Society of St. Vincent De Paul: Aiding the Poor

It was at the height of the French revolution on April 23, 1833, that the Society of St. Vincent De Paul (SVP) was founded by a 20 year old Sorbonne law student Fedric Ozanam. He chose St. Vincent De Paul, the saint of the unprivileged, as patron of the society. Since then, the society has grown with branches throughout the world. And this year, on August 22,1997, Fredric Ozanam will be beatified in Rome.

Since its inception, in fact, the Society of St. Vincent De Paul has been favoured by the Popes in appreciation of their work. Held in high esteem by the clergy everywhere this low profile organisation with 37,594 members spread over 4,443 conferences (local units) in 48 dioceses all over India alone, silently visiting the poor aiding them with food, medicines, clothes, providing educational assistance, repairing leprosy and AIDS affected patients and rehabilitating addicts.

Pope John Paul II in his inspiring message to Vincentians at a special audience in Rome in 1983, said “I should like to single out the special charisma of your Society, namely, the personal contact the idea of visiting the person in need, bringing spiritual or material fuss, discreetly, respecting the dignity of the individual. This is a precious element in the anonymity and harshness of our civilisation. If one considers only the multitude, one would never make a start, but every individual person is unique”.

Bishop Thomas Dabre of Vasai speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the AIDS wing at the present day Niramaya Niketan (run by the SVP), in Mumbai on January 28 this year, referred to the SVP as “the pride and glory of the Catholic Church”

The members of the Society- all practicing Catholics- meet every week at Conference meetings in their respective parishes. The basic work of all members is visitation of poor, sick, disabled and generally assisting them in whatever way they can. As far as possible the poor are not entertained at the meeting place as it is considered an act of humiliation for them.

Several Conferences within a Geographical area form a Particular Council. All Particular Councils of a Diocese join together to form a Central Council. All Central Councils of a country form a National Council. Each of this units (viz. Conferences, Particular Councils, Central Councils, National Council) elect their respective President. The President selects his board (of members) which is the administrative body at the respective level. A President General is elected out of the heads of all National councils of the world.

Internationally, the society of 8.75 lakh Vincentians from 46,650 Conferences in 131 countries, with headquarters in France, is headed by Prof. Dr. Cesar Agusto Nunes Viana of Portugal who is on a visit to Goa to attend an International meeting on Twinning at the Mandovi Hotel, Panjim February 18-19-1997.

Delegates from Australia, England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands, France and Germany are expected to attend the meeting along with ten delegates from all over India representing the host country.E. Rt. Rev. Dr. Raul Gonsalves Arch-bishop-Patriarch of Goa will inaugurate the meeting. Dr Wilfred D’Souza, the Deputy Chief Minister of Goa has consented to be the Chief Guest. The council General of Portugal H. E. Dr. Antonio J Carvalho will be the Guest of Honour. Other dignitaries are also expected to attend.

All arrangements for this meetings  are personally supervised by the President of Goa Central Council Bro. Lynn D’Gama.

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul in India has been led by Bro. Tangaraju Nadar of Tanjavur, TamilNadu, for the last four years. Bro Tangaraju’s National of the SVP has four Mumbai based  Goans in Bro. John B.D D’Souza (Candolim) Jt. Treasurer, and Bro. Albert Lobo (Sangolda) Editor of SVP Bulletin.

In Goa, there are 72 Conferences which are grouped under eight Particular Councils under the Goa Central Council headed by Bro.Lynn D’Gama of Saligao.

Under the leadership of Bro. Lynn D’Gama, the SVP in Goa has grown from 38 confrences in 1993 to the 72 at present. Financial assistance given by the SVP in Goa during the last financial year (1995-96) was Rs 12.58 lakh as compared to Rs 7.38 lakh in 1992-93.

There are five medical clinnics run by the SVP in Goa where free medical aid is provided after checkup by eminent doctors.

Pride of the place however goes to the Arc of Hope, a home for the aged, run by the SVP Conference attached to the Church of O.L. of Good Hope, Candolim headed by Sr. Mary Nazareth. The institution is run with the help of only local aid. Earlier foreign aid which was received was redirected towards a more needy Conference. The day-to-day affairs for the home, which houses 35 inmates including a few bed-ridden ladies, is looked after by Mrs Ezameralda Gomes who has helped in the Arc of Hope for the last Fifteen years. With spirit such as this prevailing, for others to emulate, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is bound to go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the least fortunate and marginalised segments of our society.