A volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA is pictured in an undated photo unloading aid for people in need. OSV NEWS PHOTO/COURTESY SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL USA
A call to journey with Christ beyond the Lenten season
BY BELINDA ABELL, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
Lent is ending and we will soon be celebrating Easter. It is a perfect time to continue your Lenten journey with Jesus Christ. We are all called to live a life like Jesus but how? The Society of St. Vincent de Paul would like to invite you to discover if becoming a Vincentian could be your path to living a life like Jesus.
Serving God as a Vincentian is a unique and deeply personal calling. Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are not only volunteers, Vincentians and staff performing acts of charity; they are disciples striving to encounter Christ through service to the marginalized, suffering, and forgotten. Inspired by the example of St. Vincent de Paul and the founding vision of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, Vincentians live out their faith through humble, compassionate action.
At the heart of Vincentian spirituality is the belief that Christ is present in those who are poor and marginalized. When Vincentians visit families, deliver food, assist with rent or utilities, or simply sit and listen, they are not merely offering aid – they are encountering Jesus himself.
“Every home visit becomes a sacred moment where dignity, compassion, and respect are extended to a neighbor in need,” added Laurna Strehl, SVdP Diocesan Second Vice President and parishioner of Sts. Joseph and Paul in Owensboro.
“Serving God in this way requires more than generosity; it requires a change in perspective. Vincentians learn to look beyond circumstances and see the person – someone created and loved by God,” said James Dale, SVdP Diocesan President and parishioner of St. Mary in Franklin.
The Vincentian mission is not simply about providing material help. It is about building relationships. Blessed Frédéric Ozanam believed charity should be personal and rooted in friendship. When Vincentians walk alongside those they serve, they offer hope, encouragement, and the reminder that no one is alone in their struggles. This personal approach reflects the Gospel message to love one another as Christ loves us.
Serving God as a Vincentian is also a journey of spiritual growth. Members gather in prayer, reflection, and fellowship, strengthening one another in faith. Through service, Vincentians often discover that those they help also help them grow – teaching humility, gratitude, patience, and trust in God. Many Vincentians say they receive far more than they give.
Being a Vincentian means bringing the Gospel into the everyday realities of life. Whether through food pantries, thrift stores, disaster relief, or financial assistance, the work of the Society reflects Christ’s call to care for “the least of these.” Yet the mission goes beyond programs or services. It is about living a life of compassion, standing with those who struggle, and serving God through acts of love.
The Vincentian vocation reminds us that holiness is not reserved for extraordinary moments but found in simple acts of kindness. Each time a Vincentian listens without judgment, offers help without expectation, or prays with someone in need, they bring the light of Christ into the world. SVdP Western District President and parishioner of St. Thomas More in Paducah, Diane Stoverink, believes “to serve as a Vincentian is to answer God’s call to love – one person, one family, and one act of mercy at a time.”
To learn more about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, contact your local SVdP Parish Conference or view our website at svdpwky.org. To establish a parish conference, contact Richard Remp Morris at (270) 315-5747.
Originally printed in the April 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
