Slide 1

Orientation Session - Part 1

Presented by: Rob Greenaway

Chair of the Particular Council Presidents Committee

Past President of the Toronto Central Council

Past President of the Toronto North Particular Council

15 years a Vincentian at Blessed Sacrament Conference in Toronto

THE VINCENTIAN OPENING PRAYER

L: COME HOLY SPIRIT, LIVE WITHIN OUR LIVES.

ALL: AND STRENGTHEN US BY YOUR LOVE.

L: SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT AND NEW LIFE WILL BE CREATED.

ALL: AND THE WHOLE FACE OF THE EARTH WILL BE RENEWED.

L: LET US REFLECT ON THE WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, RECALLING HIS

UNITY AND PRESENCE AMONG US: “WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED TOGETHER IN MY

NAME, THERE AM I IN THE MIDST OF THEM.” (SHORT SILENCE)

ALL: LORD JESUS, DEEPEN OUR VINCENTIAN SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP DURING THIS

MEETING. MAKE US RESPONSIVE TO THE CHRISTIAN CALLING TO SEEK AND FIND

THE FORGOTTEN, THE SUFFERING OR THE DEPRIVED, SO THAT WE MAY BRING THEM

YOUR LOVE. HELP US TO BE GENEROUS WITH OUR TIME, OUR POSSESSIONS AND

OURSELVES, IN THIS MISSION OF CHARITY. PERFECT IN US YOUR LOVE AND TEACH US TO

SHARE MORE FULLY IN THE EUCHARISTIC SACRIFICE OFFERED FOR ALL.

HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE, THE LORD IS WITH THEE. BLESSED ART THOU AMONGST

WOMEN AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB, JESUS. HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD,

PRAY FOR US SINNERS, NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH. AMEN

L: MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS. ALL: HAVE MERCY ON US.

L: IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY. ALL: PRAY FOR US.

L: SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL. ALL: PRAY FOR US.

L: SAINT LOUISE DE MARILLAC. ALL: PRAY FOR US.

L: BLESSED FRÉDÉRIC OZANAM. ALL: PRAY FOR US.

L: BLESSED ROSALIE RENDU. ALL: PRAY FOR US. Slide 2

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

Toronto Central Council Orientation Session- Part 1

Agenda • Vincentian Prayer

• Who inspired the Society

• The Rule

• Organizational Structure

• Conferences and Councils

• Five Guiding Principles

• Home Visitation

• Characteristics of Vincentian Spirituality

• Closing Prayer

A VINCENTIANS PRAYER

LORD, HELP ME TO GROW.

HELP ME TO BE A BETTER VINCENTIAN TODAY THAN I WAS YESTERDAY.

HELP ME TO BE A BETTER VINCENTIAN TOMORROW THAN I AM TODAY.

LORD, HELP ME TO GROW.

HELP ME TO BE MORE COMPASSIONATE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY.

HELP ME TO BE MORE RESPECTFUL OF OUR NEIGHBOURS IN NEED TODAY

THAN I WAS YESTERDAY.

HELP ME TO BE LESS JUDGMENTAL TODAY THAN I WAS YESTERDAY.

LORD, HELP ME TO GROW.

HELP ME TO BE MORE HUMBLE TODAY THAN YESTERDAY.

HELP ME TO LISTEN MORE FULLY TODAY THAN YESTERDAY.

HELP ME TO BE MORE PATIENT TODAY THAN YESTERDAY.

LORD, HELP ME TO GROW.

HELP ME TO GROW IN FAITH SO THAT I CAN SEE YOU IN ALL OF THOSE I

SERVE.

HELP ME TO BE GENEROUS WITH MY TIME AND MY GIFTS IN MY SERVICE TO

THOSE IN NEED.

HELP ME TO SERVE YOU BETTER TODAY THAN YESTERDAY.

LORD, HELP ME TO GROW.

HELP ME TO BE A BETTER VINCENTIAN TODAY THAN I WAS YESTERDAY.

HELP ME TO BE A BETTER VINCENTIAN TOMORROW THAN I AM TODAY.

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Who inspired the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul?

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 by seven

men who wanted to create an organization dedicated to helping

those impoverished people living in Paris.

The primary figure behind the Society's founding was Blessed

Frederic Ozanam ( beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997), a

student at the Sorbonne. Ozanam and his student friends decided

to get together as Christians; not to talk, but to act. They set up

the first Conference of Charity.

The principle of a weekly meeting was agreed upon and the main

activity of the conference was to visit poor persons in their homes.

The Society took St. Vincent de Paul as its patron under the

guidance of Sister Rosalie Rendu.

Sister Rosalie was a member of the Daughters of Charity, a

religious order of women founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St.

Louise de Marillac.

Sister Rosalie guided Blessed Frédéric and his companions to the

homes of the needy and directed them with advice and wise

counsel in their approach towards those in need.

Slide 6 Slide 6

Our patron: St. Vincent de Paul

Born 1581 in southern France. Ordained in 1600. Died 1660 in Paris.

Vincent opened the doors of the Catholic Church, teaching the clergy to work

with the laity. He was the first who dared to value the contribution of women.

In 1617 he organized service to the poor and sick by a group that evolved into

the Ladies of Charity, lay women who offered care and relief to the poor.

At the age of 44 (1625) Vincent formally founded the Congregation of the

Mission, an order of priests formed to evangelize the rural poor.

In 1633 Vincent co-founded the Daughters of Charity with Saint Louise de

Marillac who he had met ten years earlier.

Vincent taught and walked the vision of direct personal outreach to persons

experiencing poverty in their homes, in hospitals, in prisons.

Vincent taught that true charity does not consist only of distributing alms, but

also of helping the poor to regain their dignity and independence.

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Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Grows

Quickly spreads throughout Europe and around the world

First Canadian conference in Quebec City in 1846

First Ontario conference at St. Michael’s Cathedral in

Toronto in November 1850

Today the Society, an International network of Charity, is

present in 153 Countries throughout the world (each with

its own National Council).

It has 800,000 active members and over one million

volunteers in local teams called “Conferences”

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The Rule

The Rule is the governing document of the Society of

Saint Vincent de Paul.

The Rule and Statutes are set forth by International

Council in Paris and provided by the National Council of

Canada in Ottawa.

The Rule Speaks to our vocation, foundation, and call to

service.

The Rule includes governance, structure and operational

information.

A Revised Rule (© 2020) will be available this summer!

In the meantime access The Rule (©2007) at

https://www.ssvp.ca/rule-statutes

recommend Page 9-26 and Section 4 page 115-127

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Why a Rule?

To maintain the Society as “one heart and one

mind”

To help us remain true to the charism or

special graces given to Ozanam and his

associates

To help us remain true to our mission, values

and principles

To guide, inform and inspire us in our service to

those in need and our relationships with other

Vincentians and the Society

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The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul:

(P. 11 The Rule and Statutes of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Canada)

Vision

The Society will embrace the world in a network of charity, serving

Christ in the suffering, poor and marginalized persons, bringing

them love and respect, aid, development, hope and joy, in a more just

society.

We also seek to deepen our spirituality and mutual love and support

amongst members, so that, seeing how we serve those in need with

one mind and heart, people are attracted to the Society and to Christ

who animates it.

Mission

To live the Gospel message by serving Christ in persons in need with

love, respect, justice and joy.

Values

see Christ in anyone who suffers

come together as a family

have personal contact with poor persons

help in all possible ways.

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)

The Rule of the International Confederation of the Society of Saint Vincent de

Paul emphasizes:

the fundamental Vincentian mission of serving, protecting and speaking for

the poor persons

the importance of loving and respecting those we serve

the importance of loving and respecting each other as we carry out our

mission

the importance of the home visit in our mission.

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How is the Society Organized?

The founding members of the Society gathered together in 1833 and called

themselves the Conference of Charity.

The term conference has been an integral part of the vocabulary of the Society

ever since.

What is a Conference? (The Rule 2.2 p.29-30)

2.2.1 Definition

Vincentians, within the limits of a parish, a school, a store, a workplace join to

form a conference. The conference provides an environment in which they

develop and nurture a common spiritual life and where they grow in their

closeness to the Lord as they encounter Him in the poor.

2.2.2 Role and Responsibilities of a Conference

Within a conference, an environment should be created that will enable

members to develop a sense of Vincentian spirituality, friendship, and

solidarity in their charitable activities.

Within the conference, to carry out its mission, members:

set objectives,

plan, develop and carry out activities,

work as a team,

make decisions by consensus.”

Most conferences meet monthly (The Rule states bi-weekly) and come together as a

community of faith, friendship, and service to poor persons.

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Activities undertaken by the Conference and shared by

members

Being on a Home visitation team (usually a man and woman)

and making Home Visits

Attending regular Conference Meetings

Sharing in the work of administration and fulfillment of the

conferences mission and activities such as the Conference Help

Line administration, distribution of calls and support for visiting

teams

New member recruitment, development, training and mentoring

Fund raising though the “Poor Box” collections, counting and

deposits and Conference Accounting Management, tax receipts

and thank you to donors (usually the Treasurer or her delegate)

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Meeting Minutes, record keeping on visits and voucher distribution, reports to

Councils

Meetings with Pastor to communicate what the conference is doing;

communications to the parish on activities, successes and challenges

Management of other works undertaken by the conference such as:

Bundle Sundays, food pantries meal programs, Christmas gift programs,

Seeds of Hope Canada Learning Bond registration

Camp Registration for Marygrove (Girls) and Ozanam (Boys) Camp

The purpose of sharing list of activities ( not exhaustive) is to reinforce that there

are many tasks and responsibilities to be shared by members to administer and

manage an active conference and for the conference to operate successfully and be

known and respected in the parish.

Every conference needs a diversity of members who have the capacity, competency,

and interest in coming together spiritually and in friendship for the purpose of

serving the many needs of the conference. This is service leadership and it is shared

by all members at the best conferences.

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How is the Society Structured to fulfill its Mission?

The Conference is the basic functioning unit of the Society of Saint Vincent de

Paul throughout the world.

The Society has a geographically tiered administrative structure, which exists to

support conferences. The Conference is the first level of this structure.

Historically, as conferences increased in number and the Society expanded

geographically, it was decided to form different Councils to support the activities

of conferences that were geographically close to each other.

The Councils, whether they are Particular, Central, Regional, National or the

International Confederation, are responsible for supporting and animating all

the conference activities and Special Works of the Society.

Councils may engage in activities called “Special Works” independently of the

conferences.

Councils strive to maintain the founders’ belief and commitment to the spirit of

friendship, spirituality, belonging and sharing as the path for all Vincentians

follow to holiness.

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What do Particular Councils do to support Conferences?

Your Particular Council has a number of Conferences in your geographic area

and meets regularly to keep conferences informed about:

o changing social conditions, new issues and programs, major events

The Particular Council provides conferences with the support to:

o benefit from the knowledge and inspiration of other Vincentians by sharing

best practices and new forms of outreach

o expand Vincentians knowledge and sense of worldwide responsibility

o organize training and formation sessions about the Vincentian ministry and

spirituality for potential and current members.

o re-activate struggling, dormant or defunct conferences

o create new conferences

o provide financial assistance if conferences need it.

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Organizational Chart

The Pyramid of Support Toronto Central Council

Vincentian Members – (1,400 in TCC)

in

Conferences – (115 in TCC)

Supported by

Particular Councils – (11 in TTC)

Supported by

Toronto Central Council –

Supported by

Ontario Region Council

Supported by

National Council of Canada

Supported by

International Council

The Councils, whether Particular, Central, Regional,

National or The International Confederation, are

responsible for supporting and animating all the

conference activities and Special Works of the Society.

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What Do Conferences, Particular Councils, Particular Councils

Presidents Committee and the Toronto Central Council Corporate

Board Do?

The Conference – Vincentians, within the limits of a parish, a school, a

store, a workplace can form a conference. The fundamental activity is

the person-to-person contact with the persons living in poverty.

The Particular Council – organizes a group of conferences by

geography. Provides support for those conferences by sharing

resources, knowledge and best practice and assistance in problem

solving.

The Toronto Central Council Particular Council Presidents

Committee– Provides support, sharing of resources, assists with

succession planning and rejuvenation of councils and conferences,

focusing primarily on Home Visitation and membership needs in the 11

Particular Councils and 115 Conferences in the Greater Toronto Central

Council.

The Greater Toronto Central Council Corporate Board is elected to

manage the affairs of Toronto Central Council; including 27 “Special

Works” programs to support some of the most vulnerable people in the

community; staffed by over 250 people. It oversees compliance with

funders, applicable legislation and planning.

Our Five Guiding Principles to

Serve Our Neighbours in Need

High Five - Our Five Guiding Principles

- To Serve Our Neighbours in Need 19

Home Visitation

Equity of

Service Sharing

Continuous Learning

Renewal

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Guiding Principle 1: Home Visitation

Visiting neighbours in need in their homes is the primary and

preferred form of meaningful, person-to-person service by

Vincentians in each conference

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Home Visitation and Vincentians

If you answered the call to service for the right reasons

If you strive to be true to the Vincentian spirit

If you strive with God’s help to serve the poor with love,

humility, respect, joy, justice and discretion

If you continue to draw counsel, support, nourishment and

fellowship from your conference

If you continue to seek opportunities to learn and grow as a

Vincentian

then…

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Home Visitation and Vincentians

You will do and say the right things during your

visit based on the situation

The TCC Membership Development Committee is

working on training modules to support Vincentian

Home Visitation outreach; the how to, and what to

do.

Despite Covid-19 we hope you can look for it this fall!

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Guiding Principle 2: Equity of Service

Neighbours in need in similar circumstances and with similar needs, receive

similar levels of service across the Greater Toronto Central Council.

Guiding Principle 3: Continuous Learning

Since we strive to serve our neighbours in need by helping them to meet some

of their immediate needs, as well as by assisting them in their efforts to move

forward, Vincentians strive to continue to grow in the knowledge and skills

required to achieve these goals.

Guiding Principle 4: Renewal

In order to appropriately and effectively serve neighbours in need, the

conference needs to be spiritual, active, committed and creative. Such a

conference is difficult to maintain without an enough active members and

without the addition of new members.

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Guiding Principle 5: Sharing

Since a fundamental principle of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is that

funds are moved within the Society to where they are most needed.

Conferences send excess funds to the Particular Council, normally keeping a

balance in their account of no more than 3 to 6 months reserve. Those funds

are distributed by the Particular Council to conferences that are in need of

financial assistance to serve their neighbours in need.

Sharing includes sharing human as well as financial resources across

conferences.

Sharing our services in parishes not served by SSVP.

Helping overwhelmed conferences by sharing our visiting teams to make

home visits and help manage the load.

Sharing our knowledge, best practices and challenges with other conferences

at Particular Council meetings to become better Vincentians and better at

what we do.

Slide 25

Characteristics of Vincentian Spirituality

When a person is invited to join the Society, the invitation is to

grow in the life of Christ? From prayer and Scriptural study, we

learn that Jesus healed every single person who ever asked for it.

He never once judged…and neither ought we.

The spirituality of Ozanam was the spirituality of prayer and action

each fostering each other.

It was that of the Good Samaritan, the person who ardently

practices the spiritual and the corporal works of mercy. It was of

the spirituality of Saint Vincent de Paul who believed that it is truly

Jesus in that person of the poor before him.

For Frederic, the person who is poor was the risen Jesus; the

sacred image of the God whom he did not see. The spirituality of

Ozanam was the spirituality of compassion without judgement.

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Vincentian Spirituality

“Christ came to give hope to the poor and expects Vincentians to do the same.

By meditation, prayer, reflection on the scriptures, and the teachings of the

Church, Vincentians seek to:

develop their awareness of God,

develop their relationship with the poor,

bear witness by acts of kindness in the spirit of Christ.

The Gospels are the prime source of Vincentian spirituality. Meditating on the

spirit of the Rule and on the lives of the saints, especially those of Saint Vincent

de Paul and Blessed Frédéric Ozanam is recommended for greater spiritual

development.”

(The Rule, p22-23)

What do Vincentians Do?

“Vincentians” go out to meet people who are lonely or deprived, where they live:

at home, in the street, in shelters, in hospital, in prison. They strive to create a

relationship of trust and friendship built on a long-term commitment to serve

those in need and help them to move forward. In all their actions, Vincentians

seek to bear witness to our Lord, Jesus Christ, who gazes at each one with love

and mercy.

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In Summary

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul can be defined as “a network of friends who

seek their personal holiness through service to those in need and through defending

social justice.”

Working within the conference, members can:

nourish and renew their faith,

sustain each other through prayer so that each member will grow closer to

God,

develop a sense of Vincentian spirituality and friendship, and

create solidarity in their charitable activities.

What do members do?

Get training

Get paired with a mentor (experienced member)

In pairs, visit neighbours in need in their homes (fundamental activity of the

Society)

Participate in monthly conference meetings

Support conference projects (e.g., food drives, clothing drives, Christmas

assistance)

Slide 28

Questions?

If you have a question, please email Rob Greenaway at

rob.greenaway@sympatico.ca

Closing prayer shared by Vincentians around the world to close the session

Slide 29

Closing Prayer

L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit All: Amen

Our Father who art in heaven …

L: St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All: Pray for us

L: St. Vincent de Paul All: Pray for us

L: Blessed Frederic Ozanam All: Pray for us

L: For all the benefactors of the poor, that God may reward them with

eternal life All: Lord hear us

L: For our Society and all its members, that God may renew our spirit

of unity and of service All: Lord hear us

L: For all who are sick and suffering, that God may give them courage

and consolation All: Lord hear us

L: For our deceased members, the deceased poor and our deceased

benefactors, that God may grant them eternal rest All: Lord hear us

L: For the unity for which Christ prayed, that all may be one in truth

and charity All: Lord hear us

L: For those who have no homes, that they may quickly find a place

in which they can live a happy and decent life All: Lord hear us

L: That if it be God’s will, Frederic Ozanam, our founder may be canonized

by the church All: Lord hear us

L: That our Holy Father the Pope may be granted the protection, guidance,

strength and consolation that he needs to discharge his duties as Christ’s

vicar on earth All: Lord hear us

L: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit All: Amen

Slide 30

God Bless

Serving in Hope