THE  SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT de PAUL

AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CATHOLIC LAY MEN AND WOMAN WHOSE PRIMARY MISSION IS TO HELP THE POOR AND LESS FORTUNATE.

 

THE SOCIETY WAS FOUNDED IN POVERTY STRICKEN FRANCE IN 1833 BY FREDERIC OZANAM AND A SMALL GROUP OF HIS COLLEAGUES. AT THE TIME FREDERIC WAS ONLY 20 YEARS OLD AND IN ADDITION TO EXPANDING HIS PURSUITS TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY AND ATTAIN SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR THE MARGINALISED, HE STUDIED LAW AT THE SORBONNE HE BECAME A PRACTISING BARRISTER AND LATER AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 27 WAS APPOINTED A PROFESSOR OF FOREIGN LITERATURE AT THE SORBONNE HAVING ACHIEVED A DOCTORATE DEGREE.

 

FREDERIC CONTINUOUSLY STRUGGLED WITH ILL HEALTH AND HE DIED AT THE EARLY AGE OF 40 YEARS IN 1853.

IN THAT SHORT SPAN OF 20 YEARS, INSPIRED BY THE WORK 200 YEARS EARLIER OF THE FRENCH PRIEST, VINCENT de PAUL, HE ENERGISED THE GROWTH OF THE SOCIETY THROUGHOUT FRANCE AND THEN EUROPE AND INTO AMERICA. THE INDIVIDUAL CHARITABLE GROUPS WERE REFERRED TO AS CONFERENCES.

THE FIRST CONFERENCE IN AUSTRALIA WAS FORMED IN 1854 AT ST FRANCIS CHURCH IN MELBOURNE UNDER THE PRESIDENCY Rev Fr GERALD A. WARD AFTER WHOM THE BOX HILL STATE HEAD OFFICE IS NAME —“GERALD WARD HOUSE” THIS WAS ONLY ONE YEAR AFTER THE DEATH OF THE FOUNDER, FREDERICK OZANAM.

TODAY THERE ARE CONFERENCS IN EACH OF THE AUSTRALIAN STATES AND TERRITORIES WITH ALL BUT THE NORTHERN TERRITORY (1949) HAVING THEIR INCEPTION THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19th CENTURY. THEY HELP MORE THAN 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE EACH YEAR WITH IN EXCESS OF $35MILLION IN MATERIAL AID.
 

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOO !

  • BY JOINING IN THE PASSION OF THE SOCIETY’S MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS AND ASSISTING TO CREATE A MORE JUST AND COMPASSIONATE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY.
  • YOU CAN MAKE A CREDIT CARD DONATION ON 13 18 12 OR VISIT www.svdp-vic.org.au
  • YOU CAN DONATE GOODS TO ONE OF THE St VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY’S CENTRES OF CHARITY ( the Op Shops or the Vinnies Stores) CALL 1800 621 349 or 9895 5800
  • BECOMING A VOLUNTEER BY CALLING 03 9895 5800
  • JOINING YOUR LOCAL PARISH CONFERENCE, BY CONTACTING CURRENT MEMBERS WHO ARE LISTED BELOW.
  • IF YOU ARE IN NEED, OR KNOW SOMEONE IN NEED, OF HOME VISIT ASSISTANCE FROM THE SOCIETY, ITS HELP LINE NUMBER IS 1300 305 330. 

THE CONFERENCE OF St PETER & PAULS EAST DONCASTER PARISH, AS WE NOW HAVE IT, WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1991 WITH THE LATE DICK GEBBIE AND GERALDINE GEBBIE; SID AND THELMA GREEDY BEING, AMONG OTHERS, THE FIRST MEMBERS.

TODAY THE MEMBERSHIP COMPRISES

  • PRESIDENT — NOEL SPINKS.
  • SECRETARY/TREASURER —- HARRY MARTIN
  • PAST PRESIDENT — MICHAEL PENNEFATHER (Michael also holds the position of President; Box Hill Region which covers six conferences in or near Box Hill)
  • KEVIN SMITH
  • JIM HARRISON LEO DUNN
  • RON GRATION
  • BARBARA GRATION
  • LORAINE LEDNAR
  • MURIEL O’GORMAN
  • ALIDA DI INGENIIS
  • MARIA MONTEROSSO
  • FRANK PEZZIN

Members meet each third Tuesday at 9.30am in the Parish Centre. Among other meeting matters they report on calls made during the previous three weeks and consider requests made for assistance to help with the payment of various types of household bills. Enquiries for membership are welcome.

Currently there are six associate members who if able assist with house calls, assist at the Vinnie Stores or the Box Hill Head Office Call Centre. Current Associate Members are Claudia PENNEFATHER; Carmel DUNN; Margaret HARRISON; Filomena NATARELLI; KeviN O’BRIEN and Alex KAINE. 

HOW MUCH THE SOCIETY HAS GROWN SINCE FREDERIC TURNED TWENTY IN 1833. NOW KNOWN TO HIS MEMBERS AS – BLESSED FREDERIC OZANAM  HE WAS BEATIFIED BY POPE JOH N PAUL ll ON 23rd AUGUST 1997.

THE VINCENTIANS IN THE CLOSING PRAYERS OF EACH MEETING INTERCEDE THAT BLESSED FREDERIC BE CANONISED BY THE CHURCH.