By Paul Ainslie, President, SVdP Indy Council
If I asked, “What do we do at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul?” I think most would answer clearly: feed the hungry, house the homeless, give hope to the hopeless.
If I were to ask the same people, “How do we do this?” I would expect direct answers, such as feeding through food pantries and soup kitchens, housing through hotel rooms or our Love Your Neighbor Center, and providing home visits to help those in need.
But if I ask, “Why do we do this?” would the answers come as quickly? The “why” of the SVdP Indy isn’t obvious from the work we do every day. Relieving hunger, homelessness or hopelessness is not unique to our organization. Many other organizations also do this, and do it very well.
When we serve, we see Christ in those we serve. We serve because the cross shows us how to love—to draw near to suffering, remain present and give of ourselves. In every person we visit, every hand we hold and every burden we share, we respond to the love first shown on the cross. As we grow in holiness, we can more readily show Christ’s love, bringing hope and dignity to our neighbors.
Sometimes the daily burdens can overwhelm us. When was the last time you felt deep joy in serving? Do you still see Christ’s light in those we serve, or does it sometimes become another challenge to solve? Are we motivated by love and service rather than efficiency? All of us need reminders that every act of service holds the power to transform both those we serve and ourselves.
I encourage each Conference to spend some time at your next meeting discussing the “why” of SVdP Indy and our work on behalf of our neighbors. By openly sharing the reasons that motivate us, we will deepen our commitment, strengthen our sense of purpose and lighten the weight of daily challenges. Regular spiritual reflection and serving together in friendship will also renew our sense of mission and unity. Let’s intentionally reaffirm why we serve, so our actions flow from that purpose.
May God bless.
(Credits: Much of this letter is based on a National Spring 2026 Meeting presentation by North Central Region National Vice President Susan Wiland and the book Start with Why by Simon Sinek.)
