The Society of St. Vincent De Paul is an International Organisation started by blessed Frederic Ozanan. St. Vincent dedicated himself to the poor and is known as the ‘Great apostle of Charity’. In St. Sebastian’s Church this Conference of SSVP was started in the year 1997. Presently there are 18 members in the Conference.
I would like to place before you some of the activities carried out by our members. We visit St. Joseph’s Home at Quepem, Jyoti Bhavan at Balli, both run by Mother Teresa’s nuns. Sometimes some benefactors donate some money in remembrance of their deceased family members and ask us to give food for the inmates. So we give lunch for these inmates.
We also visit Dr. Alfred Antao’s Home at Chandor and interact with the inmates. We try to see Jesus in them by showing them our love and concern. Many of our members celebrate the birthdays of these inmates. Two of our members’ sons’ birthdays are on the same day as the inmates at Chandor. So for the last 2 years, we have been celebrating their birthdays together. They feel very happy and look forward to our arrival.
The members of our Conference have contributed Rs. 10,000/- this year for the Sattari Mission, where they have built schools for the poor. They even teach the deaf and the blind with the help of especially trained teachers.
The Conference has helped a poor lady by paying Rs. 3,900/- for the three months for her dialysis treatment. We also give medicines every month to another poor lady.
Educational Scholarships have been given to six students. Besides this, we give books, uniforms etc. Admission fees of Rs. 5000/- were given to 3 college students at the beginning of the scholastic year. Regular monthly aid is given to six deserving people and we visit them often. We also visit the sick and the elderly in their homes and in hospitals.
We admitted a poor destitute person to Jyoti Bhavan at Balli. We tried helping one or two more persons who were homeless but we could not succeed as they were not willing to go.
Members visited Vincent De Paul School for special children which is built and run by the Vincentians at Antepar, Curtorim. They educate children with the help of trained teachers, who teach them according to their aptitude.
We also visit Nitya Seva Niketan at Rivona where the nuns take care of orphans. We interact with them and encourage them to sing and participate in the various games conducted by us.
We visit eight very poor families twice a year, whom we have adopted at Ambaulim, Quepem. We give them monthly aid and also a hamper at Christmas time.
On the 27th of September every year, we celebrate the feast of St. Vincent De Paul, by offering a mass in our Church.
I appeal to all our parishioners, to spare a little time for the poor and the downtrodden, and come forward and join the Conference, and see what inner joy and satisfaction you experience when you reach out to the marginalized.
IRENE ANTAO