St Vincent de Paul Society at St. Timothy
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
St. Timothy Catholic Community
1351 Paige Place Bldg. D
Lady Lake FL 32159
(352) 753-1455
Who We Are:
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international society of charity, operating in 155 countries with over 850,000 lay members that are Catholic in character. The Society revolves around its mission statement: “A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.” Its primary purpose is its members’ spiritual growth. The secondary purpose is to serve the needy and bring them closer to God. Joining the Society--becoming a Vincentian--responds to a special call from God to serve Him through active and spiritual service to those in need. Vincentians are called to see Christ in those served and to become the face of God to those seeking help. Vincentians nurture love of God and neighbor through supportive gatherings, adherence to a basic Rule defining who we are and what we do, and, most of all, prayer and reflection.
St. Vincent de Paul: Apostle of Charity:
The patron of the Society, St. Vincent de Paul, was called to serve the destitute poor in French villages in the early 1600’s. In 1617, Vincent went to take the confession of a man near death who needed to reconcile with God. Vincent realized the church needs to go to the people. Later, he learned of a poor, ill, farm family. In his homily, Vincent urged the congregation to go and help—and crowds did, with food for the family. Then he realized that much of the food would spoil. He famously concluded that “the poor suffer less from a lack of generosity than from a lack of organization.” Just days later, Vincent gathered a group of women to form the first of the Confraternities of Charity to aid those in need and to work for social justice.
Founder Blesser Frederic Ozanam:
Fast forward 200 years to Paris, France. Society Founder Frederic Ozanam and several college friends similarly were called to follow Christ’s command in the Gospel--to seek the poor. Arriving at the Sorbonne University in 1831, Frederic often found himself defending the faith against the criticisms of his professors and fellow students. He joined a group called the Conference of History. At one meeting, anti-Catholic students in the group challenged Frederic and his Catholic friends: “We agree that at one time your Church was a great Church and was a great source of good. But what is your Church doing now? What is she doing for the poor? Show us your works and we will believe you.” Frederic and his friends accepted the challenge. On April 23, 1833, the friends gathered and Frederic’s words moved all present: “We must do what is agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the gospel. Let us go to the poor!” The group called their organization the Conference of Charity and adopted St. Vincent de Paul as the Society’s patron and namesake, adopting a Rule based on his teachings and St. Vincent’s trust in Divine Providence.
Primary Vincentian Services at St. Timothy's Conference
Housed at St. Timothy’s, the local Conference of the Society offers many services to those needing help in our area, including a food pantry, household financial assistance, support of the Society’s monthly donation truck, and managing the newspaper bins that provide the Society income from recycling. (Click HERE for more information on St. Vincent de Paul services.)
Joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul:
If you would like to become a member of the Society here at St. Timothy’s, please fill in a volunteer form in the Church office. You may also contact the Society’s office at (352) 753-1455 and leave your information for the New Member Orientation Coordinator. (Click HERE for the volunteer form information.)
