Our Community - The St. Vincent de Paul Chapter in McEwen, TN

Have you considered answering the call to help serve the poor by joining the Society of St. Vincent de Paul? The purpose of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to fulfill the two great Commandments, love of God and love of neighbor. We seek out God’s needy, both materially and spiritually, and help where we can. Sometimes we can do no more than listen and comfort; we are very good at it. In coming closer to the needy, you are coming closer to God!

The present SVDP Rule states that "the Society is open to all who wish to live their faith by loving and serving their neighbor." But the Vincentian call or vocation involves much more than just "loving and serving." In fact, "loving and serving their neighbor" is the third goal. When Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and his companions formed the Society, they developed a plan which we know as the Rule.

The Rule is based on a number of principles but there are three basic goals for members:

• That each member pursue holiness with the support of friends in the Conference through prayer together and acts. Pursuing holiness is basically learning how to live a Christian life based on the Gospel and answering our Baptismal call by being involved with a community of friends in the Society. We grow in holiness through mutual friendships with other Vincentians and find Christ not only in them but also in those we serve. Ozanam said: "The principle of true friendship is charity, and charity cannot exist in the hearts of many unless it spills over externally and is nourished by good works." Ozanam felt that being involved in charitable works is the best link for nourishing these friendships. 
• That each member proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ in word and action. We need to let our light shine and witness to others what living the gospel has done in our lives.
• That each member serves the poor directly, person-to-person, and has a deep concern for people who are poor. We are on a spiritual journey with them, and we need to see Christ in those we serve. Service only is not enough with the SVDP spiritual dimension. Ozanam was "Incarnational" in that he saw the risen Christ and his wounds in the poor person who comes with problems.

When members undertake to serve those in need in the spirit of Vincent and Frédéric through the Society, they have available to them a rich history and tradition, and centuries of experiences in preparing themselves for this sacred work. The Vincentian way of meeting Christ in the poor is true to the Gospel, and stresses particular values and virtues. The Vincentian way invites each member to love the poor and to serve them effectively. Members have much to learn from their Vincentian heritage and charism.

Members join the Society, not because they are perfected in their faith, but because they seek to develop faith by living it both individually and communally with other members. Progress, not perfection, is what is desired in a member. The Society is for people who acknowledge the need to improve their living of the Gospel life and want to do so through the Society.

The membership of the local SVDP Conference should be as diverse as possible, so as to reflect the community in which it is located and those they serve. Every effort should be made to attract people from all ages, races, cultures, ethnic groups, and walks of life to reflect the whole family of God. Members of the Society are united in the same spirit of poverty and sharing. There is no distinction regarding wealth, position, social status, or ethnic origin in the Society. Members form throughout the world, with those they help, one and the same family.