The Face of Charity

“Charity is the inventive to infinity” St. Vincent De Paul

Founded in 1833, with 6 university students, Frederic Ozanam convened the first “Conference of Charity” in Paris under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul. Today the Soceity includes almost 900, 00 members spread among 46, 000 confraternities in 130 countries over 5 continents.

Members of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul (or Vincentians) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need. We are young and old, of every shade of skin colour. We are a part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing that is nourished by prayer, reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.  The purpose of the Society is to provide direct aid to those who suffer, and to help individuals reduce and even eliminate the causes of their suffering themselves. Society members use their own resources, sharing not only possessions but the valuable gift of their presence.

Objectives of our Society

• Our objective is to accept the teachings of Christ and His Church by applying these teachings in a positive manner in word, deed and example in our everyday conduct as Vincentians. It is also to show this faith that inspires us to work for the good of humanity by rendering person-to-person service to the needy.

• To bring together men and women of goodwill and assist them by mutual example of our Vincentian friendship to draw nearer to the Divine Model by fulfilling His essential precept, namely the love of God in the person of their fellow men.

• To establish a personal contact between Society members and those who suffer and to bring to the latter, the most efficacious and brotherly aid possible.

• To add dimension to the spiritual life of the parish through works of charity among those in need by positive action to relieve the immediate requirements in the spirit of and according to the intentions of our Vincentian rule.

• To visit the sick in hospitals, institutions, prisoners, the lonely and invalid, confined to living in isolation.
  
• The Society serves persons in need regardless of creed, colour, caste or origin.

The fundamental and distinctive work of the society is the regular visitation of the adopted families in their own homes, not just to dole out food, clothing and money to them but above all, to help their lives and to establish a rapport, friendship, trust, a person-to-person contact.

Activites

The list of activities below indicates the on-going nature of the Society, Conference of the Assumption.

• Sustenance Aid to Needy Families. Presently we support 53 families in the Old Klang Road Area, in the form of a monthly sustenance, medical and education aid.
• Pre-school Education Aid:  This has been a major feature of the society’s work in the past years.  The Society conducts pre-school classes for children (ages 5 & 6 years old).  These classes are held at the SSVP Centre in Sri. Sentosa, off Old Klang Road.  The Centre has two paid teachers with their full-time Administrator.  The children at the Centre pay a nominal fee of RM30/= per month and those unable to pay are exempted.
• Tuition Classes for Underprivileged Children. These classes are conducted on a weekly basis at Assumption Family House.  4 paid teachers are conducting the classes on Saturdays for 3 hours.  Transportation to and fro is provided free by the Society. The Group Insurance (Alliance Insurance) provides comprehensive Coverage for these children in the event of accidents and consequential Medical attention.

Other activities include:

• Annual Sports Day:  Organized for the pre-school children in the premises itself.  This annual event is very welcomed by both the parents and children where the children display their ability in the series of games prepared for them
• Concert & Graduation: Held annually for the Graduates and children who exhibit their diverse talents at the concert to the amusement, joy and delight of their  parents and where, fellowship and family spirit is enkindled and developed on such occasions with SSVP members and vice-versa
• Motivational Courses:  Children from the underprivileged families are sponsored from time to time to attend Motivational course, focused in helping underprivileged children to work smart and  for the uplifting of their parents
• Annual Outing/Christmas Party:
  a)  Educational trip to Zoo Negara planned for the children from the Education centre as well as children from the Adoptees’ families.
  b)  Children’s Christmas party organized by Company Donors.  For 50 children of our Adoptees’ families, a Christmas party was held at the Desa Water Park.

Other projects undertaken by the Society:-

• Blood Donation Drive:  Arranged with the assistance of Tabung Darah Negara is an on-going campaign undertaken by the Society to help save lives.  The number of  volunteers who have come forward to donate blood for this worthy cause has been very encouraging and heart-rending.
• Fellowship Café: This non-profit project is held on the 3rd Sundays of the month.  Additional funds accrued from this project are channeled towards the Membership Development Fund.  To enable the Society to carry out its works of charity, the Conference depends on the 2nd collection on the 1st Sundays of every month.  Donations from Well-wishers & Benefactors supplement our income.  Due to the ever-increasing demands of the marginalized, the society is in dire need of funds and membership.