Who was Saint Vincent de Paul? St. Vincent de Paul was born in 1580 in Pouy, France. He studied theology at the University of Toulouse and was ordained a priest, setting the foundation for a life that would be shaped by compassion, humility, and a relentless commitment to the poor. He founded the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity, dedicating his life to helping the poor and supporting clergy. He was held in captivity by pirates in Tunis for two years. Upon his return to France, he dedicated himself to numerous charitable initiatives, including founding hospitals, organizing relief efforts, and reforming the clergy. He is recognized as the patron saint of charitable societies. He died in 1660 and was canonized a saint in 1737.
Overview of St. Vincent de Paul Committee The St. Vincent de Paul Committee (SVdP) of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Parish is composed of parish volunteers who are dedicated to feeding, clothing, and supporting those in need throughout Prince Edward County. It is informed about the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul but is not affiliated with it; the Society is an international Catholic lay organization founded in 1833. While our work is inspired by the long tradition of charitable service associated with St. Vincent de Paul, our focus is local and consists of personal, compassionate, dignified, and respectful responses to those who are suffering, struggling, or in need of hope. We serve all individuals and families living in Prince Edward County regardless of their denomination. For over 25 years, members of our Committee have lived out the Gospel by loving and serving as Jesus taught. This ministry has always been rooted in the faith, generosity, and compassion of our parishioners, whose support has allowed us to respond to the needs of our neighbours with dignity and care.
How do the St. Vincent de Paul Committee members carry out their duties ?
We maintain a phone line for food assistance that is monitored daily. Calls to us are returned within 24 hours Monday to Thursday.
We meet weekly (or more often as required) with new and returning clients to understand their circumstances and offer support with respect, compassion, and confidentiality.
We provide food vouchers for the Giant Tiger store in Picton; allowing people to choose the groceries they need most.
We offer vouchers for the Second Time Around shop; providing for gently used clothing and essential household items.
In 2025 our ministry assisted 30 families, 8 couples and 15 single individuals. We distributed $18,285.00 in vouchers for food and $1,045.00 worth of vouchers for clothing and household items.
St. Vincent de Paul Committee Volunteers Members of our Parish who volunteer for this ministry are fully screened in accordance with Archdiocese of Kingston Screening Policy for Clergy, Religious, Lay Employees, and Volunteers. The volunteers are interviewed, as are their references. Police checks are conducted via the OPP. Our members are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the Policies and Guidelines of the Archdiocese of Kingston (https://romancatholic.kingston.on.ca/safe-environment-policy). Currently the memberships of the SVdP Committee consists of :
10 active members who participate in prayer, meetings, and direct service with clients
6 associate members who offer support as their schedules allow
Every volunteer is a member of our Parish.
How we are funded The assistance we provide is made possible by the generosity of the parishioners of St. Gregory the Great Parish. Parishioners donate through weekly, monthly, and annual donations. In 2025 we received $7,602 in donations — almost every dollar is used directly to help those in need. The only administrative cost to the SVdP is for our own telephone line which is separate from the St. Gregory the Great Parish. This ensures the anonymity of clients and those in need. As the demand for support continues to grow in our community, we are now reaching out to groups and individuals beyond our Parish, inviting them to partner with us so that we can meet the increasing needs of our neighbours with dignity and compassion.
Need Assistance ? If you or someone you know requires help with food or basic necessities, please call our SVdP assistance line at: 📞 613-476-3371 Your call is completely confidential. Are you a member of the Parish? Do you feel you are being called to serve the most vulnerable in our community ? If you have answered ‘Yes” to both of these questions please contact the Parish Office. A member of the SVdP will reach out to you to answer any questions that you may and explain in greater detail the activities and responsibilities of this volunteer position. We are always seeking new volunteers who feel called by Christ to serve our neighbors with compassion and humility. Together in Christ, We Can Make a Difference
Through prayer, generosity, and service, we continue the mission of St. Vincent de Paul — bringing Christ’s love to those who need it most. But this mission only becomes real when each of us steps forward.
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