The
Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam,
a 20 year old student of the Sorbonne University in Paris. In answer
to a challenge for Christians to practice what they preach, Frederic
and a group of fellow students started to seek out and visit the
poor of Paris in their homes, taking them bread and clothes. This
small group took as their Patron the great French priest who alerted
the world to social problems, St. Vincent de Paul. Similar groups
eventually spread throughout the Christian world with the object
of visiting those in need for the love of God.
Today
the Society is a worldwide lay organization of Catholic men and
women, numbering 880,000. The members meet in parish and district
groups in order to personally help those in need. The aim of the
Society is to bring social justice and the friendship of true charity
to all those in need.
Membership
involves meeting twice a month on Monday evenings at 7:00pm in the
school library. At the meeting the helping contacts of each member
are reported and discussed, necessary action is taken, and plans
for any follow-up are agreed upon. Visits to the needy are usually
done in the company of another member. Members contribute whatever
they feel they can afford to share in financing the group. Prayers
are said before and after the meeting to remind members that the
motive for their work is the love of God. No special qualifications
are required to join the Society.
Collections
for the support of the St. Vincent de Paul Society are held after
all masses on the second weekend of each month.
“For
I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me
drink…In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one
of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
Matthew
25:35-40
God has used
this beautiful ministry to touch the lives of countless people who
have received the blankets while enduring a difficult time in their
life.
These Prayer
Blankets have brought comfort to the suffering and peace to the
fearful. The recipients know that they are not alone, that there
are those who care about them and are praying for them.
This
beautiful act of service for the Lord truly transforms these simple
threads into an act of love as we ask the Lord's blessing on the
recipients.
Prayer
blankets are made by volunteers in our Parish and distributed by
the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
If
you wish to participate in making this spiritual gift you may join
us on the third Saturday of each month 10:30am in the convent meeting
room by the school office. Please RSVP before that Saturday so we
will have enough materials for the blankets. You may RSVP by contacting
us at 388-1207 or email:stmatthews@stmatthewsjax.com
If
you would like to request a prayer blanket for a loved one please
visit the forms page for a request sheet
