Udupi Area Conclave of Society of Vincent Paul (SVP) held in St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 10 Dec 2023: The conclave of  Units of the Society of Vincent de Paul (SVP) belonging  nine parishes included in the Udupi Pradesh (Deanery) was held in St. Lawrence Parish Hall, Moodubelle on Sunday, 10 December 2023 from 9.30 am to 2pm.

 

The conclave started at 9.30 am with registration of the members of SVP from different parishes and breakfast.

 

The stage programme  commenced at 10 am presided over by Dominic Monteiro, President of the SVP, Udupi Pradesh. The other dignitaries on the dais included: Fr. George D’Souza-Parish Priest of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle and Spiritual Director of SVP Moodubelle Unit; Godfrey D’Souza-Secretary of SVP, Udupi Pradesh; Herald Botelho-Treasurer Alphonse K. Alva-Chief Guest and Mrs. Gladys Rebello-President of SVP, Mooduibelle Unit.

 

Following the initial prayer service and welcome address by Mrs. Gladys Rebello, Fr. George D’Souza in his benedictory message outlined the vision and mission of the Society of Vincent de Paul. He said that the needy people in the society require not only financial assistance but more than that emotional support. He appreciated the good work that is being done by the members of SVP in spite of difficulties and lack of resources.

 

Secretary Godfrey D’Souza conducted prayers for the eternal rest of the souls of the deceased SVP members.

 

Eight new members belonging to different parishes within the Udupi Deanery were inducted  into their respective parish SVP Units.

 

 

Secretaries of the SVP Units of 9 parishes included in the Udupi deanery presented their annual report mentioning about the type of  their charitable work and financial assistance given to the needy families and members of their parishes. These parishes are: Mother of Sorrows Parish Udupi,  Stella Maris Parish Kalmady, St. Francis Xavier Parish Udyavar, St. Vincent de Paul Parish Katapadi, Christ the King Parish Manipal, Our Lady of Fatima Parish Perampalli, St. Antony’s Parish Kuntalnagar, St. Lawrence Parish Moodubelle and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Yermal.

 

The chief guest of the programme, Alphonse K. Alva, a resident of Moodubelle and electrical contractor by business, former Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council of Moodubelle and community leader in his key-note address traced the origin and growth of the Society of Vincent de Paul. Through examples, he pointed out the good work done by the SVP and made certain suggestions for the betterment of the society.

 

Treasurer Herald Botelho clarified certain queries raised by two members.

 

In his presidential address, Dominic Monteiro made a brief review of his tenure as the President of the SVP Udupi Pradesh during the last four and a half years. He narrated the work done by the SVP responding to the call given by the Bishop of the Udupi Diocese and the National Committee of the SVP. He expressed his gratitude to his office-bearer colleagues and all the members for their support.

 

Herald Botelho proposed the vote of thanks. The entire stage programme was compered by Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza-members of Moodubelel Unit of SVP.

 

 

Following the group photo in front of the  St. Lawrence Parish Hall, all members went to the church in procession singing the hymn in praise of the Holy Spirit.

 

Fr. Charles Menezes, Parish Priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, Dean of Udupi Deanery and Spiritual Director of SVP Udupi Deanery offered the thanksgiving Mass. 

 

Following the end of the Mass, Fr. Charles Menezes installed new office bearers of the SVP Udupi Deanery by administering them oath. These new office-bearers are: Herald Botelho-President, Theodore Pereira-Vice President, Godfrey D’Souza-Secretary, Mrs. Philomena D’Silva-Assistant Secretary, Francis Passanha-Treasurer, Dominic Monteiro-Project Officer Archibald D’Souza-Assistant Project.

 

 

About the Society of Vicent de Paul:

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) is an international voluntary organization in the Catholic Church, founded in 1833 for the sanctification of its members by personal service of the poor. Started by Frédéric Ozanam and Emmanuel Bailly and named after Vincent de Paul, the organization is part of the global Vincentian Family of Catholic organizations.

 

St. Vincent De Paul

Innumerable Catholic parishes have established "conferences", most of which affiliate with a diocesan council. Among its varied efforts to offer material help to the poor or needy, the Society also has thrift stores which sell donated goods at a low price and raise money for the poor. There are a great variety of outreach programmes sponsored by the local conferences and councils, addressing local needs for social services.

 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 to help impoverished people living in the slums of Paris, France. The primary figure behind the Society’s founding was Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, a French lawyer, author, and professor in the Sorbonne. Frédéric collaborated with Emmanuel Bailly, editor of the Tribune Catholique, in reviving a student organization which had been suspended during the revolutionary activity of July 1830. Ozanam was 20 years old when he founded the Society. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997. Emmanuel Bailly was chosen as the first President.

 

Bl. Frederic Ozaanam

 

The Society took Saint Vincent de Paul as its patron under the influence of Sister Rosalie Rendu, DC. Sister Rosalie, beatified in November 1999 by Pope John Paul II, was a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, earlier known for her work with people in the slums of Paris. She guided Frédéric and his companions in their approach towards those in need.

 

SVP gradually expanded outside Paris in the mid-19th century and received benefactors in places such as Tours where figures such as the Venerable Leo Dupont, known as the Holy Man of Tours, became collaborators.

 

Emmanuel Bailly

 

The Society is part of the Vincentian Family which also includes two congregations founded by St. Vincent de Paul – the Congregation of the Mission with Vincentian priests and brothers and the Ladies of Charity – along with the Sisters of Charity in the Setonian tradition and several others, including some religious groups that are part of the Anglican Communion like the Company of Mission Priests.

 

The Society was first introduced in India by the French Missionaries at Pondicherry during the Year 1852-53 as a non-aggregated Conference. The Society was officially started in India in 1863 when some conferences in Bombay were aggregated and the Bombay Particular Council was instituted. Then onwards the Society continued to grow in India. On 09 November1953, the Superior Council of India was established and instituted with the Council General International. The Superior Council of India was renamed as National Council of India on 06 August 1973. The National Council of India has its Headquarters in Mumbai and the present President’s secretariat is at Chennai, Tamil Nadu with the election of Bro. S. Jude ZR Mangalraj as the 14th National President of India with effect from 28th February 2021.

 

Bl. Sr. Rosalie Rendu

 

The Society numbers about 800,000 members in some 140 countries worldwide, whose members operate through "conferences". A Conference may be based out of a church, school, community center, hospital, etc., and is composed of Catholic volunteers who pursue their own Christian growth in the service of the poor. Some Conferences exist without affiliating with any local Council, and so are not counted in statistics. Non-Catholics may join and the Society serves all regardless of their personal beliefs.