The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) is a Catholic lay organization founded in Paris by Blessed Frederick Ozanam in 1833. It is still a strong force to this day -- no work of charity is foreign to the Society, and it shows no discrimination. The vocation of the society's members, who are called Vincentians, is to follow Christ through assistance to those in need and to bear witness to his compassionate and liberating love. We meet once a month to share friendship, explore a deeper sense of spirituality, and discuss how we can best help our neighbors in need through person-to person service. Home visits are a key aspect of the St. Vincent de Paul Society that sets us apart from other charitable organizations. Frederick Ozanam believed in meeting people where they live, and providing personal, face-to-face support. Today, over 800,000 SVDP members all over the world carry on this tradition as part of our mission of service. We see doing home visits as a vocation, and the blessings we receive far outweigh our efforts. Our greatest joy is to see the face of Christ in those we meet.

Our SVDP conference at St. Alphonsus-St. Clement is in need of volunteers who are willing to show that the Spirit is alive and well. Some of our charitable works include food distribution, bill payment, providing thrift store vouchers for clothing and furniture, purchasing new beds and appliances, and referrals to other agencies. We also sponsor several special events, such as an annual clothing drive, a returnable bottle and can fundraiser in support of the children’s program at Camp Ozanam, and the Christmas Giving program, where we provide gift cards to disadvantaged children in our area, along with food and grocery vouchers for their families. If you wish to make a difference in someone’s life, please consider joining the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. This rewarding charity affords you warm fellowship, prayer and devotion, as well as inherent value in helping our brothers and sisters in need. You can put to good use your Catholic values while helping those within our community.

Conference meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 PM in Fr. Yagley Hall, 7500 Schaefer, Dearborn. All are invited to attend, so please come and see what we are all about!

For more information, to volunteer, or to request assistance for yourself or for another in need, please call us at 1-313-581-7495, or send an email to detroitwest1833@gmail.com.

THANK YOU FROM THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

February 2026

The St. Vincent de Paul Soci­ety extends heartfelt thanks to our parish community for the overwhelming support of the 2025 Christmas Giving Tree Pro­gram. Our goal was to provide a $50 gift card to every child age 16 and under on our list-and thanks to the generosity of St. Alphonsus-St. Clem­ent and St. Kateri parishioners, we exceeded that goal. This year, gift cards were distributed to 69 children, along with food and food certificates for their families. Surplus gift cards were donated to the Jus­tice Initiative, St. Vincent de Paul's prison ministry that supports individuals reentering society. As we close the books on the 2024-2025 fiscal year, we gratefully acknowledge the tremendous support received throughout the year. Through parish envelope donations, poor box offerings, the Friends Walk fundraiser, and Giving Tree contribu­tions, our conference was able to provide meaning­ful assistance to our neighbors in need. Nearly $8,000 was spent on food, clothing, utilities, and furniture with an additional $27,000 dedicated to rental assistance and temporary housing. Our Vin­centians performed 160 service hours, traveled over 600 miles, and served 280 individuals in our area. We are also deeply grateful for the generous gift of $3,200,  10% of the 2025 Christmas collection­ helping us meet the ongoing cost of winter shelter for those facing homelessness. Your generosity is a true reflection of Christ's love for the less fortunate. Thank you for making a lasting difference in our community