For World Volunteer Day: Vincentian Volunteer Groups AIC Italy ODV
Who are we Volunteers of the Vincentian Volunteer Groups AIC Italy ODV?
The Statutes define us as follows: The Vincentian Volunteer Groups are an association of Catholic lay volunteers who intend to live solidarity and Christian charity according to the Gospel.
Our story
Vincentian voluntary work is inspired by the model of its founder, St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), who in 1617 established the first ‘Charity’, a lay charitable confraternity whose members took the name of ‘Servants of Charity’, committed to assisting in turn the needy sick in the country parish of Châtillon-les-Dombes. Preaching in rural areas, St. Vincent founded Charities in numerous villages, until he moved to Paris, where in 1629, when noblewomen also joined the Charities, the ‘Servants of the Poor’ took the name ‘Ladies of Charity’. Hundreds of associates concretely helped in charitable activities with the sick, foundlings, convicts, slaves, starving populations, etc. In fact, the Charities, to which Saint Vincent de Paul gave common rules based on the imitation of Christ, from an initial assistance to the poor and most abandoned sick, devoted themselves more generally to helping the needy, while maintaining the Vincentian style that required meeting in the living environment of the poor. This experience spread rapidly in France and Europe, thanks to the Fathers of the Mission, a congregation founded by Saint Vincent in 1625, and the Daughters of Charity, a society founded by Saint Vincent in 1633.
Today we Vincentian Volunteers recognise ourselves in the AIC International Association of Charities. The international AIC, which coordinates and trains the various AIC associations of the world, has its headquarters in Belgium and is made up of all the national associations, a total of 56, located in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and Africa.
The common objectives, which we want to pursue throughout the world, are the promotion of persons and families in distress, the fight against material and spiritual poverty and its causes, and the denunciation of the injustices suffered by the poor, while maintaining as fundamental the personal encounter with the needy brother in his living environment, with immediate help when necessary.
In Italy we are more than 5500 associates, present in 18 regions and organised in Groups of about 10-20 volunteers who in parishes and often in collaboration with Caritas dedicate their efforts to ensure moral support to the most needy, through the listening centres and home visits, which have always been a feature of ours, recommended by San Vincenzo and unfortunately suspended during the Covid pandemic. We are still active in supporting material needs, such as payment of rent and utility bills, to needy people, both Italian and foreign, especially immigrants; we also ensure the supply and distribution of foodstuffs, organise public canteens, a cloakroom service with distribution of clothes, after-school activities for minors, work start-up workshops, animation in retirement homes, presence in hospitals, visits and moral support to prisoners and detainees in some Italian prisons…
‘Charity is endlessly inventive’ said St Vincent de Paul.
This exhortation, which every volunteer must place at the heart of their work, sustains us in our charism, and is renewed by organising and adapting to social changes and the needs of the poor.
Miriam Odoardi
National Vice President GVV AIC Italy
