The Parish of St Vincent de Paul in Battersea was first
set up in 1903, and the church constructed in 1907. The
internal plan is very open, with no pillars or side aisles.
Around the apse are inscribed the words DEUS PROVIDEBIT
SIBI VICTIMAM HOLOCAUSTI, which means God will
provide for himself the sacrificial victim. This
connects the Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac with
the sacrifice of Christ himself on the cross and celebrated
in the Eucharist.
Some changes have taken place in keeping with the
liturgical developments after the Second Vatican Council. There is
more to be done.
The presbytery is a mid-Victorian house whose basement has
been converted into a parish hall. For several years until
the 1960's the house doubled up as a small parish school.
Diocesan school inspectors used to live here some years ago.
St. Vincent de Paul (1580 - 1660) himself lived in
France, and became dedicated to the relief and service of the
poor. He founded the Congregation of the Missions (Vincentians)
and with St Louise de Maurillac he co-founded the renowned Daughters
of Charity. His concern included galley-slaves,
distressed gentlefolk and abandoned children. He was very
sensitive of the dignity of poor people.
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society
(SVP) is an association of lay people named after him and
founded by Frederic Ozanam in 1833 for the service of the
poor. Today the Society includes almost 900,000 members
spread among 46,000 confraternities in 130 countries of five
continents. The Society's purpose is to provide direct aid to
those who suffer, and to help individuals reduce (and even
eliminate) the causes of their suffering themselves. Society
members use their own resources, sharing not only possessions
but the valuable gift of their presence.
Other links to other information on Saint Vincent de Paul:
