History and mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the world and in our Diocese of Hong Kong

History and mission of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in the world and in our Diocese of Hong Kong

2. When was it found?

3. Founded in 1833, the Society of St Vincent
de Paul (SSVP) is an international lay Catholic
organization of men and women to help people
in need. It is funded mainly by donations.

5. How did it start?

6. 1813
Born in Milan, Italy on 23 April
1831
Arrived in Paris and enrolled at the
Faculty of Law of Jussieu

7. 1832
Cholera epidemic. Frederic created a group with his
friends called “Conference of Charity” to assist the poor
1833
First meeting took place on 23rd April near the
Saint-Sulpice Church, chaired by Emmanuel
Bailly who became the mentor to the group.
The Conference is placed under the patronage
of Saint Vincent de Paul, Apostle of Charity.

8. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
is born (SSVP)

9. Sister Rosalie Rendu joins to help people in
need. The group splits in order to create other
Conferences in Paris and in the provinces.
1841
The group expands and becomes
a society with nearly 10,000 members, in 133 cities
1853
Frédéric-Ozanam passes on.
The Society expanded to 29 countries and
has 900 Conferences in France.

10. What is a Conference?
A group of members who come together to fulfill the
Mission of the Society. A Conference may be
established within any community, parish, town,
school, university or workplace.

They collaborate with a Council that brings together
several local, regional or national Conferences in a
structure that varies from country to country.

11. Sister Rosalie Rendu

13. What are the core works
of the SSVP?

14. Core works of the SSVP are
home visits. Volunteers work
within their areas, responding
to their local needs.

This means that the type of work and needs
for each area around the world is extremely varied.

SSVP also provides emergency aid and
rehabilitation for victims of natural or
humanitarian disasters, and finances
development projects.

15. Society of St Vincent De Paul
around the world

17. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) works
in all five continents of the world. It is operating
today in over 140 countries.
FACT BOX
The International General Council (IGC) is the highest
authority of the Society.

The General Council is the link between member countries
of the International Confederation of the SSVP.

CIAD (International Commission for Aid and Development)
— provides emergency humanitarian aid and funds
recovery programmes. Also responsible for funds allocated
to these projects globally.

18. Case Studies

19. AMERICA — Shilcayo, Peru

Number of beneficiaries: 170 families and 600 people
Aim: To fund technical and
professional training for farmers
in small rural communities and
to improve their skills. Also to
promote organic farming and
diversifying their product range

Result: Increase in production,
food security, self-sufficiency.

20. AFRICA — Gambia
Number of beneficiaries: 5000 people, Darsilami village
Aim: To provide a rice husking
machine to improve their daily
working conditions. To enable
higher efficiency and productivity
at a lower cost.

Result: The village is
self-sufficient. Income covers
operations and maintenance and
wages of the two employees.

21. MIDDLE EAST — Syria & Iraq
Wars in Syria and Iraq
Aim: To provide
moral and material
support by
distributing clothes,
food, medicine and
and sanitary needs.
Also helps provide
financial assistance
i.e. rent, school fees.

22. ASIA — Philippines
Number of beneficiaries: 760 and 900 people
Aim: To repair houses and
construct dwellings that were
destroyed by super typhoon in
November 2013. Also to
provide school funding for
school fees, education
materials, uniforms, meals,
transport for secondary and
university students. Other
projects include medical care
and micro credit. These are
currently underway.

23. ASIA — Taiwan
Beunen Foundation
Formally established by the Congregation of the Mission in 2001 for
people with mental and physical disabilities, for elderly and the most
weak in the society.

The Beunen Foundation was established to continue the works of Fr.
Gerard Beunen who was always dedicated to helping people who are
most weak and abandoned as taught through the example of St. Vincent
de Paul. He founded St. Anne’s Home in 1972 to take care of those
abandoned children with mental and physical disabilities.

24. OCEANIA — Australia
650 Vinnies (St Vincent De Paul) thrift shops and centres
Funds from the thrift shops
stay in the local community.

• Services include:
• Low income support -
Unemployment and
underemployment
• Housing and homelessness
• Refugees and migrants
• Heath matters
• Indigenous Australia
• Children and education

Result: The annual event raised millions in
contributions, with 1475 CEOs taking part, held
at major metropolitan and regional cities.
Aim:!To raise awareness of the growing
issue of homelessness in Australia and
raise funds to combat the issue. 

25. Society of St Vincent De Paul
in Hong Kong

26. The society in Hong Kong was founded by
Rev. Gaetano Favini, MEM on 12 July 1863

27. SSVP Central Council of Hong Kong (SSVPCC) runs the
St. Vincent de Paul Nursery School in Kwun Tong and the
Ozanam Comprehensive Services Centre in Shum Shui Po.
Ozanam Comprehensive Services Centre
A free clinic for Chinese medicine, providing
services to the underprivileged in the
community. Also provides after school classes
and extracurricular activities, job opportunity
information and charitable services.
St. Vincent de Paul Nursery School
Provides full day classes and extended child
care services for children ages 2 to 6 years old.
It is under the remit of the Education Bureau.

29. Thank you!
We are on Slideshare!
Username: saintvincentchurch