The Society of St Vincent de Paul
Frederic Oznam founded the St. Vincent de Paul society in 1833. The aim of the charity was to help the poor in the slums of Paris. Frederic founded the charity when he was only 20 and still a college student. The charity now has branches in over 140 countries. It first reached Ireland in 1844.
It has helped the victims of both World Wars, the Great Famine and numerous economic recessions. There are 800,000 members worldwide and 11,500 in Ireland alone, making it the largest Catholic voluntary society in the world.
The three main aims or pillars of SVP are to: tackle loneliness in elderly people, promote self-sufficiency in disadvantaged groups and to fight for social justice by identifying the causes of poverty and then trying to provide solutions.
The Young SVP Programme is a youth development programme designed for use in schools. Young people are offered opportunities to learn about SVP, social justice and how to engage in social action in a positive and meaningful way. The programme allows young people to improve the lives of others.
In September, the PCH Conference of SVP will be looking for new members, both in TY and Fifth Year. We’ll be electing a new committee to replace this year’s group, who were dedicated, hard working and productive. Consider joining when the time comes and make a positive difference to the lives of others.
