This feast day of St. Vincent de Paul offers us a perfect opportunity to consider the topic of poverty and our role in bringing comfort and hope to those who suffer.
St. Vincent de Paul lived in eighteenth century France and saw all about him the needs of the poor and marginalized. His desire was to help feed, shelter, and minister to the poorest of the poor at his time. Much like what Cross Catholic Outreach desires to do today.
In order to care for the poor, he organized groups of lay people to gather the necessities of life and distribute food, clothing, and medicine to those in need. Nearly every Catholic parish in the world today has a group known as the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which cares for the needs of the poor in their parish and beyond.