in the past, but "what do you do now?"
Frédéric called for a meeting of five of his friends; they agreed to meet at Mr. Bailly's office. The date was April 23, 1833, Frédéric's twentieth birthday. Inspired by their words, Frédéric decided to found the "Conference of Charity" to assist the poor. Emmanuel Bailly, the married layman, was chosen by the six students as their first President. In a short time, they changed their name to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in honor of their patron.
Contact person: Willie Meyer, Business Manager, (phone)
Address:
Web Site: http://svdpusa.org
| Last updated on January 29, 2010 |
