By Lucia Lai
PENANG — The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Malaysia has made remarkable strides over the past ninety years. Established in 1934 with the first conference at the Church of the Assumption in Penang, SSVP has gradually expanded its reach. By the early 1950s, the Society began to flourish along the western half of the Peninsular Malaysia, and in the 1980s, it made its way to Sarawak.
Today, SSVP boasts 63 conferences across the nation and approximately 700 dedicated members.
In 2004, SSVP celebrated its 70th anniversary at the state level with a Mass at the Church of the Assumption, followed by a fellowship dinner at St Xavier’s School hall next door.
The following significant milestone, the Diamond Jubilee in 2009, was celebrated on a grand scale at the national level. This event coincided with the National Council AGM and was hosted over two days at a hotel, attracting around 500 members and guests from locations including Singapore and Bangkok. The first day included the AGM and tea at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, while on the second day, a special Mass was celebrated at the Church of the Assumption, culminating in a dinner at the hotel.
The Mass was presided over by the then Bishop of Penang, Rt Rev Antony Selvanayagam, with the late Cardinal Soter Fernandez and the late Fr Mari Arokiam, who was the National Council’s spiritual director at the time, also in attendance.
In 2014, SSVP marked its 80th anniversary with a celebration hosted by the Conference of the Assumption. A Thanksgiving Mass was held at the church, followed by a simple catered dinner on the church grounds, attended by SSVP members.
In 2024, the 90th anniversary was a particularly special occasion, taking place at the conference level and focusing on the Friends In Need (FIN), a group of individuals and families that SSVP regularly supports, previously referred to as ‘adoptees.’ The Assumption Conference in Penang currently has nine members and cares for six FINs, which includes three individuals and three families.
On December 8, all the FINs were invited to a delightful dinner at a popular restaurant, celebrating both the 90th anniversary and the Christmas season. A total of 12 FINs, including adults and children, joined the six SSVP members for the occasion.
Fr Desmond Jensen, the assistant parish priest, graced the dinner, offering prayers to bless the food and expressing gratitude to God for the Society’s 90-year legacy. This gathering provided a beautiful opportunity to celebrate both the anniversary and the Christmas spirit alongside the FINs.
The evening was filled with camaraderie as SSVP members engaged in meaningful conversations with the FINs, learning more about their stories. The FINs were also informed about the Society’s impressive 90- year history and how this long-standing presence enables continued support for them.
The celebration included a cake-cutting ceremony, and before the FINs left, each received a Christmas gift to take home.
This event represented a rare and cherished opportunity for members and FINs to come together over a shared meal. The gathering cultivated a closer and more meaningful relationship between the members and FINs, embodying the belief of our founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, that closeness to the poor exemplifies the essence of Catholic Social Teaching and reflects compassion without judgment.
 in Malaysia has made remarkable strides over the past ninety years. Established in 1934 with the...){kind=link}