The history of the SVP in our parish

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul started in Quinton in 1951 before the parish church opened in 1952. In those far off days, visits were carried out to parishioners on foot as buses terminated at the Punch Bowl Pub and later at the bus garage (now Tesco) and cars were a luxury. It would not be appropriate to name names in case we miss someone out but the parish has been fortunate over many years to have had a long list of committed Vincentians.
The special achievements with regard to the parish have been the Christmas party which has been a feature for many years as was our ability to send a parishioner to Lourdes each year. Families were taken on day trips to the seaside also on holidays to the caravan in Wales rented out to us by our Central Council.
Our vision extends well beyond our shores to people far worse off than ourselves and to this end in the mid nineties at a cost of £500 pounds we had two buildings erected in Goa to house our fellow Catholics and to this day we receive regular correspondence from them with their local SVP conference going from strength to strength.
In the early days of the fifties great work was carried out by our members helping to clothe a number of children in the parish as was the provision of small amounts of food to help families budgets. Many visits were made to Quinton” Old Mens” home as it was then called and was situated at the top of Spies Lane before being demolished for housing development in the late seventies.
We also arrange lifts to and from Mass as well as accompanying trips to hospital. Many hundreds of hours each year are spent visiting across the parish all done voluntary and with a good heart.
Contributed by the SVP society (March 2017)
The special achievements with regard to the parish have been the Christmas party which has been a feature for many years as was our ability to send a parishioner to Lourdes each year. Families were taken on day trips to the seaside also on holidays to the caravan in Wales rented out to us by our Central Council.
Our vision extends well beyond our shores to people far worse off than ourselves and to this end in the mid nineties at a cost of £500 pounds we had two buildings erected in Goa to house our fellow Catholics and to this day we receive regular correspondence from them with their local SVP conference going from strength to strength.
In the early days of the fifties great work was carried out by our members helping to clothe a number of children in the parish as was the provision of small amounts of food to help families budgets. Many visits were made to Quinton” Old Mens” home as it was then called and was situated at the top of Spies Lane before being demolished for housing development in the late seventies.
We also arrange lifts to and from Mass as well as accompanying trips to hospital. Many hundreds of hours each year are spent visiting across the parish all done voluntary and with a good heart.
Contributed by the SVP society (March 2017)
How can you help?

First, and foremost, we ask your prayers for the work we do. Prayer gives us the help we need to do God's will, and spread the message of the Gospel to our brothers and sisters who are difficulty.
Second, perhaps you could give your time? Think about becoming part of the SVP Society here at Our Lady of Fatima. We meet on a regular basis in the Parish Hall. For more information, or to join the SVP, please contact the parish office.
Thirdly, we are always in need of financial help. Each member of the society does this valuable work voluntarily, without any financial return. There are collections twice a year in the parish, but we always need more to continue carrying out this valuable work in our parish.
Second, perhaps you could give your time? Think about becoming part of the SVP Society here at Our Lady of Fatima. We meet on a regular basis in the Parish Hall. For more information, or to join the SVP, please contact the parish office.
Thirdly, we are always in need of financial help. Each member of the society does this valuable work voluntarily, without any financial return. There are collections twice a year in the parish, but we always need more to continue carrying out this valuable work in our parish.