Leaders from the St. Vincent de Paul Society met with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge recently to outline their plans to serve the needy in 2026.
Larry Ferguson, president of the Vincentians’ diocesan council, brought 13 council officials and presidents of the society’s parish conferences to the chancery in Arlington Jan. 16. He said last year the 11 conferences brought direct financial assistance and hope to more than 7,000 households by meeting with them, family by family.
They hope to minister to more than 8,000 households this year through additional fundraising, recruiting and the initiation of more parish-level conferences, Ferguson said. The society, which operates a thrift store in Fredericksburg that is open Monday to Saturday, plans to open a second location in the Chantilly/Herndon area, expand current food pantries, and start the first youth conference.
Bishop Burbidge expressed his gratitude for the society’s presence throughout the diocese, noting that Vincentians “serve people in need with love and compassion by providing direct person-to-person assistance like food, housing, and clothing with respect for the dignity of each person as a child of God.” He recalled the organization’s motto, “No work of charity is foreign to the society,” and encouraged Catholics to consider joining the Vincentians and/or supporting their work through prayer and contributions.
Find out more
To learn more, find a conference near you or support the Vincentians’ work, go to svdparlington.org.
