The French version of famvin features an article complete with pictures of the dedication of the new building which will house the International Headquarters.
photosFrom the International site of the SSVDP…
Friday February 3, 2005, the National Council of France of the Company of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul inaugurated his new offices, 120 avenue of the General-Leclerc, near to the Door of Orleans. Around Monseigneur André twenty-three, Archbishop of Paris, Mr Pierre Castagnou, Mayor of the 14e district, Mr Jean Cherville, and Mr Benoît Durand President and Secretary of the National Council, had invited nombresues personalities, the Presidents departmental and the friends of the Company.
We already said on this fabric that the spirit of Vincent saint was simplicity, spontaneousness, without speeches agreed, but with this complicity, included/understood of all, for the same engagement with the service of the poor; it was the climate of this meeting.
Towards 16 h.15, with the facility of word and the elegance of the thought and the words that one connait to him, Mr Cherville accomodates the guests. Why to have left the street of the Pre-with-Clerks? Because of the sale of the building become too exiguous for the three Councils of the Company, the International one, the National and that of Paris. The separation of these three levels will undoubtedly be a good thing.
The President points out the strong edges of the caritative engagement of the Company: Spirituality at the court of the action, the visit in residence of insulated, assistance with the disadvantaged families, Ugly food and vestimentary, the school support, the combat against loneliness, the reception and accompaniment of stripped. It also insists on the autonomy of the Company: Company of Laic catholics, pertaining to the Church, but independent of the Church for its action.
Currently, the action of the Company is focused on the loneliness of the people, recurring phenomenon of our world in all the mediums. The word is given then to Mr Pierre Castagnou, Maire of the 14e district, which says its satisfaction to accomodate the National Seat of the Company. The 14e becomes the district of the caritative organizations; the Red Cross indeed has just settled there. Finally Monseigneur André twenty-three said his confidence in the Company of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul and his recognition for the taken action, as a partriculier in Paris, to entreat often hidden poverties, with its specificity of the relation to the person.
