PROVIDENCE — The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Rhode Island celebrated its 165th anniversary with a special Mass celebrated on Nov. 17 by Bishop Thomas Tobin at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul and a dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick afterwards.
“For 165 years you have been reaching out to help the poor and the needy in a beautiful and compelling way. You have served so well in union with the Church in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,” Bishop Tobin said in his homily. “Only God knows how much good you have done throughout the years and how many souls you have touched in the name of Jesus.”
The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Rhode Island is older than the diocese itself and is one of the oldest in the country. Worldwide the society dates its founding to 1833 in France.
Today the Rhode Island society has 500 members and chapters — known as “conferences” — in 29 parishes. In its last fiscal year, which ended in September 2017, the society provided about $1.5 million in food assistance and $1 million in aid for other needs, ranging from helping with heat and rent to transportation.
“We help with just about anything,” said Renee Brissette, the executive director of the society.
In all, an estimated 26,000 families benefitted from the work of the society during the year.
In an interview with the Rhode Island Catholic, Normand Plante, a volunteer at the conference at St. Mary’s Church in West Warwick, described it as a “wonderful organization” whose members are “givers, not takers.” But the most important thing, he added, is how members give. “It’s non-judgmental. That’s the most important thing. You’re never supposed to judge these people,” Plante said.
To commemorate the anniversary the society released a 19-page book on its history authored by a member and professor of history at Providence College, Raymond Sickinger.
“It was such an awakening and it was so inspiring to know that so much around us was part of who we are today. And I think that just really gave such a nice boost for all of us — to inspire us to keep going and know that what we do really does matter,” Brissette said.
Attendees at the dinner were presented copies of the book. The evening also featured a testimonial by a former beneficiary of their services and a memorial presentation to the family of Joseph M. Tally, the founder of Tally’s Religious Gifts in Cranston and the first council president for the society in Rhode Island.
