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.