Serving the Poor

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

SVdP Sacred Heart Conference
25200 Airport Rd., Punta Gorda, 33950
Phone 941-575-0767
https://www.svdppg.org/

Members of the Society of St.Vincent de Paul (or “Vincentians”) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We are young and old. Our members come in every shade of skin color. Some of us are wealthy, some are financially poor, but all of us are blessed with an awareness that our blessings (time, talent or treasure) are to be shared with our brothers and sisters in need.

We know that we are not alone.  We are part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule.

Energized by the awareness that service to our brother or sister in need is in fact an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are keenly aware that poverty, suffering and loneliness are present for millions in our communities. For that reason, we collaborate with all who seek to relieve need and address its causes. 

Our Mission

Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.

Organized locally, Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ.

Core Values

• The dignity of the human person
• Identification of Jesus with the poor
• The preferential option of the poor
• Jesus is the Evangelizer and Servant of the poor
• Growth in intimacy with Jesus is a life-long process
• Poverty of spirit is the primary beatitude
• The Society is concerned with charity and justice
• Prayer is essential: personal and communal
• The virtue of humility: personal and corporate
• The virtue of charity within and outside of the Society
• Divine Providence
• Friendship
• Solidarity
• Community 
• Simplicity

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities works hard to assist the needy in Southwest Florida through programs for refugees, camps for needy children, disaster response, adoption, housing assistance, HIV outreach and many more. Find out more through this site: