top of page
Parish Conferences

what we do/parish conferences

Parish conferences

“What we do for the poor is not something we do for God; our work is what we allow God to do through us.”- Blessed Frederic Ozanam

​

In the tradition of our founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, Vincentians follow Christ through service to those in need. This service is fostered through fellowship in a lay Catholic organization called a Conference and is deepened by visiting the poor in their homes to bear witness to His compassionate and liberating love. The Conference is the basic unit of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The Baton Rouge Diocesan Council is composed of about 25 parish-based Conferences in the Baton Rouge Diocese. The Diocesan Council embraces all Conferences with a mission of spiritual formation, promotes Conference collaboration and ensures compliance with the Rule of the International Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

​

Contact us to learn more on how you can become a Conference member.

The three essential elements of conferences: 

  1. Spiritual growth of the members

  2. Developing friendships among the members and with those in need

  3. Serve people with compassion, generosity, and respect

In the Greater Baton Rouge area, there are 23 Conferences linked by the common mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to empower the poor and marginalized in our communities. The Conferences are volunteer groups, known as Vincentians, putting their faith into action to respond to the needs of people in their local communities, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religious background. 

​

Within the framework of the International Society and the directive of the Baton Rouge Diocesan Council, each of the 23 Conferences operates independently to offer services within their Church parish boundaries. Some of the direct services that the Conferences offer are vouchers to SVDP Thrift Stores for clothing and furniture, information on the Uniform for Kids program, referral to the SVDP Pharmacy, assistance with rent or utilities (when criteria has been met and approved) and providing food.  Many of the Conferences have their own food pantry or have partnered with the Baton Rouge Food Bank in providing food to those Neighbors in need.  One of the most powerful services is listening to the Neighbor and providing Spiritual aid. 

​

The core of Vincentian service is the home visit. During a home visit, two members of the SVDP Conference go to the home of an individual or family, who are respectively called Neighbor or Friend.  The Vincentians visit with the clients, assess their needs, provide assistance or give referrals based on the situation. The home visit's central purpose is to maintain the dignity and respect of the people we serve. 

Holy Family - Port Allen, Holy Ghost - Hammond, Immaculate Conception - Baton Rouge, Our Lady of Hope- Napoleonville, Plattenville, Labadieville, Our Lady of Mercy - Baton Rouge, Sacred Heart - Baton Rouge, St. Aloysius - Baton Rouge, St. Alphonsus - Greenwell Springs, St. Augustine - New Roads, St. Benedict the Moor - Napoleonville, St. Catherine Sienna - Donaldsonville, St. Elizabeth / St. Jules - Paincourtville, St. George - Baton Rouge, St. Gerard - Baton Rouge, St. Helena - Amite, St. Isidore - Baker, St. John the Baptist - Zachary/Clinton, St. Joseph / St. Stephen - French Settlement, St. Joseph - G.L.P. (Gramercy, Lutcher, Paulina), St. Joseph - Ponchatoula, St. Jude - Baton Rouge, St. Margaret / St. Thomas - Albany, St. Patrick - Baton Rouge, St. Paul - Baton Rouge, St. Thomas More - Baton Rouge

bottom of page