TO ALL ONTARIO VINCENTIANS
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
Ontario Regional Council
BN876642703 RR0001
PO Box 23016 BRANTFORD PO MAIN, ON, N3T 6K4
A few days ago on April 23rd, I was reminded that our Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris, France, on April 23, 1833 by a Sorbonne law student Blessed Frédéric Ozanam on his 20th birthday along with his six peers. Formed as a "Conference of Charity" to combat poverty and defend their faith, the group, guided by Sister Rosalie Rendu and Emmanuel Bailly, provided direct, person-to-person aid through home visits to the poor in Parisian slums.
Key aspects of the founding include:
- The Challenge: During a debate on the role of the Church, critics challenged Ozanam to prove the Church’s impact on the poor, prompting him to organize tangible aid rather than just academic debate.
- The Founders: Led by Frédéric Ozanam and supported by Emmanuel Bailly (the first president), the group started with students.
- Patron Saint: The group adopted St. Vincent de Paul (1581–1660), known for his work with the poor in 17th-century France, as their patron.
- Foundational Activity: The "Home Visit," which involves visiting people in need in their homes to provide direct support, became the core, enduring activity of the society.
- Growth: Originally called the Conference of History, it quickly expanded throughout France and internationally within a few years.
The VINCENTIAN VOCATION was born. Consequently, Blessed Frederic and his friends were the very first members of the Vincentian Vocation. Today, on Good Shepherd Sunday which is being observed by our Church and on which we pray for all religious vocations, we lend our ear to the words of Pope Leo XIV. We listen to his explanations and his words of encouragement. He offers his advice on following in the footsteps of our founders of our Vincentian Vocation.
Pope Leo XIV advises that, “A vocation, therefore, is not an immediate possession—something 'given' once and for all, but rather a path that unfolds much like life itself. The gift we have received from God must not only be protected but also nourished by a daily relationship with God in order to grow and bear fruit."
Thus, the Pope called for everyone to cultivate their personal relationship with God through daily prayer and meditation on the Word.
"Pause, listen, and entrust yourselves," he said. "In this way, the gift of your vocation will mature, bringing you happiness and yielding abundant fruit for the world."
Finally, Pope Leo implored the Virgin Mary, model of the interior acceptance of divine gifts and expert in prayerful listening, to "always accompany you on this journey!"
I close with a “Prayer for our Vincentian Vocation”
A PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS TO THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY
LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU BLESS OUR SOCIETY BY CONTINUING TO CALL MEMBERS INTO THE VOCATION OF SERVICE TO THOSE IN NEED. WE PRAY FOR AN INCREASE IN MEMBERSHIP FOR OUR CONFERENCES AND OUR SPECIAL WORKS. AS IN THE EXAMPLE OF OUR FOUNDER BLESSED FREDERIC AND HIS COMPANIONS, HELP US TO SEEK AND FIND THOSE YOU HAVE CALLED SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD UP YOUR KINGDOM AND BUILD OUR CAPACITY TO SERVE YOUR MOST VULNERABLE. SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE OPEN TO YOUR CALL TO JOIN US IN SERVING THOSE IN NEED WITH LOVE, RESPECT, JUSTICE, AND JOY. WE ASK THIS THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD, AMEN
Therefore, I urge all our Vincentians to heed the above words of Pope Leo XIV and to aim for that “happiness” which he indicates is attainable.
Yours in Frederic and Vincent,
Guido Kelly,
President, SSVP Ontario Regional Council.
April 5, 2026
