St Vincent de Paul

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) is an international voluntary organization in the Catholic Church, founded in 1833 for the sanctification of its members by personal service to the poor. The Society numbers about 800,000 members in some 140 countries worldwide whose members operate through “conferences.”

There are conferences in various parishes throughout the diocese, all of which are affiliated to the SVP National Council in Dominica. All conferences in the diocese operate under the umbrella of their respective parishes as part of the social arm of the churches.

Our conference operates under the umbrella of the Cathedral parish; for that reason, we are registered with the SVP International Council office in France as “OUR LADY of FAIR HAVEN CONFERENCE”.

Members of the society as a conference, strive to work together strengthening their faith and reaching out offering person- to- person service to those who are needy and suffering. The Motto of the conference is to serve with love, respect, justice, hope and joy.

OUR LADY OF FAIR HAVEN CONFERENCE now has a total of only eight (8) active members, most of whom are senior retirees. There is an urgent need for new members, with special appeal to the youth to join the society for the continuation of the service to the most underprivileged in the parish.

The society was founded by 20 year old Antoine-Frederic Ozanam, who led a group of university students in reaching out to the less fortunate in their community. It was this group that developed and spread to 140 countries as Society of Saint Vincent de Paul under the umbrella of the Catholic Church. Blessed Ozanam was beatified in 1997, members worldwide pray for his sainthood at all meetings. Young parishioners please take note.