What do you think about your work with St. Vincent de Paul? Do you feel a sense of joy helping those in need? Are you inspired by the hope we give? Or do you feel like the burden of our work sometimes overwhelms the joy? Is this commitment an obligation or a calling to serve?
The primary purpose of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to foster our personal growth in holiness, our seeking to become, as Christ calls us to be, “perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Attaining holiness, or perfection, is not the work of one seminar or workshop—it is a lifelong journey of becoming.
Being a Vincentian is a calling—a true vocation. Doing the work we do for our neighbors isn’t just a job, nor is it just what we do as volunteers. It’s about putting our faith into action. We love God, as St. Vincent said, “with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow.” The Vincentian vocation calls us to participate personally and directly in helping those in need through person-to-person contact and the gift of friendship. At the local level, within the communal spirit of a Conference of lay persons, each Vincentian is inspired by the same vocation.
As Bishop John Quinn, retired from his diocese in Minnesota, wrote in 2022: “Each of us has been chosen for a purpose. That is evident in the day-to-day reality of our beautiful vocation. Our Lord will happily help us discern that purpose…the special way He wants us to support the magnificent mission of St. Vincent de Paul.”
Volunteer burnout is one of the most pressing issues for the Society today, given the economic pressures on those we serve. I urge you to take a moment to appreciate this great calling in your life, remembering that we grow in holiness together through service to neighbors in need.
