By Ronald Lee
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
As a follower of Christ, you may have found yourself engaged in an internal conversation not unlike the following: Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “Never turn your back on the poor, for if you do so, you are turning your back on Christ Jesus.”
Who is this “you?”
Maybe it’s just the social worker employed by Health and Human Services. Or, maybe it’s just the few virtuous souls who go to India to work with the Missionaries of Charity.
Who are these “least brothers of mine?” I am always willing to help people. My sister was in California for a month last year and we took care of her house. My neighbor across the street was in an accident three years ago and we pitched in to help during his recovery.
The more I think about this, the more uncomfortable I get. The Parable of the Good Samaritan had something to say about this. The man robbed and left for dead on the road to Jericho was a stranger. He wasn’t even a member of the same tribe or a practitioner of the same religion. The Good Samaritan was not part of an institution; he was not a member of some helping profession. He helped a stranger because he saw him as his neighbor. I recall hearing a homily where the priest said Jesus was trying to explain to his followers that all of those who are in need of compassion are our neighbors.
Even if the “you” is me, maybe I can give a few extra dollars to charity this year.
Yet, the more I think about that Samaritan, the more uneasy I get. Luke wrote, “He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him.” Mother Teresa said the homeless and the hungry are Christ in distressing disguise.
I don’t live in an ancient society. I am an American citizen living in prosperous Nebraska. Maybe my help is not really needed.
The latest U.S. Census figures reported that nearly 10.8% of Nebraskans—more than 200,000 individuals—were living in poverty. In Lincoln alone the census reported that 12.8% of residents – nearly 35,000 people – are living in economic distress. In Nebraska, 123,113 children are fed with food stamps. If I opened my eyes and looked around, I would see a lot of suffering. Wasn’t it just a few days ago that I heard that the People’s City Mission was filled to capacity? I am always startled by the number of meals served at Matt Talbot kitchen – 100,000 a year.
Okay, maybe I should do more. Perhaps Jesus was talking about me directly. But I can’t just drive around in my car and ask people on the street if they need help. What should I do?
These questions have been asked before. I want to tell you about one such occasion.
Nineteenth-century Paris was an unsanitary, dangerous, and overcrowded place, with two-thirds of its inhabitants living well below poverty level. In the political turmoil of the time, radical socialist ideas found an increasingly receptive audience. These French radicals were often hostile to Christianity and the Church.
At the University of Paris in April of 1833, a small group of students was arguing this very point. One participant, the radical socialist Jean Broet, directed a challenge to those who adhered to the teachings of the Catholic faith. “We agree,” he said, “that at one time your Church was a great Church and was a great source of good. But what is your Church doing now? What is she doing for the poor? Show us your works and we will believe you.”
Six of the students decided to meet to talk about how they might meet Broet’s challenge. Among the six was 20-year-old Frederic Ozanam.
“We must,” he told the others, “do what is agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the gospel. Let us go to the poor!”
They understood the word “us” as referring to them. They organized themselves and began visiting the homes of the poor and helping as best they could.
From the fruits of their first meeting, these students founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. After spreading throughout France, the Society came to Rome in 1842, England in 1844, Belgium, Scotland, and the United States in 1845, Germany, Holland, Greece, Turkey, and Mexico in 1846, Canada and Switzerland in 1847; and Austria and Spain in 1850. By 1860—27 years after the first meeting in Paris—the membership, comprised of Catholics of every age and class, had swelled to more than 50,000.
For Catholics, a powerful answer to how “you” can help “these least brothers of mine” is found in the works of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Vincentians engage in a lay ministry that works directly with low-income families. This ministry is open to all adult parishioners—men and women, single and married, and young and retired.
Going out in teams of two, we make home visits to the people who call us. We go without forms; we go without bureaucratic regulations; and we go without prejudice. We go humbly and pray for God’s guidance.
We meet families without food, without heat or light, without beds to sleep in, or chairs to sit in. We talk with families facing eviction. We visit homeless families living in cars and inmates in jail. Everyone we meet is in trouble.
Through the contributions of parishioners who support our work, we step into the breech to offer emergency aid. We help with rent, pay overdue utility bills, buy food, provide short-term shelter, and arrange for the delivery of beds, furniture, clothing, and other items necessary to maintain a household. During our last reporting period (Oct. 1, 2021 – Sept. 30, 2022), we made 1,173 home visits, served 2,155 individuals (adults and children), and dispensed $385,899 in aid.
We pray with our clients and we pray for our clients. We see the face of Christ in those we help and we hope that they see the face of Christ in us.
St. Vincent de Paul conferences are presently established in these parishes: Blessed Sacrament, Cathedral of the Risen Christ, Cristo Rey, North American Martyrs, Sacred Heart, St. John the Apostle, St. Joseph, St. Michael, St. Patrick and St. Peter in Lincoln, as well as a new conference coming soon at St. Teresa in Lincoln; St. Joseph in Beatrice and St. Vincent de Paul in Seward.
And we hope that “you” will find it in your heart to consider joining us.
