The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) is an international Catholic organisation of lay people, founded in Paris in 1833 by Frederick Ozanam and his companions.  It seeks, in spirit of justice and charity to help those who are suffering.  It does this by person to person involvement of its members (brothers and sisters).  It is open to all who wish to live their faith by loving their neighbour. 

The SVP in St Josephs was formed on 1st April 1891 and the first meeting of the conference took place the following month, followed by the formation of the Young Men’s Guild. 

The SVP are quite an active conference.  The SVP meet each Wednesday in St Cuthbert’s Chapel.  Brothers regularly visit the elderly in their home and if they are in hospital, as well as visiting any of our parishioners who may be in residential homes.

We help with the Children’s Catholic Handicapped, providing transport to and from their social club.

Over the last few years we have been doing sponsored walks for charity.  Last year we did a walk in aid of the SVP in the Lebanon.  Previously we did sponsored walks for the HCPT, to help to fund send children with to Lourdes.  Over a three year period we raised enough money to send 16 children to Lourdes - at £500 per child.

We organise the Little Sisters of the Poor flag week each year.  The SVP have been doing this since 1932.  This has been an annual event for the Little Sisters since then.  Over the last ten years, we have raised over £70,000 for the Little Sisters.  The next flag week will be in June this year. 

We provide mass transport for the elderly to and from mass, every Sunday.  We also have auxiliary members who still do some SVP work but who are unable to attend meetings.

Anyone who is interested in joining, please see Eugene Murphy, who is normally at both 6.30pm and 9.30am masses.  .

Pictured above, some of the SVP Brothers - back row Michael Musgrove, Eugene Murphy, front row, John Hogg, Peter Carty, Michael Hodgson.