St. Vincent de Paul
It is not sufficient for me to love God if I do not love my neighbor. I belong to God and to the poor.” –St. Vincent de Paul
The Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul on Wednesday, September 27. Then on the following Saturday, Resurrection will meet at St. Vincent de Paul to put our faith into action.
Most people have heard of St. Vincent de Paul, but not too many know very much about him or his life. St. Vincent was a French Catholic priest who dedicated himself to serving the poor. Because of his extensive work, he is considered the patron saint of charitable societies and many other movements, including Vincentian. There were few charitable projects in which Vincent was not engaged. He founded hospitals, orphanages, and homes for people with developmental disabilities. He also ministered to prisoners and slaves near the end of his life.
He died on September 27, 1660, at the age of 80, and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1737.
Sought Fame and Wealth When He Was Young
Vincent de Paul was born in 1581 to a peasant family in France. Though he later achieved fame for his dedication to the poor, he spent his early life feeling ashamed of his origins and of his own father. He chose a career in the priesthood in hopes of escaping his humble roots. He was ordained in 1600 when he was 19 years old.
Captured by Pirates and Sold into Slavery
In 1605, when Vincent was returning home by boat from a trip, he was captured by pirates, who took him to Tunis in Northern Africa. He was sold into slavery, and he remained a slave for two years. During this time, he prayed to God, vowing that he would devote the rest of his life to the service of the poor if he was freed.
Community Organizer
After he managed to escape from slavery, he served in a church in rural France. The poverty he found there shocked him—it was not uncommon for people who could not find work in the poor community to die from starvation. He sought financial assistance from the wealthy and other connections and began organizing groups who would go from house to house requesting furniture, food and clothing for the poor.
Serving the Poor
He founded a mission congregation of priests, the Vincentians, who pledged to devote their lives to the spiritual and material needs of the poor. Along with Louise de Marillac, he founded the Daughters of Charity to serve the poor and sick. They were not called “sisters,” because at the time sisters were in cloistered convents. These congregations of women serving the poor spread throughout France, other parts of Europe, and around the world.
The Society of St. Paul de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded more than 150 years after St. Vincent’s death. When Frederic Ozanam founded the Society, he named it after St. Vincent de Paul. Ozanam was devoted to St. Vincent and he modeled the Society on his call to “see Christ in the poor and to be Christ to the poor”. The members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul continue to honor his life and legacy.
As a Church of the Home, reflect and discuss the works of St. Vincent de Paul and how his mission is lived out today. Then create a plan to put your faith into action. How can you support and continue the work of St. Vincent de Paul? Who in our community are forgotten neighbors and how can you become their advocate?
Join us for Mass this weekend in person
at 4:00 PM on Saturday, 8:30 or 10:30 AM on Sunday, on www.gbres.org/live, our YouTube channel, and our Facebook page.
READINGS FOR THIS WEEKEND’S MASSES
VIRTUALLY SUNDAY REFLECTION
God's ways are not our ways. What seems unfair and unjust in payment and treatment to us is actually God demonstrating worthiness with every person, despite circumstances. Join Tony as he reflects on this weekend's scripture readings.
Families
This Weekend's Bulletin
(click to read)
Newest Member of Our Family of Faith
Recent Losses in Our Parish Family
Announcements
Ruby and Res
Did you hear pumpkin spice is back in town! Ruby did and is excited to get as much pumpkin as possible.
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