“Charity is the cement that unites communities to God and individuals to each other
so that he who contributes to the union of hearts in a community
binds it indissolubly to God.”
--St. Vincent de Paul
Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (or "Vincentians") are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and its patron, St. Vincent de Paul. We are young and old. Our members come in every shade of skin color. Some of us are wealthy, some are financially poor, but all of us are blessed with an awareness that our blessings (time, talent or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need.
We know that we are not alone. We are part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule. Energized by the awareness that service to our brother or sister in need is in fact an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are keenly aware that poverty, suffering, and loneliness are present for millions in our communities. For that reason, we collaborate with all who seek to relieve need and address its causes.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. It is this personalized involvement that makes the work of the Society unique. This aid may take the form of intervention, consultation, or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. An essential precept of the Society's work is to provide help while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of those who are served. The Society recognizes that it must assume, also, a role of advocacy for those who are defenseless or voiceless. Some 12 million persons are helped annually by Vincentians in the United States.
The St. Gabriel Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves the needy within our parish boundaries. The list of services of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States is endless. No work of charity is foreign to the Society. To quote our patron, St. Vincent de Paul: "Charity is infinitely inventive."
--Blessed Frederic Ozanam
Christ has no body now on earth but yours;
No hands but yours, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ's compassion is to look out to the world.
Yours are the feet with which Christ is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which Christ is to bless all people now.
--Teresa of Avila
VINCENTIANS IN PRAYER (VIPS)
One way to serve as a member our St. Gabriel SVDP Society is with our program entitled VIPs (Vincentians in Prayer). Prayer is a vital aspect of the work we do to assist those in need. Prayer guides us. Prayer sustains us. Prayer leads us to trust in Divine Providence. Prayer keeps us focused on how we are called to build community with our clients and how to assist with their needs.
Our VIPs will become prayer “warriors” for an assigned client/family. We ask that you initially pray a novena to St. Jude then commit to pray daily for the client for a minimum of 3 months. The client’s name(s) will remain confidential but you will receive a brief summary of their needs & updates throughout the 3 months. If you are interested in becoming a VIP, please call our voice-mail at 881-1100 to leave your name & number so one of our volunteers can contact you.
SVDP THRIFT STORES
Help our St. Gabriel SVDP Conference earn credits to assist our clients with “purchasing” clothing and furniture.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
DONATE: Stores accept donations of everything except construction materials, mattresses and tires. Even
nonworking electronics and poor conditioned clothing are accepted and recycled. When making a donation
please
- Provide an itemized list of donated items (i.e. boys t-shirts 4, jeans 2)
- Write anywhere on your tax deduction receipt “St. Gabriel SVDP Conference” (your copy of receipt allows YOU to get a tax deduction, store copy allows our conference to earn credits)
FREE pick-up for large items-call 314-881-6006.
VOLUNTEER: Every hour of regular, scheduled volunteer service = 4 credits for St. Gabriel Conference
PLUS you receive a 25% discount to purchase items for yourself after your volunteer session. To volunteer
go to www.svdpstlouis.org to complete an application.
SHOP: Your store purchases raise funds for our Council Office which in turn offers assistance through
Vinnie’s Auto and Rx Program as well as support for conference members. The two closest stores are
located at:
South Kingshighway
St. Louis South city
4928 Christy Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63116
314-352-4000
Mon-Sat 9:00 am to 7:00 pm |
Lemay Ferry
3924 Lemay Ferry Road
St. Louis, MO 63125
314-845-7837
Mon-Sat 9:00 am to 8:00 pm
Drop-offs from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
|
ONE TIME GIFT WITH FAITH DIRECT
With Faith Direct, you can make a secure one-time donation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at St. Gabriel Parish. We thank you for your generosity.
Living the Light of Christ
You will find that charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the bowl of soup and the full basket.
But you will keep your gentleness and your smile. It is not enough to give bread or soup. This the rich
can do. You are the servant of the poor. They are your master and the more difficult they will be, the
more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is for your love alone that the poor
will forgive the bread you give them.
~St. Vincent de Paul
Our labor here is brief, but the reward is eternal. -- St. Clare of Assisi
God Bless You!
We cannot be sure whether we are loving God,
although we may have good reasons for believing that we are.
But we can know quite well whether we are loving our neighbor.
~ St. Teresa of Avila