Ministry/Group Name
St. Vincent de Paul Society

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 in France by a 20 year old college student, Frederick Ozanam, whose first dream it was to help himself and his fellow students who were away from home remain faithful to their Catholic beliefs and to associate in friendship.

Their idea was to put into practice the belief that the Gospel had to have visible expression through caring for the needs of those who were poor. The original band of seven began visiting the needy in their homes and taking them what comfort and assistance they could. This movement grew and evolved into a worldwide organization of prayer and charity that sprang from the practice of going into the homes of those in need and providing personal contact and a faith dimension to the help given.