Society is marking 175 years of aiding people in distress

James Lanigan's offhand remark could be a motto for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: "There's nothing we don't get into."

Having spent decades as a member of the society -- the largest lay Catholic charitable organization in the world -- Mr. Lanigan told The Evangelist that he no longer notices all the hours he spends volunteering.

The parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church in Schenectady might be providing one needy family with financial assistance to pay their electric bill, getting mattresses and bedding for another, or funding an indigent's funeral with money donated to parish "poor boxes."

Aiding others

The Schenectady council of the society, of which Mr. Lanigan is president, also supports food pantries, nursing home visitation and more.

In fact, Mr. Lanigan considers all of his service to his parish as service to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

"It's a very spiritual organization. Nothing much goes on without prayer," he added, noting that even when he visits a homebound person or a struggling family, part of his time with them is spent in prayer.

Confidentiality is important to the society. Mr. Lanigan's service, and that of the other 80 or so other members in 15 parishes of the Albany Diocese, is conducted quietly, protecting the identities of those helped.

Anniversary

This year, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

According to a press release from the organization, more than 690,000 members "put their faith into action through service to the poor" today in 142 countries around the world.

"Ozanam Sunday," April 20, will mark the start of a series of anniversary events in the U.S. The kickoff is named for Frederic Ozanam, the French college student who founded the society in 1833.

Special occasion

Parishes nationwide and locally will offer anniversary liturgies on Ozanam Sunday; in the Albany Diocese, a Mass followed by a luncheon at the Edison Club in Schenectady will mark the date.

A mid-year national meeting in St. Louis and regional meetings around the country will be held in the coming months, concluding with a four-day annual meeting in Louisville on Sept. 27, the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul.

As a national board member, Mr. Lanigan plans to be at some of these events. He said his experiences at national gatherings have been the "most inspiring thing" about his membership in the society, because he has seen the deep spirituality of so many other members.

History lesson

In this anniversary year, Mr. Lanigan has been reading about the history of the society.

He noted that, during the Irish famine in the mid-19th century, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was quick to provide aid to those suffering.

The council president takes pride in the group's centuries of providing food for the poor, and for the many other ministries members participate in today: for example, helping seniors become acclimated to life in a nursing home, one of Mr. Lanigan's efforts.

"It keeps you in spirituality all the time," he said of the society. "If you're not involved in something like [this], spirituality might become just a weekend thing."

[In 2006, U.S. members donated nearly six million hours of time to volunteering with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, aiding more than 20 million people and offering services valued at almost $500 million. St. Vincent de Paul -- 1581-1660 -- was a native of France. Ordained a priest in 1600, he was on a ship captured by pirates and spent two years as a slave in Tunisia. He escaped and returned home, dedicating his life to serving the poor. He founded the Confraternity of Charity, the Congregation of the Mission (also known as the Vincentians) and (with St. Louise de Marillac) the Daughters of Charity religious orders. He is the patron saint of all works of charity.]

(04/10/08) [[In-content Ad]]