The History of the Society of St Vincent de Paul
Renowned as “The Apostle of Charity” and “Father of the Poor,” St Vincent de Paul, a 17th-century French priest, left an enduring mark on history through his limitless compassion and unwavering commitment to the impoverished. Alongside him, St. Louise de Marillac, his contemporary, played a pivotal role in co-founding the Daughters of Charity and spearheading various charitable initiatives, such as establishing hospitals, asylums, and literacy programs.
Inspired by the dire circumstances of the poor in Paris, Ozanam founded the Society of St Vincent de Paul in 1833, drawing inspiration from St Vincent’s ethos of service and compassion. Among the notable figures associated with the society is Blessed Rosalie Rendu, a revered Daughter of Charity, known for her compassionate service in the most deprived areas of Paris. She is acknowledged as a co-founder of the Society, and her teachings, deeply rooted in the spirit of St Vincent, have profoundly influenced its ethos. Emphasising patience, mercy, and respect in serving the marginalised, her guidance has helped shape the organisation’s principles.
Over time, this organisation has transformed into a global network of volunteers committed to combating poverty and advocating for social justice. Today the St Vincent de Paul Society operates in more than 150 countries, boasting 800,000 members and 1,500,000 volunteers worldwide. Each day, it extends assistance to over 30 million individuals.
Saint Vincent de Paul
Saint Louise de Marillac
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam
Blessed Rosalie Rendu
The Society of St Vincent de Paul in New Zealand
The St Vincent de Paul Society has a rich history in New Zealand, dating back to its establishment in the late 19th century. The Society’s presence was first felt in Dunedin in 1876, when a group of Catholic women formed a conference to provide assistance to those in need within their community. Over the years, the organisation expanded its reach, with conferences being established in various cities and towns across the country. The Society’s mission to serve the poor and marginalised resonated deeply with the New Zealand Catholic community, and its volunteer members worked tirelessly to provide practical support, including food, clothing, and shelter, to those facing hardship. Today, the St Vincent de Paul Society of New Zealand continues to uphold its founding principles of charity and compassion, serving as a beacon of hope for individuals and families in need throughout the country.
Our Mission and Vision
Mission
The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and to bring about a more just and compassionate society.
Vision
The Society aspires to be recognised as a caring Catholic charity offering “a hand up” to people in need. We do this by respecting every person’s human dignity, sharing our hope, and encouraging them to take control of their own destiny.
Our Core Values
We pride ourselves on upholding and integrating values into every aspect of our business. These values form the foundation of our organisation and are embedded into our daily practices.
Generosity (Te Atawhai) Giving of oneself and one’s time.
Integrity (Te Tapatahi) – Promoting, maintaining and adhering to our Vision, Mission and Values.
Compassion (Arohanui) – Welcoming and serving all in need with understanding and without judgement.
Empathy (Aumauiui) – Establishing relationships with those in need based on respect, trust, friendship, and perception arising from actively listening to them.
Responsiveness (Te Whakautu) – Identifying and responding to unmet needs of the poor, the lonely, the marginalised, and the dispossessed.
Advocacy (Te Tautoko) – Helping those in need to navigate bureaucracy to secure their rightful entitlements to welfare and to actively work in conjunction with other like-minded organisations to transform the causes of poverty, and challenge injustice.
Commitment (Whakaaetanga) – Fidelity and passion in service of our Vision, Mission and Values.
Respect (Te Whakaute) – Serving all in need regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender or political persuasion.
Courage (Te Maia) – To ask for forgiveness and to forgive, to be merciful, and to pray courageously for the grace to serve, to love our neighbour and to be close to those who are lonely and in difficulty.
Vinnies Hamilton Vision and Goals
Here at Vinnie’s, our goal is to help people in genuine need in our community. We offer a range of services guided by our vision to deliver aroha, support, and guidance to our Waikato Whanau.
Our Core Values
Here at St Vincent de Paul, we pride ourselves on upholding and integrating values into every aspect of our business.
These values form the foundation of our organisation and are embedded into our daily practices.
- Generosity – Giving of oneself and one’s time.
- Integrity – Promoting, maintaining and adhering to our Vision, Mission and Values.
- Compassion – Welcoming and serving all in need with understanding and without judgement.
- Empathy – Establishing relationships with those in need based on respect, trust, friendship, and perception arising from actively listening to them.
- Responsiveness – Identifying and responding to unmet needs of the poor, the lonely, the marginalised, and the dispossessed.
- Advocacy – Helping those in need to navigate bureaucracy to secure their rightful entitlements to welfare and to actively work in conjunction with other like-minded organisations to transform the causes of poverty, and challenge injustice.
- Commitment – Fidelity and passion in service of our Vision, Mission and Values.
- Respect – Serving all in need regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender or political persuasion.
- Courage – To ask for forgiveness and to forgive, to be merciful, and to pray courageously for the grace to serve, to love our neighbour and to be close to those who are lonely and in difficulty.
The St Vincent de Paul Society is a global organisation. Present in over 150 countries, the Society has 800,000 Members and 1,500,000 Volunteers worldwide. Every day, it helps over 30 million people. Our mission commits us to help those who are disadvantaged in our local community and overseas.
