Over the last fortnight we have helped 327 households from the 1st of October until the 15th of October 2024 with food parcels, supply of clothing and furniture items, such as beds, tables and chairs, dressers and white ware. Thank you to all our donors without you we couldn't do what we do.
New supporters are always welcome.
Vincent de Paul's History
St Vincent de Paul (1581 – 1660) was the third child in a poor peasant farming family at Pouy, France. Although a talented student, family priorities meant that he was required to help on the family plot.
At 15, St Vincent de Paul went to Seminary College and then studied at Toulouse University receiving a Bachelor of Theology. He part-paid for his studies by tutoring other students.
At 19, St Vincent de Paul was ordained a priest and appointed Parish Priest a few years later. However, he resigned his Parish Priest role to avoid legal appeals against his appointment because of his young age.
On a return boat trip to Marseilles, St Vincent de Paul was taken captive and, for the next two years, he was sold and passed on as a slave from one master to another. When he was finally released from slavery, he returned to France and went to Rome to resume his studies. On his return to France, he ministered as Chaplain and Priest.
St Vincent de Paul founded, “The Ladies of Charity”, a group of wealthy women, to collect funds for missionary projects, hospitals, victims of war and to pay ransoms for the release of gallery-slaves in Paris.
St Vincent de Paul was well known by his flock for his compassion, humility and generosity. He was referred to as, “The Great Apostle of Charity”.
St Vincent de Paul’s Feast Day is the 27th September. He is the Patron Saint of Charities including the St Vincent de Paul Society.
At the end of our last year December 2023, we had completed and closed 8689 client cases ranging from food, bedding, furniture, clothing and firewood assistance. Thank you to all those that have helped us.
This year to date we have helped a record number of people already as the cost-of-living crisis continues to hurt.
Any donation is greatly appreciated and goes towards our welfare system - for food and bedding.
St Vincent de Paul has been around for 152 years in Christchurch and as of September 2019 had 355 volunteers.
In December of 2019 we were able to assist 888 households in Canterbury and give out over 465 gifts to those we support during the Christmas period. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this possible.
Our Latest phone line audit shows that we are helping an average of 400 individuals per week with food and other necessities of life. Over 800 bags of firewood have already been delivered this winter season in the Christchurch City Area. Many thanks to our young volunteers from the Young Vinnies groups who helped put many of these bags together. We are currently working on getting ""Street Swags"" from Australia for those who are sleeping rough in our city. These are waterproof, high quality bedding units that can be carried around like a back pack. These will be distributed to the most needy through our colleagues who are working with the homeless in the city. Many thanks for your ongoing support.
