“The vocation of the Society’s members, who are called Vincentians, is to follow Christ through service to those in need and so bear witness to His compassionate and liberating love. Members show their commitment through person-to-person contact. Vincentians serve in hope.” (Rule 1.2)

Fred St. John may no longer be serving in the St. Vincent de Paul Financial Aid Office or visiting people in their homes, but at 97 years old he continues to bear witness to a legendary and timeless Vincentian Vocation. I recently sat down with Fred in his home to talk with him about his more than five decades of active service to the Marquette District of St. Vincent de Paul.

About 60 years ago, in the early 1960’s, Fred felt a calling to volunteer. He did not consider himself a “leadership guy,” but he wanted to be of service. He describes his early experience with the Society as “an extension of what we do naturally – family, friends and neighbors. We would have meetings and visit with people in their homes.” Fred recalls, with certainty, what he says is one of the most important things that happened in the early years - women joining the Society. “Some women walked into a meeting and said they wanted to join. They brought a whole different viewpoint and dynamic!” Fred recalls some of his early Vencentian family members by name: The Anderson sisters, Paul Olivier, Judy Daley, Arnold Balzer, Jim Green, Jack DesJardins.

Serving as a Vencenitan was a humbling experience for Fred. “Some of the people who came in for help were friends. I grew up with them. I could have been on the other side of the table.” He recalls, with both sadness and humor, some of the people he visited. A married couple, she had mental problems and her husband cared for her in their home. Then there was the two elderly women on Bluff Street who were homebound. “We would go to see them each month. One of them was bald so we offered to get her a wig. She said if the good Lord wanted her to have hair he would have given her some!”

The core work of the Society is the home visit. Home visits are always made in pairs to people who have requested assistance. Often times the people visited are lonely and regular visits from Vencentians offers a listening ear, emotional and spiritual support, as well as material help.

Two small plaques from St. Vincent de Paul hang in Fred’s home, one commemorating 55 years of service and the other a “Top Hat” award in recognition of his dedication. His service and life bear witness to Christ and His Church by showing that the faith of Christians inspires them to work for the good of humanity.

“Life is what it is, or what you make it,” Fred says. “The more time you spend on your knees, the better.” Fred’s daughter, Kathy, says her dad prays the rosary twice daily on his knees. He also spends what he calls “the fastest hour of faith on earth” each week at adoration. “I love it,” he says with a smile.