The Beginnings of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

In the midst of the political, social, religious, and economic turmoil of early 19th century France, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul originated. As a young student at the Sorbonne, Antoine Frédéric Ozanam was appalled by the conditions he saw in Paris. At a student meeting, another student challenged Ozanam and other practicing Catholics, admitting that while the Catholic Church had done much good work in the past, he could not see what good the Church was doing currently.

On April 23, 1833, his 20th birthday, Ozanam invited five other students to a meeting, where they founded the first Conference of Charity to assist the poor. This Catholic lay organization was intended to help members increase in holiness by loving service to those in need.

The six students chose Emmanuel Bailly, a married layman, as their first president. Shortly thereafter, they changed their name to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in honor of their patron saint.

 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States

Just 12 years after its founding in France, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul established roots in the United States. On November 20, 1845, the United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul was established in St. Louis, Missouri at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, popularly called “The Old Cathedral.”

Several people were instrumental in the Society’s growth and development in the U.S., including Father John Timon, an American Vincentian priest from Pennsylvania who brought copies of the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul from Dublin, Ireland, to St. Louis. Timon spoke with various people about the Society’s work with the poor, including Bishop Peter Richard Kenrick. Kenrick asked Father Ambrose Heim, known for extraordinary zeal and ministry with the poor, to establish the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and be its spiritual advisor. Father Heim became known as “The Priest of the Poor.”

February 2, 1846, and would never have opened without the dedicated laypeople who accepted the initial invitation to become members and serve the poor.

With nearly 90,000 Vincentian volunteers serving their communities, today’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul works in 4,428 parish-based Conferences across the United States. Our founding activity, still practiced today, is the face-to-face Encounter (also known as the Home Visit), in which Vincentians visit the homes of those they serve, to identify both immediate and longer-term needs, including emergency assistance with utilities, rent, food, and clothing.

 

Our Vincentian Saints and Blesseds

St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Founder of the Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity, Confraternities of Charity, and Ladies of Charity. A man of deep faith, keen intellect, and enormous creativity, St. Vincent de Paul has become known as the “The Apostle of Charity” and “Father of the Poor.” His contributions to the training of priests and organizing parish missions and other services for the poor shaped the Church’s role in the modern world. The Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul is September 27th.

 

Blessed Frédéric Ozanam (1813 - 1853)

Founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul., Frédéric was a husband and father, professor, and servant of the poor. He founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as a young student with others of the Sorbonne in Paris. Frédéric’s writings on social justice anticipated the first social encyclical of our modern times, Rerum Novarum. The Feast Day of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam is September 9th.

 

St. Louise de Marillac (1591 - 1660)

A contemporary of St. Vincent, St. Louise was inspired and directed by Vincent’s spiritual leadership. She collaborated with St. Vincent in founding the Daughters of Charity and organizing hospitals for the sick poor, asylums for the orphaned, workshops for the unemployed, championing literacy for the uneducated, and establishing standards for local charities. Louise was a wife, mother, teacher, nurse, social worker, and religious foundress. The Feast Day of St. Louise de Marillac is May 9th.

 

Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC (1786 - 1856)

The most Blessed Rosalie Rendu was a Daughter of Charity who served for 54 years in the Mouffetard area (the most impoverished district of Paris). Emmanuel Bailly, the President of the Society, sent the founding members of the Society to Sister Rosalie for guidance and direction. Sending the founders on Home Visits, she formed them in the spirit of St. Vincent, teaching them how to serve the poor with respect and compassion. The Feast Day of Blessed Rosalie Rendu is February 7th.

 

The St. Vincent dePaul Society at Holy Trinity (1996 to present)

Caring for our brothers and sisters in need has a rich history at Holy Trinity parish.  The St. Vincent dePaul Society began in 1996.  The years from 1996 to present have been active ones, with over 2,000 callers to our Help line.

A few years ago, our conference at Holy Trinity was awarded the Rosalie Rendu Award of Excellence.  We were the first conference in the United State to receive it.

When Christ said to Peter, “Feed my lambs.  Shepherd my sheep. Take care of my little sheep” he was not simply talking to Peter and the Apostles, to the bishops, to the priests or religious. Christ was talking to all of us.  Take care of your brothers and sisters as though they are your blood brothers and sisters.  Love your neighbor.