Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Part IV
How Are We Organized?
Change
Contrast
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Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Organization
Council General
(132 Countries)
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
(7 National Committees)
(8 Regions)
Diocesan Councils
(54 Diocesan Councils)
District Councils
(334 District Councils)
Conferences
(4,600 Conferences)
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Council General
 Council General
Council General
 Empowered to Institute New Councils
and Aggregate New Conferences of
the Society
 Unites the Society in spirituality and
management
 Presided over by the President General
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
Conferences
 The President General
 Represents the Society before the Holy
See and all the religious and lay
international bodies.
 Located in Paris, France-- the location
of the founding of the Society
 Current President – José Ramón DiazTorremocha
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Council of the United States
The Council Of The United States is
composed of:
Council General
USA National Council
National Committees
 National President
 Appointed Officers
 National Council Members
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
 Presidents of Diocesan Councils
 Presidents of Oldest District Councils
Conferences
Supported by:
 National Board of Directors
 7 Permanent Committees
 The National Office
 Located in St. Louis, Missouri
 Current President – Joe Flannigan
 Webpage: www.svdpusa.org
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Council of the United States
 Council of the United States
 Informs Members, the Council
General, Religious and Civil
Authorities of Activities Through
Regular Reports
 Provides the Rule for United States
 Provides Resource Materials for
Training
 Provides Reporting Structure for
Accountability
 Provides Disaster Relief to Councils
Council General
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
Conferences
 President of the Council of the United
States
 Elected for a Six Year Term
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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National Council - Technology Services
 National Council Communications
 Annual Reports
 Ozanam News Magazine
 Quarterly Newsletter
 Publications
 Technology
Council General
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
 Computerization
 Database
 Websites
District Councils
Conferences
 Vincentian News
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 VincentPaul
 Circular Letter
 Regional/Council
 Best Practices
 Stores Newsletter
Aggregation/Institution
Recruitment
Recognition
Archives
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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National Council - Development Services
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Council General
Annual Giving
USA National Council
Programmatic Solicitations
Online Giving
National Committees
Regions
Planned and Major Gifts
Diocesan Councils
Grants
District Councils
Endowment Fund
Corporate Sponsorships
Conferences
Donor Tracking System
Consultation and Collaboration with Other SVDP Fund Raisers
Development Strategic Planning
Development on the Webpage
MBNA
Volunteer Resources
Public Relations
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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National Council - Formation Services
 Projects
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Council General
Serving In Hope
Forming the Formators
Weekly Reflections
Invitation for Renewal
Ozanam Orientation
USA National Council
National Committees
Diocesan Councils
 Workshops

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

Regions
Leadership Development
Trustees
Executive Directors
Spiritual Advisors
District Councils
Conferences
 Spiritual Formation
 Presentations
 Retreats
 Vincentian Family
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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National Committees
Council General
Committees
 Communications Committee
 Development Committee
 Finance and Governance
Committee
 Youth Committee
 Formation Committee
 Voice Of The Poor Committee
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
Conferences
Vincentian Service
 Disaster Committee
 Stores Committee
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Regions
 Regional Level functions:
Council General
USA National Council
 Facilitate Vincentian communications
 Coordinate the activities within the
Councils
 Stimulate growth in membership
 Extension of Society into areas not
currently served
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
Conferences
 Regional Chairperson:
 Represents the President of the US
Council in their Region
 Convenes regularly scheduled Regional
Meetings
 Represents Councils on the National
Executive Committee
 Currently – Jim Woods – Eastern Region
Chairman
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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8 Regions of the United States
Western Region
• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Montana
• Nevada
• Oregon
• Utah
• Washington
North Central Region
• Illinois
• Minnesota
• North Dakota
• South Dakota
• Wisconsin
Mid Eastern Region
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Ohio
Northeastern Region
• Connecticut
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
Eastern Region
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• West Virginia
South Central Region
• Arkansas
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• Texas
Midwestern Region
• Colorado
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Wyoming
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
Southeastern Region
• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• North Carolina
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
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(Arch) Diocesan Council
 Represents the Society In Contacts With the
Bishop, Religious And Public Authorities
 Compiles and Submits an Annual Report to the
National Council
 Organize Training and Formation for Members
and Potential Members
 Communicates with Conferences and Councils to
Keep Them Informed
 Extends the Society Within Its Boundaries
 Coordinates/Collaborates with other Catholic
service organizations
 President Represents the Diocesan SVDP
Organization as a Member of the National
Council
Council General
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
Conferences
 Diocesan Council Composed of:
 Elected President
 Appointed Officers (Vice President(s),
Treasurer, Secretary)
 Presidents of the Districts Attached to It
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Trenton Diocese is in the Eastern Region
Eastern Region
Trenton Council
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Trenton Diocesan Council Organization
Council President
Spiritual
Advisor
Secretary
Vice President
Treasurer
Burlington County
District Council
Mercer County
District Council
• Sacred Heart
• St. Mary of the
Lakes
• St. Mary’s
• Holy Eucharist
• St. Isaac Jogues
• Corpus Christi
• St. Joseph
• Incarnation
• Our Lady of
the Angels
• St. Anthony/Our
Lady of Sorrows
• Holy Angels/
St. Raphael
• St. Ann
• Blessed Sacrament
• St. Vincent de Paul
• St. Mary’s Cathedral
• St. Paul’s
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
Committees/
Directors
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Trenton Diocesan Council Organization
Council President
Spiritual
Advisor
Secretary
Vice President
Treasurer
Committees/
Directors
Ocean County
District Council
Monmouth County
District Council
Monmouth County
District Council cont:
• St. Barnabas
• St. Dominic’s
• St. Justin’s
• St. Monica/
St. Aloysius
• St. Mary’s
• St. Mary of
the Lake
• Visitation
• Ascension
• Holy Family
• Holy Innocents
• Our Lady of Mercy /St.
Joseph’s (Englishtown)
• Our Lady of Perpetual
Help
• St. Gabriel
• St. James
• St. Joseph (Keyport)
• St. Michael
• St. Peter Claver
• St. Rose
• St. Rose of Lima
• St. Thomas More
• Holy Trinity
• St. John the Baptist
• St. Catherine of Siena
• St. Benedict
• St. Agnes
• St. Catherine
• St. Mary
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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District Council
 Compiles and Submits an Annual Report
to the Next Higher Council
 Organizes Training and Formation for
Members and Potential Members
 Communicates with Conferences and
Councils to Keep Them Informed
 Represents the District In Contacts With
Religious And Public Authorities
 Extends the Society Within Its
Boundaries
Council General
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
Conferences
 District Council Composed of:
 Elected President
 Appointed Officers (Vice President(s),
Treasurer, Secretary)
 Presidents of the Conferences
Attached to It
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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The SVDP Conference
Basic And Essential Unit Of The Society
 Small Groups Typically (8-15 members)
 Frequent Meetings/At Least Twice
Monthly
 Grow Spiritually Together/Weekly
Meditations
Council General
USA National Council
National Committees
Regions
Diocesan Councils
District Councils
 Read and Reflect on the Gospel Using
Spiritual Reflections Provided By
National Office
Conferences
 Each Conference Must Have Spiritual
Advisor
 Service to the Poor and Needy
 Resources (Black Bag, Poor Boxes, etc.)
 Close Relationship with Pastor
 Led by a President elected for 3 year
term
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Guidelines for a Successful Conference
 Reachable (clear and check messages regularly)
 Meets Regularly (The RULE requires a minimum of two meetings
monthly)
 Genuine Commitment to Spiritual Purposes
 Conference Prayers and Reflections are Never Omitted
 Genuine Commitment to Christian Cordiality
 The Poor are Visited Promptly, Regularly, and Attentively
 Take Initiatives
 Always Ask “Can the Conference be Doing More?”
 Made up of members who want to grow (Read, Study, Attend Training
Sessions and Lectures)
 Recruitment is an ongoing responsibility
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Guidelines for a Successful Conference
Effective Conferences Have:
 Leaders Who Handle Their Specific Duties With Whatever Competence
They Have Naturally or Can Cultivate
 Working Ties in the Neighborhood and Community
 Relationships with Other Public and Private Agencies
 Awareness of Responsibility to Participate in the Activities of District
and Diocesan Councils
 Support for Special Works, Contributions to Poorer Conferences
 Looks Beyond Its Own Boundaries
 The Ideal Conference is Both Wealthy and Poor
 Made Up of Members Who Encourage Generosity from Friends of the
Society
 Does Not Hoard for a Rainy Day
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Highlights of SVDP National Annual
Report 2005
National
Provided Assistance To:
Made Person to Person
Visits:
- Home Visits
- Hospital Visits
- Aged/Daycare Visits
- Prison Visits
- Other Visits
- Special Works
Other Assistance:
- Travel Aid
- Disaster Assistance
- Twinning
Membership
Service Hours
Total Value of Assistance
Eastern
Region
Trenton
Diocese
17,655,956
973,493
63,117
522,448
147,007
144,140
26,986
744,696
5,940,953
34,377
13,261
15,124
8,419
43,224
319,199
4,627
1,422
1,754
2
4,649
7,138
88,577
$4,597,083
$5,155,699
4,917
$1,764,724
$639,500
846
$53,651
$141,601
111,769
12,020
2,302
5,497,670
548,988
90,445
$417,899,372
$38,072,679
$1,533,494
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Trenton Diocesan Financials - 2006
Review of financials of the past year
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Financials – Distributed via checks
“In-kind” goods & services
Volunteer Hours ( 316,171 x $16.00 )
Miles donated ( 80,103 x $0.42 )
Total contributed to the Society
in assisting the poor through
financial aid and services:
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
$1,283,371
$1,223,057
$5,058,736
$33,645
$7,598,809
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The Society’s International Logo
The circle signifies the
global or worldwide
stature of The Society Of
St. Vincent de Paul, an
International Society.
The eye of the fish is
the vigilant eye of
God seeking to help
the poor and
underprivileged in
our midst.
Serving in hope
The crossing at the
tail (or a tie-knot)
represents unity and
oneness among
members, and also
union with the poor.
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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Reflection, Sharing & Questions: 10 Minutes
 Take a Moment of Silent Reflection.
 Break into Groups of 3 or 4 to Discuss the Following:
 In What Ways Does the Conference Become the Heart of All our
SVDP Actions?
 What Grace and Blessing Do you find in Belonging to the
National and International Organization?
“No Work of Charity Is Foreign To The Society”
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