THE RULE and STATUTES Society of SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL
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THE RULE AND STATUTES of THE SoCIETY of SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL CANADA “Help honors when, to the bread that nourishes, it adds the visit that consoles, the advice that enlightens, the friendly shake of the hand that lifts up sinking courage; when it treats the poor man with respect, not only as an equal but as a superior, since he is suffering that which we would perhaps not be able to bear ourselves; since he is among us as the messenger of God, sent to put our justice and charity to the test, and to save us by our works.” (Frédéric Ozanam, from an article in L’Ère nouvelle, October 21, 1848.) InterpretatIon of the rule and CanadIan StatuteS These Internal Statutes of Canada received the approval of the Permanent Section of the Council General on June 8, 2007. They are subordinate to, and interpreted according to, the Rule of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of the International Council General and to the International Statutes, and shall be treated together with them as a single legal document. © The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Canada Legal deposit - Library and Archives Canada, 2013 ISBN: 978-2-9800207-5-9 First printing May 2007 Second printing March 2009 Third printing February 2012 Fourth printing November 2013 Fifth printing February 2017 2 TAbLE of CoNTENTS foR THE RULE AND CANADIAN Statutes I Preamble ....................................................................................................... 9 II Vision, Mission, Values and Logo ............................................................... 11 III Opening and Closing Prayers ..................................................................... 13 IV Organizational Chart of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Canada .... 17 SeCtIon 1 BaSIC requIrementS of the rule of the InternatIonal ConfederatIon of the SoCIety of SaInt VInCent de paul 1.1 Fundamental Principles .............................................................................. 19 1.2 The Poor .................................................................................................... 21 1.3 Vincentian Spirituality ................................................................................ 22 1.3.1 Characteristics of the Vincentian Spirit .......................................... 23 1.3.1.1 The Spirit of Charity, Service and Sharing ....................... 23 1.3.1.2 The Spirit of Humility ..................................................... 23 1.3.1.3 The Spirit of Truth and Justice ......................................... 24 1.3.1.4 The Spirit of Warm Acceptance and Cordiality ................ 24 1.4 Membership in the Society ......................................................................... 25 1.4.1 Categories of Members .................................................................. 25 1.4.1.1 Full Member .................................................................... 25 1.4.1.2 Auxiliary Member ............................................................ 25 1.4.1.3 Benefactor ....................................................................... 26 1.4.1.4 Young Adult Member ...................................................... 26 1.4.1.5 Youth Member................................................................. 26 SeCtIon 2 OrganIzatIon of the SoCIety of SaInt VInCent de paul In Canada 2.1 Prologue ..................................................................................................... 27 2.1.1 Incorporation, Revision of by-laws and Annual Review ................. 28 2.1.2 Operations Manual ........................................................................ 28 2.2 Conference ................................................................................................. 29 2.2.1 Definition ...................................................................................... 29 2.2.2 Role and Responsibilities of a Conference ...................................... 29 2.2.3 Aggregation ................................................................................... 30 2.2.4 Election of the President ................................................................ 31 2.2.5 Term of Office ............................................................................... 32 2.2.6 Duties of the President .................................................................. 32 2.2.7 Appointment and Role of Officers ................................................. 34 2.2.7.1 Duties of the Vice-President ............................................ 34 2.2.7.2 Duties of the Secretary ..................................................... 35 2.2.7.3 Duties of the Treasurer ..................................................... 35 2.2.8 Appointment and Role of the Spiritual Advisor ............................. 36 2.2.9 Meetings ........................................................................................ 37 2.2.10 Finance .......................................................................................... 39 2.2.11 Reporting and Accountability ....................................................... 40 3 2.2.12 Youth and Young Adult Members .................................................. 41 2.2.13 Voting ........................................................................................... 41 2.2.14 Isolated Conferences ...................................................................... 41 2.2.15 Responsibilities of Isolated Conference to the Particular Council ... 42 2.3 Particular Council ....................................................................................... 43 2.3.1 Definition ...................................................................................... 43 2.3.2 Role and Responsibilities of Particular Councils ............................ 43 2.3.3 Incorporation ................................................................................ 45 2.3.4 Institution of a Particular Council ................................................. 46 2.3.4.1 Establishing New Particular Councils .............................. 46 2.3.4.2 Reorganizing Particular Councils ..................................... 46 2.3.5 Voting Members ............................................................................ 46 2.3.6 Election of the President ................................................................ 47 2.3.7 Term of Office .............................................................................. 48 2.3.8 Duties of the President ................................................................. 48 2.3.9 Appointment and Role of Officers of the Executive Committee .......................................................... 49 2.3.9.1 Duties of the Vice-President ............................................ 49 2.3.9.2 Duties of the Secretary ..................................................... 50 2.3.9.3 Duties of the Treasurer ..................................................... 50 2.3.10 Appointment and Role of the Spiritual Advisor ............................. 51 2.3.11 Role and Responsibilities of the Executive Committee ................... 52 2.3.12 Meetings ........................................................................................ 52 2.3.13 Finance .......................................................................................... 52 2.3.14 Reporting and Accountability ........................................................ 53 2.3.15 Youth and Young Adult Members .................................................. 53 2.3.16 Voting ........................................................................................... 54 2.3.17 Quorum ........................................................................................ 54 2.3.18 Proxies ........................................................................................... 54 2.4 Central Council .......................................................................................... 55 2.4.1 Definition ...................................................................................... 55 2.4.2 Role and Responsibilities of Central Councils ................................ 55 2.4.3 Incorporation ................................................................................ 56 2.4.4 Institution of a Central Council .................................................... 57 2.4.4.1 Establishing New Central Councils ................................. 57 2.4.4.2 Reorganizing Centrals Councils ....................................... 57 2.4.5 Voting Members ........................................................................... 60 2.4.6 Election of the President ............................................................... 60 2.4.7 Term of Office ............................................................................... 61 2.4.8 Duties of the President .................................................................. 62 2.4.9 Appointment and Role of Officers of the Executive Committee .......................................................... 63 2.4.9.1 Duties of the Vice-President ............................................ 64 2.4.9.2 Duties of the Secretary ..................................................... 64 2.4.9.3 Duties of the Treasurer ..................................................... 65 4 2.4.10 Appointment and Role of the Spiritual Advisor ............................. 65 2.4.11 Role of the Executive Committee .................................................. 66 2.4.11.1 Responsibilities of the Executive Committee ................. 66 2.4.11.2 Meetings .......................................................................