Vincentians are witness to God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice.

The primary role of the Vincentian is not to pay the bills, furnish groceries, or clothe someone.  The role of the Vincentian is to provide loving and compassionate interest in individuals.  If that interest calls for food, clothing or other assistance, so be it.  However, it is in loving where the contact with Christ emerges.  That contact with Christ is what separates the Society of St. Vincent de Paul from just another social agency.

We have created this page to help put all of the information you need in a readily accessible location. Click on any link below to access additional information related to that subject. If you feel we need to add anything, please do not hesitate to call the Central Council Office at (713)741-8234.

"From the beginning of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the central and most basic activity of Conferences has been the visitation of the needy in the home. This action is the clearest symbol of the Vincentian charism which dictates the highest respect for the dignity of the poor: the visitor becomes the guest and the person being helped is the master. It symbolizes the fact that Vincentians are to reach out to the needy, rather than requiring them to report to an outside service site. It is in the home environment that needy persons feel most free to entrust their stories of struggle to the helper. It is there, in the family setting, that Vincentians are asked to listen, offer humble advice, and render assistance."     -U.S. Manual of SVdP

The FEMA Relief Center in Houston where Hurricane victims lined up for hours waiting for assistance. St. Vincent de Paul has provided hundreds of Home Visits eliminating these lines for the elderly and sick.

JANUARY 4: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York on August 28, 1774, and was brought up in the Episcopalian faith. She married William Seton, bore five children, and was widowed on December 27, 1803. After overcoming many obstacles, she converted to the Catholic faith on March 14, 1805. She dedicated her life to works of charity and education and founded the community of the Sisters of Charity in 1809. Elizabeth dies in Emmitsburg, Maryland, on January 4, 1821. Part of her community was united with the daughters of charity in Paris in 1850, and the others remained the Sisters of Charity in the United States. Elizabeth Seton was canonized as the first American saint in 1975.

FEBRUARY 7: Sr. Rosalie Rendu
Rosalie Rendu was born at Confort, France on September 9, 1876. She entered the Daughters of Charity on May 25, 1802, just after the Community was reestablished in France after the French Revolution. Her zeal for the poor drover her to establish the means to educate poor children, to care for infants, to support the elderly unable to care for themselves, and to support the elderly unable to care for themselves, and to supervise young working girls. One of her disciples in her mission of service was Frederic Ozanam, founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. After fifty years of dedicated service to the poor in the Mouffetard district of Paris, she died on February 7, 1856. Pope John Paul II beautified Sr. Rosalie on November 9, 2003.

MARCH 15: St. Louise de Marillac
Louise de Marillac was born August 12, 1591. She married Antoine Le Gras on February 5, 1613 had a son names Michael, and was widowed on December 21, 1625. St. Vincent de Paul then became her spiritual director, and under his guidance she became very active in caring for the poor and in visiting the Confraternities of Charity. With Vincent, Louise co-founded the Daughter of Charity on November 29, 1633. She died March 15, 1660, and was canonized in 1934. In 1960, Pope John XXIII proclaimed her the patron saint of all Christian social workers.

APRIL (Last Sunday): Ozanam Sunday
Frederic Ozanam was born on April 23, 1813 in Milan, Italy. On April 23,
1833 Frederic and six companions founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Also, St. Vincent de Paul was born on April 24, 1581. To commemorate these
events the Society of the United States celebrates the Last Sunday of April
as Ozanam Sunday.

JUNE (Friday following Second Sunday after Pentecost): Feast of the Sacred Heart
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been solemnly consecrated to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus from February 5, 1872. An Act of Consecration was
drawn up at the request of the Society in 1872 and this act of consecration
is renewed annually by all units of the Society.

SEPTEMBER 9: Blessed Frederic Ozanam
Frederic Ozanam was schooled in law, literature and philosophy, and he taught at the university level in Lyon and Paris. Frederic and six companions founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul on April 23, 1833. On June 23, 1841 Frederic married Amelie Soulacroix, and their child Marie, was born in 1845. This exemplar of the lay apostalate in the realms of family, society and intellect succumbed to ill health and died on September 8, 1853. Pope John Paul II beatified Frederic Ozanam in Paris on August 22, 1997, declaring September 9 as his feast day.

SEPTEMBER 27: St. Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul was born at Pouy, France on April 24, 1581. He was ordained a priest on September 23, 1600. Vincent devoted himself entirely to the alleviation of the sufferings of the poor, and to that purpose established the Confraternities of Charity, later known as the Ladies of Charity in 1617. In 1625 he founded the Congregation of the Mission, his community of priests and brothers. With Louise de Marillac, he co-founded the Daughters of Charity in 1633. Vincent died in Paris on September 27, 1737. Pope Leo XIII appointed him patron saint of all works of charity of the Catholic Church in 1883.

NOVEMBER 27: Feast of the Miraculous Medal

www.vatican.va - The Vatican

www.usccb.org - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

www.svdpusa.org - Society of St. Vincent de Paul Public Site

www.diogh.org - Metropolitan Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

www.voiceofthepoor.org - Voice of the Poor Committee

www.magnalite-usa.com/svdp01.htm - Eyedentity Program - Purchase SVdP items online.