The role of home visitors:

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides personal and neighborly help. Members of the Society, called Vincentians, organize themselves into small, local working groups within a church. These groups are known as Conferences. Their goal is to relieve suffering through the provision of material or moral help to needy people. Vincentians know the local conditions and can seek the support of others to address the needs of the poor.

It is the objective of the Society, through the work of the conference and home visitation, to provide the following:

• Bear witness to Christ and to His Church by showing that the faith of Christians inspires them to work for the good of humanity;
• Bring together men of good will and to assist them by mutual example and true friendship in drawing nearer to the Divine Model by fulfilling His essential precept; namely, the love of God in the person of their fellowmen;
• Establish a personal contact between its members and those who suffer and to bring to the latter the most efficacious and brotherly aid possible (American Manual of the Society of SVDP, 1980, p.4).

To form a conference:

The local parish is the usual channel through which a conference is developed; therefore, the Pastor is a key person to help in the establishment of conference. The Pastor can identify potential Vincentians as well as speak about the works of the Society from the pulpit. Once perspective members are identified, they are contacted and invited to attend an organizational meeting at the parish. At this meeting, representatives from the Society's District Council will explain how the Society works, answer questions and offer guidance to establish a conference.

When a conference is formed, it is their choice in determining what charitable works and services will be undertaken, but the conference will receive support from the Council office and the other 12 ministries under the umbrella of this Society.

SVDP Conferences Are Located in the Following Parishes:

 Altoona
            St. Mark’s
            St. Mary’s
            St. Rose of Lima
            St. Therese

Bedford
            St. Thomas

Carrolltown
            St. Benedict

Central City
            Our Lady Queen of Angels

Cresson
            St. Francis Xavier/St. Aloysius

Ebensburg
            Holy Name

Gallitzin
            St. Demetrius

Hastings
            St. Bernard’s

Huntingdon

            Most Holy Trinity

Johnstown
            St. Andrews
            St. Therese
            Visitation

Lilly
            Our Lady of the Alleghenies

Nanty Glo
            St. Mary’s

Northern Cambria
            Prince of Peace

Patton
            Queen of Peace

St. College
            Our Lady of Victory