3 minute read
The St. Vincent de Paul Society: In Service, Seeing the Face of Christ
Sometimes it can seem easier to give to others in a “disconnected” way — dropping a couple of dollars in a bucket, taking a sack of canned goods at the food pantry, or donating old items from your closet. While all of those things are certainly important acts of service, we should also remember the “face” of the human being in need.
The mission of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is to change that, meeting people face-to-face — even if it’s more recently been six feet away — to see Christ in them and be a tangible witness of His love. It is this personal aspect that sets the St. Vincent de Paul Society apart from many other sources of aid. Since its founding in the 1800s, the focus on individuals has always been central to the Society’s vision. In order to fulfill this today, members visit people in their homes to meet people, learn their stories, and assess how they can best help those in need.
Advertisement
“Most of our clients are working people, though they are often folks who are living paycheck to paycheck,” says Frank Daley, who recently completed six years of serving as the President of our parish conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. “Every once in a while, you hit one of those emergencies – the car breaks down and if you don’t fix the car, you can’t get to work and everything falls apart, or it may be a health issue, or maybe someone has been laid off, or the business they worked for closed. We help them over that hump so they can get back on track.”
The type of short-term assistance provided through the St. Vincent de Paul Society includes helping with rent and utilities, and providing assistance with food, clothing, and more. They are also able to help connect those in need with other community agencies if their need is more extensive than what the Society can provide. For many who serve, being involved with this ministry is an eyeopening experience, giving people a glimpse of the need that exists — often right in our own backyard.
“My wife and I have found it to be among the most rewarding volunteer work we’ve done because
in many cases, we’re making a real impact on the life of someone in our city or county,” Frank says. “The help is going to someone you’re probably seeing in the grocery store or at church.”
In Frank’s experience, not only has this ministry been an opportunity to help others, but it’s also helped him grow closer to God, by putting his faith in action.
“When you look into the eyes of people, you see the face of God, in Whose image and likeness we’re all created,” Frank says. “With the direction of our Lord to ‘love your neighbor as yourself,’ and to see all of God’s creation as your brothers and sisters, how could you not help if you have the opportunity and ability to do so?”
Frank encourages his fellow parishioners to consider serving those in need through the ministry of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The group meets once a month, and people are then divided into teams who monitor the phone line for a week at a time, handling needs that arise. Monetary donations are also welcome.
“We could use more people to help out with this,” he says. “And if your experience is anything like our experience, you will probably conclude that this was the best volunteer opportunity you were ever involved in.”
