Society of St. Vincent de Paul (St. Dominic’s Conference) 2018 Stewardship Report

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul is charged with the primary responsibility of carrying out THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY; Feeding the Hungry, Giving water to the thirst, clothing the naked, visiting (and caring) the sick, visiting the imprisoned, sheltering the homeless, and boring the dead. Though sheltering has become somewhat difficult given cost of accommodation and security issues in the country especially Lagos. Given our responsibilities as “custodians wealth”, we come to you this day, giving amount of our stewardship as all we control has been given to us by you, our benefactors; known and unknown. The following is not designed for us to be wowed but to ensure an all inclusive Society.

In the year 2018, SSVP St. Dominic received a total of ₦4,053,086.01 This income came in through donations, 1st Sunday box collection, Sales relating to the society, SSVP boxes and church donation, out of which ₦3,538,180.00 was spent on the following:

Small Business Start-up/ boosting: we empowered individuals to become financially independent by providing initial capital to such individuals in order to start up or boost an existing business of their choice after proper investigation has been carried out to ascertain the viability of such business. We also pay for vocational training fees and work tools.

Basic Support: We support individuals who wish to relocate due to an economic crisis affecting them or because they are stranded, and need to return to their home towns by paying for their transportation (by road). We also pay for the transportation of all clients attended to on our meeting days.

Education: the Society currently runs a ‘stay-in-school’ project for students in the slum and yaba environs. Uniforms and books are bought for the students to enable them go to school. Last year, we provided for 90 students. SSVP also pays school fees and exam fees for students who need help to complete their education in public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Health: SSVP runs free health check-ups yearly during our Week for the Poor programme. More than 100 beneficiaries enjoy free screening, counselling and medications from this activity. We also attend to the medical needs of clients weekly during the Society’s meeting days and pays for their medical bills when referred to hospitals (surgeries and deliveries inclusive in some cases and based on the history of the case). 20 to 30 individuals benefit monthly.

Community outreach: we visit prisons and various homes to make donations and sponsor the release of as many prison inmates as the Society can afford to. Last year, SSVP sponsored the release of four (4) inmates whose bail fees were N50,000 each. The society also visits and caters for the elderly in our communities that have little or no care.

These individuals are adopted by the society. We currently have 13 adoptees that are given weekly stipends to carter for their daily feeding expenses. We also donate items to Samaritan home and So Said Home.

Voluntary Service: the society cleans homes as part of our charity drive. Currently 3 homes enjoy these services – Modupe Cole Memorial School Akoka, Red Cross Motherless Baby Home Makoko and Old People’s Home Sabo Yaba. This service is championed by the Youth Wing section of the Society and it is done monthly.

The Society wishes to thank our dear parishioners & our Benefactors for their immense support throughout the year 2018. Through your support to the Society, we have been able to provide educational support for our children, as well as food, clothing and healthcare to our brothers and sisters in need.

We plan to touch more lives this year and with your support we will be able to achieve this for our brothers and sisters in need.

Remember, whatsoever, you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me. So says the Lord. (Mt. 25:40)

Please visit our website:  www.ssvpstdominic.com and For More Enquiry call: +2349090005269

Thank you for your generous support and May God continue to bless you. Amen.

St. Vincent de Paul… pray for us!

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C

Know What Counts

The scripture readings today tell us that there are two kinds of people; those who are happy and those who are not. The happy people are those who know what counts. Those who remain unhappy are those who chase the things that do not count. What is it that counts? The only thing that counts is having God in your life. The prophet Jeremiah proclaims in the first reading, ‘A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord, with the Lord for his hope’ (Jeremiah 17:7). The Psalmist adds his voice, ‘Happy indeed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked; nor lingers in the company of scorners’ (Psalm 1:1). The second readings tells us why we should flee the company of sinners. We have been delivered from the power of sin through the power of Christ’s resurrection. Our joy is found in our freedom from sin which is also freedom from eternal death. Saint Paul adds that, “If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people” (1 Corinthian 15:19). We are happy because our hope extends from earth to heaven. This means that those who are unhappy place all their hopes in this world.

Jesus says in the Gospel that those who glory in their worldly possessions and material accomplishments, those who satisfy their greed with what rightfully belongs to others through cheating and corruption, those who inflict pain on others through deception, those who leave a trail of broken hearts and empty promises, those who foment trouble and incite violence through divisive talk and provocation and all other wrong doers will remain unhappy in this life. If they refuse to repent and die in their sins, they will remain unhappy for all eternity. But God has not made anyone to be unhappy or to perish in hell. You have a serious choice to make. Choose what counts. Choose the One who makes life meaning fullness. By choosing Jesus, you are choosing the fullness of life and happiness.

SSVP St Dominic Primary School Project 2019

Society of St. Vincent De Paul St. Dominic Conference Yaba, Lagos Presents The Primary School Project 2019.
In Giving, We Receive.
You can cloth a child today with the sum of N1,500 by Donating to the Society.
Fidelity bank;
Account Number: 6060147892
Account Name: Society of St Vincent De paul St. Dominic Conference.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
For More Enquiry call:
+2348034446033 +2349090005269
www.ssvpstdominic.com
facebook.com/ssvpyaba

Here are pictures from the visit.