OUR MISSION
The Sacred Heart Vincentians are a part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, an international organization of over 800,000 members.
OUR PRIMARY MISSION is to reach out in the name of Christ to the poor and needy - with material aid, encouragement and spiritual support.
WE RESPOND TO the command of Christ to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and shelter the homeless.
OUR INSPlRATION are the words of Christ: "Whatsoever you do for the least of my children, you do for Me."
OUR PATRON AND SAINTLY EXEMPLAR is the apostle of Charity of the Universal Church, St. Vincent de Paul.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL THRIFT STORES:
- 12310 N. Nebraska Avenue, Tampa 813.977.7057
- 1311 3rd Street NE, Ruskin 813.645.5255
OUR FOUNDER
Frederic Ozanam founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was born on April 17, 1813. On his birthday, in 1833, he and five friends founded the Society. Ozanam at 20 years of age, was a student at the Sorbonne in Paris and a defender of the Catholic faith. He helped to revive a defunct Catholic discussion club. After presenting a talk on the "Role of Christianity in Civilization", an adversary agreed that "Christianity has done a lot of good in the past but what has it done lately? More particularly what have you done for the poor? Show us your works." Twelve years later the first Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference was founded in the United States at St. Louis, Missouri.
Frederic died on September 8, 1853. He was Beatified by Pope John Paul lI on August 22, 1997 at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.
OUR PATRON
St. Vincent de Paul was born in France in 1576. His early years as a priest, he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave. He converted his master and was set free. His great charity for the poor, the downtrodden, the young, the elderly, the refugees, the slaves was astonishing to others. He searched for abandoned children and organized groups to help those in need. He built homes for the poor, the sick, the abandoned children, and to provide special care to the elderly. He established the Congregation of the Mission Priests and the Sisters of Charity. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, founded in 1833 by Frederick Ozanam, continues his work. St. Vincent de Paul died in 1660 in France. His feast day is September 27th.
"It is not enough to
give soup and bread,
this the rich can do.
It is only for your love
alone that the poor will
forgive you the bread
you give them."
- St. Vincent de Paul
HOW DO WE FIND THOSE IN NEED?
There are those in need of assistance in our Parish. They either call us directly, or are referred by friends, Sacred Heart Parishioners, or Social Service Agencies. The names and circumstances of those needing help are always kept in strictest confidence. Human dignity and self-respect of those assisted are uppermost in the Vincentian mind and heart.
HOW DO WE HELP THOSE IN NEED?
- By person-to-person contact, and whenever possible, through home visits.
- By providing financial assistance for food, rent, utilities, medicines, clothing, travel and other necessities.
- By offering advice on employment opportunities.
- By informing about private and governmental funds and services available.
- By comforting and encouraging the needy and praying for them.
Most assistance is given on a "one time" basis to assist families who are experiencing a significant hardship. Vincentian support is Christian love and Christian justice at work - it is not a welfare "handout".
HOW ARE YOUR DONATIONS USED?
Your donations given (during our fiscal year ended in September) were utilized to help the needy of our Parish. See our annual report here.
- DONATE to The Sacred Heart Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We collect at the back of the Church after all weekend masses twice per month. We also have a poor box in the statue of Saint Vincent de Paul near the back of the church. It is because of your generosity that we are able to HELP THE POOR within our parish as much as we do.
- BRING non-perishable foodstuffs for our pantry.
- PRAY for the Society, The Poor, and for the Canonization of Frederick Ozanam, our founder.
THANK YOU
The members of your Sacred Heart Society of St. Vincent de Paul extend a most heartfelt "Thank You" those of you who have chosen to support our work.
|
|
|
