St. Vincent de Paul Society

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is one of the oldest charitable organizations in the world. It was founded in 1833 in France by seven students, including Frederic Ozanam. The young Frederic, a Catholic, wanted to help the poor during the industrial revolution. He also wanted to improve the lives of his peers by urging them to perform works of charity rather than simply talk about what should be done. Along with several friends, Frederic visited the poor in their homes, helping them whenever possible by sharing food and other necessities. The young men also provided food for the spirit through their many acts.

The Society’s work quickly began to spread, arriving in the United States in 1845 with the founding of what is now the National Council of the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The international organization is made up of lay Catholics who are committed to live and grow in their Christian faith through prayer and personal involvement in charitable works. It has spread to more than 130 nations, with over 800,000 members.

The Society of St. VIncent de Paul’s world-wide mission is to help the needy in countless ways, primarily through one-on-one contact between volunteers families, children, and the homeless. They accomplish this mission through parish and community based groups called Conferences and through special projects conducted at the Council level.