Help honors when to the bread that nourishes it adds the visit that consoles, the advice that enlightens, the friendly shake of the hand that lifts up the sinking courage; when it treats the poor man with respect, not only as an equal but as a superior, since he is suffering what perhaps we are incapable of suffering; since he is the messenger of God to us, sent to prove our justice and our charity, and to save us by our works.
Blessed Frederic Ozanam
Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam (April 23, 1813 – September 8, 1853) was a French literary scholar, lawyer, journalist and equal rights advocate. While he was a student, he and a group of friends gathered to have lively discussions and social teachings of the Gospel was a favorite topic. At one meeting during a heated debate in which Ozanam and his friends were trying to prove from historical evidence alone the truth of the Catholic Church as the one founded by Christ, their adversaries declared that, though at one time the Church was a source of good, it no longer was. One voice issued the challenge, “What is your church doing now? What is She doing for the poor of Paris? Show us your works and we will believe you!”
As a consequence, in May 1833 Ozanam and a group of other young men founded the charitable Society of Saint Vincent de Paul for the sanctification of its members by personal service to the poor. Innumerable Catholic parishes have established “conferences”, most of which affiliate with a diocesan council. Among its varied efforts to offer material help to the poor or needy, the Society also has thrift stores which sell donated goods at a low price and raise money for the poor. There are a great variety of outreach programs sponsored by the local conferences and councils, addressing local needs for social service. Blessed Frederic Ozanam’s birthday was this past Friday.
The parishioners of St. Isidore have restocked our pantry so well that we only need $25 gift cards from Kroger and Meijer for emergency fresh food. Thank you!
Also, our St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store on Van Dyke is open to receiving other types of donations (clothing, books, houseware, decorations, etc.) that we cannot accept.
