Society of St. Vincent de Paul
“One cannot avoid the social issues;
precisely because they are formidable
God does not want us to turn them aside.
We must lay a bold hand on the core of poverty.”
Frédéric Ozanam
The St. James Conferences of St. Vincent de Paul provide
information referral, spiritual support, and financial assistance to
low-income neighbors through home visits. Vincentians go in
pairs to visit the people they serve in their own homes. They
also meet twice a month to pray and discuss current cases.
This ministry is open to all volunteers over the age of 18 and
current volunteers range in age from young adults to those in their
70s. Contact Suzanne
Lee at 206-654-4640 for more information.
St. Vincent de Paul has been an active ministry at St. James since
1921, a year after the Society’s Council of Seattle was established.
The Society is guided by the principals of its founder, Frédéric
Ozanam, and the teachings of its patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
Vincentian volunteers seek to promote the dignity of the person,
alleviate suffering, and diminish distress, all while working to
correct the conditions that cause them.
The heart of the Society’s operations in King County is its
conference volunteers. Through its conferences and other
volunteer activities, the Society was able to assist more than
56,000 people who were experiencing various emergencies and needed
food, shelter, clothing, utilities or rental assistance, furniture
and/or medical or other critically needed aid over the past year.
St. Vincent de Paul also runs thrift stores, which sell donated
items to support the outreach work of the Society.
Click here to visit the Council of Seattle/King County website,
where you can find a list of accepted items and a directory of
stores or call 206-767-9975 to
arrange for pick up.
The Conferences at St. James are able to provide financial
assistance to those in need based on the monies donated at the
monthly collection, which takes place at all of the Masses on the
third Sunday of each month. Please consider donating to the
St. James Conferences at one of these Masses or donating to the
Council of Seattle by calling 206-767-3835.
If you are looking for assistance from St. Vincent de Paul,
please call 206-767-6449.