ATLANTA--Catholic school principals are teaming up with those serving the poor to create opportunities for students to carry out more works of mercy in the coming school year.

This is the 150th anniversary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVDP) in the U.S. and, to mark the milestone, schools in the archdiocese are planning a variety of activities.

St. Vincent de Paul Week is set for Sept. 5-8, according to Sheila Bissonnette, executive director of the SVDP’s Particular Council. This may be an opportunity to expand awareness of the Society, she said. For the last three years, students in a number of Catholic schools have been designing artwork and posters to publicize the Society and its annual fall special collection. “The principals wanted students to be more involved than by just making posters,” Ms. Bissonnette said of the new effort.

Some schools may have food drives or organize service projects during the year. The Society began in the U.S. in November, 1845, in St. Louis, and the first conference in Atlanta was started in May, 1903, at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

The annual collection will be held in all parishes and missions of the archdiocese the weekend of Sept. 16-17. “The goal is to raise $150,000 in celebration of 150 years of service,” Ms. Bissonnette said. “Last year we raised over $134,000.”

A challenge has also been issued to youth and youth ministers of the archdiocese to take part in the Oct. 1 Hunger Walk in Atlanta which benefits many organizations feeding the poor, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Kathy Wolf, youth consultant for the archdiocese, has challenged youth groups to see which can generate the most walkers and raise the most for soup kitchens and pantries of the city.