News Archives

Every week we deliver fresh veggies and non perishable foods to SSVP in Yeoville to assist with their Soup Kitchen

A testimony by Michelle Masimba (a young SSVP volunteer at St Charles)

2022 is the International Year of Le Taillandier, one of the seven founders of SSVP, who was born on 28 January 1811.

The Issue No. 03/2021 of ‘Ozanam Network’ digital magazine, translated and edited by Council General International’s Communications Department, is now available. One of the highlighted news is the CGI’s Historic Board Meeting in Lyon.

On Saturday, October 30 2021, another Talk Show with the President General will be held at 10 am (local time in Brasilia, Brazil). The Talk Show will be broadcast live on Ozanam TV (Facebook) in Portuguese with translation into English, Spanish and French.

Our Table View Conference in the Western Cape reports a busy year of activities aimed at alleviating the plight of the poor and hungry.

700 children are signed up and are borrowing books from the Hotspot Library which is named after the area in which they live. In the winter months, soup is served to the children. We assist with financial support, books and soup ingredients.

Alleviating hunger remains our top priority. Apart from packing and distributing food parcels the Conference also supports 30 Soup Kitchens in the area which feed between 100-150 people per day.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul is active in many parishes around the world. But who was the saint after whom the society is named? Günther Simmermacher tells the story.

September not only heralds Spring, but is a significant month in the Vincentian calendar, with two special festivals to commemorate. 

After ongoing lockdowns forced us to abandon our soup kitchen, SSVP members in Nigel decided to distribute sandwiches instead. Every Tuesday for the past 12 months, they have prepared 90 sandwiches with butter, cheese and polony and served parking attendants and collectors of recycling...

The recent events in our country have caused much devastation and anxiety and on top of the impacts of Covid-19 have decimated what little some families had. It is events such as these that separate us as God’s children and yet He sent His...

No matter how bad things get, there are those determined and resilient individuals who continue to strive to make a life for themselves and their families. Angela is one such individuals. After lockdown restrictions eased, she was determined to get back on her feet....

One of the recipients of a R500 Christmas shopping voucher, organised by our Howick Conference late last year, literally could not believe her eyes.

Anyone who’s spent time in Bloemfontein knows that winters can be extreme … with bitter winds sending night time temperatures below zero. With winter well on the way, St Rose Conference has been running regular soup kitchens for the needy, as well as a...

March 2020 … national lockdown … our churches were forced to close and our voluntary work and fundraising came to an abrupt halt. But, just as Jesus was able to feed multitudes of people with five loaves and two fish, by the grace of...

The first 2021 issue of Ozanam Network magazine has just been published. We feature the editorial by Brother Renato Lima de Olieveira, 16th President General of SSVP For us as Vincentians, there are no hard times Faced with the countless challenges in our daily...

This item was written in faith and hope by Brenda Roberts – the Founder and Leader of The Woza Sidle project in Diepsloot Township north of Johannesburg, which falls under the Society Saint Vincent de Paul, Bryanston Conference. What a fantastic Saturday we had...

Since the start of lockdown, we have been unable to congregate at our churches to participate in Mass and other church services. While many have adopted online services as the new norm, others have struggled to establish an authentic domestic church. On Saturday 29...

When you want to reach out a compassionate, helping hand to homeless people, there’s a bit of a problem: how do you find them? Since they don’t have homes, you can’t pop in for a visit. And for a variety of reasons homeless people...

The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul would like to express deep appreciation and sincere thanks to the Edgar Droste Trust and Nedbank Private Wealth Charitable Trust Division for the generous donation of blankets received this winter. No fewer than 425 blankets were distributed...

In celebration of youth month, the National Youth Council (NYC) of the SSVP hosted a series of online CV skills and career development workshops.

President General of SSVP International, Renato Lima, has circulated a report, summarising the activities and actions of the communication department undertaken within the Council General, as well as prospective initiatives to be launched. Please click here to download the report.

On behalf of the committee of St. Vincent de Paul, Howick Conference, Lesley van Duffelen (Chairperson), Joicelyn Leslie-Smith (Vice Chair), Robert Forrester (Treasurer), Rosemary Forrester (Secretary), Aubrey Mack, Leanne Williams, Thomas Shelembe and Peter Hodgson – we sincerely thank all our generous donors for...

These have not been easy days for humanity, especially for those most in need. Covid-19 has altered the economy and the routine of people, and has had a strong impact on the daily life of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. All Councils,...

President General’s Message on the Occasion of the 187th anniversary of the SSVP Published on: 13 April 2020 On 23 April 2020, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul celebrated its 187th anniversary. With pride and joy, we praise the meritorious initiative of the...

Join in our Forty Day Challenge! Each day of Lent, remove one itme of non-perishable food from your pantry, and at the end of Lent, donate these items to the Saint Vincent de Paul for a disadvantaged family.

Are you proud of your conference’s work to alleviate poverty and homelessness in your community? Please share details of these projects with Renato Lima de Oliveira, International President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Brother Renato has been invited to give a...

During the Pope’s recent visit to Mozambique, a delegation of South African SSVP members was fortunate to travel to our neighbouring country to attend Mass with the Holy Father. National Youth Council President, Boipelo Mathodlana was among those present. “At Mass, we made sure...

Enter the conference poster competition and stand the chance of winning a prize! Conferences are invited to design a poster based on the theme of  “Homelessness”. The poster should illustrate the work they do for those who live on the streets, and include a...

The online magazine Ozanam Network, published by the Communication International Department of the International General Council, is available in four languages. The 2/2019 edition features great articles on: The need for continuous training to ensure our attack on poverty isn’t outdated Formation The new...

Although 91 year old Annie Squires is no longer an active SSVP member, she is still part of the family at St Christopher’s in Plettenberg Bay. Recently, conference President, Sylvia Christians, took Annie out to tea in celebration of her birthday and to acknowledge...

2019 is the thematic year of Paul Lamache (1810-1892). In the first of what will become an annual Literary Contest, Vincentians are invited to present new or little known facts about the man's personal, professional, Vincentian and family life.

The recently formed St Francis Xavier Conference in Kimberley is setting a wonderful example. They recently set up their soup kitchen in Bloemanda Phase Two and handed out food to hungry community members.

Young people form a very important part of SSVP – our future leaders and inspiration. By encouraging young people to participate in the good works, we ensure that the legacy of SSVP carries on, and we entrench the spirit and footprint of SSVP amongst...

In Quigney, East London about 20 homeless people – most of whom sleep under verandas in town near the beachfront, were touched by the kindness of the members of the  Holy Redeemer Conference. Thanks to tony Cotterall and Robert Nell, the crowd of mostly...

Children at Maryvale School in Bloemfontein were delighted recently when members of the Sacred Heart Conference visited with gifts of new school shoes and jerseys. The smiles on the kids’ faces when they opened up the goody bags and found brand new shoes inside...

Today is the 206th birthday of Blessed Frederick Ozanam, Principle Founder of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. The day marks the 186th Anniversary of our organisation, which now has over 950 000 members in 155 countries around the globe. What an amazing...

Members of St Rose Conference in Bloemfontein collected 40 pairs of school shoes and clothing for Lebone Village, a local children’s home and orphanage. King Williams Town Children’s Home was also the beneficiary of clothing and toiletries donated by members of SSVP Sacred Heart...

Our Lady of Sorrows parish in Nigel recently reached out to all the parking attendants in the town. One hundred breakfasts of boerewors, pap and gravy – along with 2 bananas and a Coca Cola – were served to car guards who often work...

Until recently we have been using a spare room in the priest’s house at St. Joseph’s in Howick for storing donations of clothes, blankets, computers, wheelchairs and crutches. We have now been allocated a place in the garage where we were able to build...

In Qiuigney, East London, hungry and homeless people receive hot soup and meals every Tuesday. We also hand out donated clothes and shoes to those in need. If you are able to help by donating unwanted items, please contact Shiela on 074 253 0782....

Thanks to the efforts of SSVP Our Lady of Sorrows in Wentworth, Durban, local pensioners enjoyed a wonderful Christmas lunch.

A joint festival, attended by all the local conferences as well as his Eminence, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, took place at St Mary's in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 2 December.

On World Poor Day, Sunday 18 November, St Vincent de Paul members and volunteers throughout the country worked tirelessly to feed as many poor and marginalised people as possible. Reports came in all through the day, with wonderful pictures of hungry people being given...

After a visit from a group of young Vincentians, the dormant SSVP conference at The Lady of Peace parish in Roodepoort has been given a new lease on life.

In 2019, the International Council General of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) will celebrate 180 years since its foundation. To celebrate this occasion, the International Board decided to launch a competition called “THE SEVEN FOUNDERS”. In this way, the Council General...

Anyone passing the main gate of Holy Trinity Church in Braamfontein will be confronted by the disconcerting and provocative sculpture of a homeless person lying on a park bench. The figure is completely covered by a blanket, except for the feet which are exposed....

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul will be hosting a Combined Gauteng Festival in Commemoration of Celebrating 400 Years of Vincentian Charism 1617 – 2017. We call all Vincentian Members in Gauteng to join us in this Jubilee Celebration of 400 years of Vincentian...