The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic organization of lay persons, founded in 1883 by Frederic Ozanam and his companions under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul. Today the society includes almost 900,000 members spread among 46,000 confraternities in 130 countries of five continents.
The society’s purpose is to provide direct aid to those who suffer, and to help individuals reduce and even eliminate the cause of their suffering, themselves. Society members use their own resources, sharing not only possessions but also the valuable gift of their presence. The services of this organization are held in strict confidence.
The Notre Dame Conference of St. Vincent de Paul meets on the third Tuesday of each month at the Social Ministry Office. During these meeting society members pray, reflect over the Vincentian spirituality and charism, and organize home visits in order to provide services to members of the community in need. The current leadership of the Notre Dame conference include:
- President: Michael Belotto – (718) 736-4444
- Vice-President: Ruth Arbizu (for the Spanish speaking community) – (516) 946-9325
Home Visits:
A central activity of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is to conduct home visits for community neighbors in need. It is the goal of the society to be in personal contact with neighbors in need. Through home visits the Vincentian team gives its attention to the people and the problems they are trying to present.