St. Vincent De Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris, France, in 1833.  Frederick Ozanam, a college student, was challenged by his non-believing classmates by the question, “What is your Church doing for the poor in Paris?”  From that question, Frederick and six others began a group called the “Conference of Charity.”  St. Vincent de Paul, the patron saint of the poor, was chosen to be the patron of the group.  Eventually, the organization was formally named The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the members were, and still are, called Vincentians.

The founders of the Society began visiting the poor in Paris and helping them both spiritually and physically.  His Vincentian followers do the same today.  The Society came to the United States in 1845, beginning at the Old Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri.

Today there are over 47,400 parish conferences throughout the world, and the Society has over 750,000 members worldwide.

No work of charity is foreign to the Society.  Our ministry, through person-to-person contact, encompasses every form of aid that alleviates suffering and promotes the dignity and integrity of mankind.