St Vincent de Paul

The SSVP is an International Catholic Charitable Voluntary Organization of Lay people founded in Paris in 1833 by a group of Six young men led by Frederic Ozanam and placed under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul in 1834.

St. Vincent de Paul was a Catholic Priest who devoted much his life in helping the poor in rural France and alerted the world to social problems. He died in 1661 and was canonized in 1737.

The Achimota Conference of SSVP was founded in 1983.The SSVP works for and on behalf of the Church. Its aim is to help alleviate suffering in our communities by helping people in need on person -to-person contact.

It is a Spiritual Society and not a social welfare group. It works with Christ to continue with His works from where He left off (Luke 4:18). The Society is not that of glamour. It serves in humility, emulating the example of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The major activities of the Society include:

• Coordinating the many Societies in the Parish to visit the needy people (aged, orphans and widows in their homes, hospitals and prisons on monthly basis.
• Providing clothing, funds, medical care, and shelter to the needy.
• Offering counselling services to the needy and aged during visits
• Advocacy for the marginalized
• Periodic provision of food to street children.
• Other benevolent gestures that require the Society’s attention.

The Society is a Catholic Charitable Organization and open to all those who have compassion to help the needy and the destitute. The activities are largely funded by the Parish and other benevolent individuals.

Currently, the numerical strength of the Society has jumped from eleven (11) to thirty-five (35) members.

The current leadership of the Society comprises the following: