Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves those in need in East Tennessee
By Mark Dmochowski
The Catholic Church is known universally for assisting people from all walks of life, whether the need is immediate, such as during a disaster in upper East Tennessee, or more gradual, such as providing food and other basic necessities to those in need in the Chattanooga area.
And one of the Church organizations on the frontlines of that need is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which is always looking to add faithful Catholics to its volunteer rolls across the Diocese of Knoxville.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international lay Catholic organization whose roots go back to the early 1800s in Paris during the French Revolution. It began with a small group of young men who would meet to discuss their faith and reflect on Scripture. These meetings were about friendship, and they inspired them to put their faith into action by serving the poor and thereby grow in their own holiness.
The founders, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam among them, would later recall that these meetings were “…to learn to know themselves better, and, to succeed in this, to know, love, and serve together the poor of Jesus Christ. This became the very essence of our formation—to know ourselves through friendship, spirituality, and service.”
The society’s most important work is done at the conference level, formed by local parishioners, to serve their neighbors in need in their own community. And in following the tradition of the founders, conferences hold regular meetings in support of the society’s mission to grow in holiness through friendship and service to neighbors in need.
Just as St. Vincent de Paul, the Society’s patron saint, visited the poor where they lived, so, too, do Vincentians make home visits to those in need. They do this to hear their stories and gain understanding, always showing respect and kindness. Before they set out to meet their neighbors in need, they pray, asking Jesus to fill their hearts with wisdom, generosity, and kindness, and ask the Holy Spirit to inspire them with joy and patience. In doing so, they see the face of Christ in the neighbors they visit.
One of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s newest members, Tony Ciabattone, shared what he experienced on a recent home visit.
“We help our neighbors in need. All are poor, most are jobless, and all of them live day to day. The how and why are not important. We offer them some financial help, we provide food, and we try to bring some hope through Jesus into their lives and into their hearts,” Mr. Ciabattone said.
The visits fill the volunteers’ hearts with compassion for the people they help. These families are given a glimmer of hope, a ray of sunshine, and a feeling that there is good in the world.
The fulfillment the volunteers receive from this work is hard to describe. One visit was particularly rewarding to them. As they walked up to the house, there was a deflated kids pool on the lawn, broken bikes and scooters scattered about, and a car on the lawn looking rough, sitting with a flat tire.
The volunteers knocked on the door and “Ann” answered carrying an infant in a diaper on her hip. Almost immediately two heads appeared around their mother. Ann reached back and pulled a toddler out in front of the group.
The volunteers introduced themselves, and she came out onto the porch to talk. The crew followed. Her story is particularly inspiring. Ann described her circumstances, one major problem after another, and how she overcame every one of them. She prayed for God’s help. But she was also tenacious in fighting each battle that came their way. She did not comment on the unfairness of life, nor did she disparage those who had wronged them.
She was positive, she had a great attitude that communicated to the volunteers that she was a soldier and would fight to take care of those children. What really stood out to the Vincentians was her smile and her pleasant disposition. The kids radiated health and goodness. They felt loved and part of a unit. She was not burdened with negative thoughts. Nor were the kids showing anything but normal, energetic, crazy energy. They were happy and had no worries.
Ann gave them that safe feeling. She kept her circumstances hidden from the four little ones. Eventually the oldest daughter, who looked to be about 10, came out and joined the group. She was dressed well, had her hair braided, and was what the volunteers would expect a normal 10-year-old to appear like.
Ann told her story; her confidence was evident. Through it all nothing and no one had stopped her. No problem was too great. She was ready when the next issue popped up. And she tackled each one head-on. Physically she was small and wiry. But spiritually she was a giant. The particulars of her situation have faded but the visit affected the Vincentians profoundly. Their hearts filled with joy, seeing such a positive attitude toward her situation. Ann smiled often through their conversation. But the smiles on her children’s faces were especially gratifying. There was clear evidence that she had a partner in Jesus. She was grateful and appreciative of any help the volunteers could give her.
The Vincentians paid some of her rent, and food was brought in. One volunteer bought a slightly used tire on his way home that night. However, there was difficulty getting the lug nuts off the tire, indicating the Vincentians would have to return with better tools the next day.
Overnight Ann removed the tire. So, between three volunteers, with God’s help, they changed that tire. Her joy with that inflated tire fired up her brilliant smile. She was so happy.
The Vincentians involved won’t forget this day because they took a picture of the happy group. It was a beautiful moment. They thank God and St. Vincent de Paul for being presented with this opportunity. They always feel fulfilled with love and compassion doing God’s work. But that day they think they saw God’s hand on Ann’s shoulder.”
Another Vincentian, Jeff Raabe, who has been serving in the St. Vincent de Paul ministry for more than 10 years, described why he stays involved.
“There are visits that stay with you long after you leave. Sometimes you drive away feeling uplifted. But there are other times when you drive away with a heavy heart. You see families struggling with circumstances that seem almost impossible to overcome. You hear stories of hardship, disappointment, and sometimes desperation. And you realize that the little bit of help we can offer isn’t going to fix everything.
“That can be emotionally difficult. There are times when you wish you could do more. You wish you could solve the problem, take away the worry, or somehow make life a little easier for the people you have just met. But we can’t always do that. We are not there to fix everyone’s life. We are there to participate where we can, to listen, to show compassion, and to remind our neighbors that they are not forgotten. That is what Jesus asks of us. And that’s really why I stay,” Mr. Raabe said.
Vincentians have come to realize that this ministry isn’t just about providing food, paying a utility bill, or helping someone keep a roof over their head. Those things are important, of course. But sometimes the most important thing they give is their time, their attention, and the opportunity for someone to tell their story to people who genuinely care.”
There are many ways to serve neighbors in need. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers an opportunity to grow in faith and experience a spirituality that can be truly humbling. The Diocese of Knoxville currently has 12 conferences. If your parish does not have a conference, talk with your pastor about forming one. Everyone in your parish will benefit in ways that will astound you.
For more information about forming a conference, contact John Hough, Society of St. Vincent de Paul District Council president for the Diocese of Knoxville at jhough20@comcast.net.