Conferences

 

 

For Financial assistance call Johnstown Human Needs – (814) 535-8521, 236 Bedford Street, Johnstown, PA 15904  or  Altoona Human Needs –  (814) 943-1981 x 108, 1215 7th Ave. Altoona, PA 16602

Parish Conferences

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 address the needs of the poor in their area. Conferences are located in the following parishes:

Altoona

  • St. Mark’s 814.201-2246
  • St. Mary’s 814.201-2246
  • St. Rose of Lima 814.201-2246
  • St. Therese 814.201-2246

Bedford

  • St. Thomas 814.979.0272

Carrolltown

  • St. Benedict 814.344.9309

Central City

  • Our Lady Queen of Angels 814.754.5224

Cresson

  • St. Francis Xavier/St. Aloysius 814.886.4242

Ebensburg

  • Holy Name 814.472.4362

Gallitzin

  • St. Demetrius 814.660.4192

Hastings

  • St. Bernard’s 814.247.6558

Huntingdon

  • Most Holy Trinity 814.643.2222

Johnstown

  • St. Andrew 814.288.4324
  • Visitation 814.288.2333/814.243.9658
  • Divine Mercy Catholic School Youth Conf.

Lilly

  • Our Lady of the Alleghenies 814.886.8972

Mount Union

  • St. Catherine 814.514.5385

Nanty Glo

  • St. Mary’s 814.749.9958

Northern Cambria

  • Prince of Peace 814.948.8828

Patton

  • Queen of Peace 814.674.8983

State College

  • Our Lady of Victory 814.867.3131

Williamsburg

  • St. Joseph 814.599.1196
HOW TO FORM A CONFERENCE

Contact your Pastor to help establish a conference. The Pastor can identify potential Vincentians as well as speak about the works of the Society from the pulpit. Contact possible members and invite them to attend an organizational meeting at the parish. At this meeting, representatives from the Society’s District Council can 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 ministries under the umbrella of this Society.

THE ROLE OF HOME VISITORS

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 neighbor;
  • 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)