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.”
-Blessed Frédéric Ozanam
Founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The St James Cathedral - Bl Rosalie Rendu Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides 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. For more information, please contact either the conference's president Barb Schmidt (barbaralschmidt@comcast.net, 206-938-4995) or volunteer coordinator Bob Clifford (bobclifford53@gmail.com, 206-718-4158).
 
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. Call 206-767-9975 to arrange for pick up. 
 
The Conference at St. James is 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 Cathedral - Bl Rosalie Rendu Conference 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.