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We have 59 parish-based Society chapters called Conferences with over 1,900 combined volunteers. Be part of our mission by joinin. Case Management System Automate and simplify the filing of Monthly Conference Reports and provide cons istency in reporting among all Conferences in the Archdiocese. Maintain records of all assistance provided to neighbors in need for tracking and simplified audits by the Council. Compile demographic and financial data to use in obtaining funds. Simplify bank account reconciliation. Simplify Food Pantry reporting. CMS 4.0 Browser Edition Supported Operating Systems (OS): Windows 8 or Higher Mac OS iPadOS Android Chrome OS It is highly suggested that you bookmark the CMS 4.0 direct link or this page for quick access What's new? CMS Release Note v4.1.011 Situation tab is only two forms instead of three. Attachment can be upload at any point in the visit flow The "Merge" button has been moved to the left to avoid accidental activation. Option to navigate and review cases before auto-closing Contact AskCMSCommittee@svdphouston.org Watch Training Videos Login CLICK HERE CMS Need user guides? Scroll down for more resources. Have a question? Send an email to AskCMSCommittee@svdphouston.org Case Management Case intake & Worker Instructions Case Intake Training slides Casew orker Training slides Treasury Converting a pledge to a check request Issuing a check USER GUIDES Food Pantry Pantry Closeout Instructions Administrative Client Merge Instructions

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is a non-profit, faith-based organization comprised of more than 1700 volunteer members of parish chapters, known as Conferences, that provide social services to people in crisis and on the journey of escaping poverty. Going to those in need since 1871 CONTINUE OUR MISSION $12.4M Direct Aid Provided 115K People Served > 1.9K Volunteer members 10 Counties Served

Community impact and financial health of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocese of Galveston Houston Our Impact Together, we uplift our neighbors in need! Donate By the Numbers Annual Report Stories $12.4M direct aid given in 2025 32,289 households assisted in 2025 115,060 individuals helped in 2025 128,000 volunteer hours (equates to 61 full-time employees 10 counties served across Galveston-Houston area 1,952 Vincentian volunteers We understand how important it is to you that your contribution is used wisely—and it’s just as important to us. We are committed to responsible stewardship, transparency, and accountability in everything we do. Through careful management of our operational resources, we ensure that every donation supports the continued fulfillment of the Society’s mission. 2025 Annual Report 2025 Community Impact Report 2025 Form 990 2025 Audit Report FORBES: #45 America's TOP 100 Charities in 2025 Your support changed the lives of Solana, Christian, and Dylan—and their families. "Thanks to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the incredible volunteers, we navigated through our darkest times and found hope on the other side." Meet Christian

We have 59 parish-based Society chapters called Conferences with over 1,900 combined volunteers. Be part of our mission by joinin. Click here to view the entire CMS TRAINING PLAYLIST View Select Topics Administrator Administrator Tasks Adding Vendors to Drop-Down Menu Adding Volunteer Hours & Mileage Other Tasks Conducting Searches Managing Vendor Lists Case Management Case intake "New" Case Intake "Returning Individual" Entering Assistance for Neighbor in Need Treasurer Approving Pledges & Check Requests Closing Month & Reports Adding Credits & Debits Food Pantry Pantry Closeout training Pantry Closeout for Existing Clients Entering Casework Info Converting Pledge to Check Request

We have 59 parish-based Society chapters called Conferences with over 1,900 combined volunteers. Be part of our mission by joinin. Case Management System Benefits: Automate and simplify the filing of Monthly Conference Reports and provide cons istency in reporting among all Conferences in the Archdiocese. Maintain records of all assistance provided to neighbors in need for tracking and simplified audits by the Council. Compile demographic and financial data to use in obtaining funds. Simplify bank account reconciliation. Simplify Food Pantry reporting. CMS 4.0 Browser Edition Supported Operating Systems (OS): Windows 8 or Higher, Mac OS, iPadOS, Android, Chrome OS It is highly suggested that you bookmark the CMS 4.0 direct link or this page for quick access What's new? CMS Release Note v4.1.011 Situation tab is only two forms instead of three. Attachment can be upload at any point in the visit flow The "Merge" button has been moved to the left to avoid accidental activation. Option to navigate and review cases before auto-closing Contact AskCMSCommittee@svdphouston.org Watch Training Videos Login CLICK HERE CMS Need user guides? Scroll down for more resources. Have a question? Send an email to AskCMSCommittee@svdphouston.org Case Management Case intake & Worker Instructions Case Intake Training slides Casew orker Training slides Treasury Converting a pledge to a check request Issuing a check USER GUIDES Food Pantry Pantry Closeout Instructions Administrative Client Merge Instructions

Getting Ahead Program Membership Engagement

← back to homepage Pray With Us Lent is a sacred time of prayer, reflection, and renewal. As we journey together through this season, we invite you to deepen your faith through prayer. Share your intentions with us and explore resources to guide your spiritual growth. How can we pray for you? Lenten resources

The Society is an international organization founded in 1833 in Paris, France. It was locally established in 1871 in Galveston, TX. History In 1833, a 20-year-old college student and his friends began serving the poor in Paris, France. This was the beginning of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Today, there are more than 777,000 members serving in 149 countries around the globe. The Society arrived in the United States in 1845, where the first conference was formed in St. Louis, Missouri. The first presence of the Society in the Galveston-Houston area was in 1871 at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Galveston. Today, there are 58 Conferences in the Galveston-Houston Council with more than 1,900 members growing spiritually through friendship and service to those in need. Timeline (1871-2021) Our Patrons & Founders The Society's Patron Saint St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was the founder of the Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity, Confraternities of Charity, and Ladies of Charity. He was a man of deep faith, keen intellect, and enormous creativity, he 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 our Church's role in the modern world. St. Vincent de Paul Feast day is September 27th. The Society's Sister St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660) had St. Vincent de Paul as her spiritual director. Her inherent desire to know and accomplish God's will blossomed into a life of ministry to those who were sick and destitute. Her contagious spirituality and strong, organizational ability led her to co-found with Vincent the Daughters of Charity, a group of sisters who serve the poor and who inspire our Society. St. Louise de Marillac Feast day is May 9th. The Society's Founder Blessed Frederic Ozanam (1813-1853) founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He was a young Sorbonne student who met regularly with his fellow Catholic students to discuss the issues of their time. At one of their public meetings, a challenger admitted the Catholic Church, at one time, had been a great source of good, but asked, “What is your Church doing now?… Show us your works and we will believe you.” Unable to respond, Frédéric conceded. Shortly afterward, Frédéric and six friends created the Conference of Charity, with the purpose of serving the poor of Paris. Frédéric and his friends provided food, clothing, shelter, financial, and spiritual help. They also established tutoring programs and libraries. Blessed Frederic's Feast day is September 9th. The Society's Mentor Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC (1786 - 1856) 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 them on home visits, she formed them in the spirit of St. Vincent, teaching them how to serve the poor with respect and compassion. Blessed Rosalie's Feast day is February 7th.

Systemic Change Initiative includes three resiliency programs to address the conditions that cause suffering, distress and poverty in underserved communities. Systemic Change Initiative Promoting systemic change means offering holistic support that empowers people to make their way out of poverty and into self-sufficiency. Three phases are designed to gradually increase resiliency against conditions that cause suffering and distress. GETTING AHEAD PROGRAMS Learn More Cohort 11 is starting soon! The application for the July Session will open up on April 20, 2026. Program supplies pick-up dates are July 16 and 18, 2026. Meetings begin July 27-November 13, 2026. *Dates Subject to Change* Brochure Impact Report Apply Here! Sessions to choose from: Mondays: 9:30am - 11:30am Tuesdays: 6:00pm - 8:00pm Wednesdays: 9:30am - 11:30am or 6:00pm - 8:00 pm Program Goals Working in a group learning environment, participants, become "investigators", and learn how money is only one of eleven resources to achieve success. Resources participants learn to move from crisis to sustainability: Social Capital Support System: Friends, family, network. Relationship/Role model : Access to people who can help improve your outcomes. Motivation & Persistence: Energy, drive and planning Financial: How to use money to purchase assets and services. Emotional: Ability to control emotional responses, increase Integrity, build trust, and maintain safety. Physical: Health and mobility Knowledge of Hidden rules: Know unspoken cues and behaviors of different social environments. Spiritual: Belief in divine purpose. Language: Ability to use appropriate vocabulary and grammar for different social environments Mental: Cognitive capacity to master daily life challenges. Program Benefits Become an Investigator If you’ve spent part of your life—or most of your life—struggling to get by, the idea of actually getting ahead might seem out of reach. Even if your story has been filled with barriers, vanishing opportunities, and setbacks, this program can change your next chapter. Yes, you have to write your own story, but you don’t have to do it alone. UNDERSTANDING OF THE HIDDEN RULES DIVERSE SUPPORT NETWORK STRATEGIC PLANNING PARTICIPATION STIPEND Phase I: Getting Ahead Program Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World is a 16-week series for motivated people ready to change their life by acquiring the tools and support necessary to "get ahead" in today’s world. Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World takes participants on a step-by-step journey to discover resources and build the resiliency necessary to overcome life's obstacles. This program helps participants build the life they want. Apply Here! Sessions Include the Following Modules: 01 01 01 01 MY LIFE NOW Investigate poverty; what is it like for us and our community? 02 02 02 02 THEORY OF CHANGE Be free from solving the same problems over and over again. 03 03 03 03 RICH/POOR GAP Research on causes of poverty; understand poverty from different perspectives. 04 04 04 04 HIDDEN RULES OF ECONOMIC CLASS 06 06 06 06 ELEVEN RESOURCES Investigate societal, community, relational, emotional, and financial resources. 07 07 07 07 SELF ASSESMENT OF RESOURCES Conduct self-assessments. 08 08 08 08 COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT Deeper investigation of community resources. 09 09 09 09 BUILDING RESOURCES Create a treasure chest to achieve economic stability. Learn, understand, and be able to use the Hidden "Rules" of the wealthy, middle class and impoverished. 05 05 05 05 IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE Investigate formal register and negotiation tools. 10 10 10 10 PERSONAL AND COMMUNITY PLANS Develop a detailed plan for your future. By December 31, 2025, program practitioners aim for 178 participants to complete Phase I. Participants are selected based on the information provided within the application, along with their willingness to fully commit to all sessions of the program. Sessions are held virtually. Equipment is provided. Phase II: Getting Ahead GRADUATE Program Cohort '24 The second phase elevates participants' commitment to improving their own lives. Mentors become their teammate to provide the encouragement in achieving self-sufficiency and sustainability. Cohort '24 Assists Graduates with developing a pragmatic action plan to their vision of a better life. Guides Graduates in building financial, social, and emotional resources. Provides Graduate with incentives once successes and milestones are achieved. 6 MONTH GRADUATE PROGRAM MUST FIRST COMPLETE PHASE I BEFORE ENROLLING Phase III: Getting Ahead ALUMNI Program Continue your journey. Become an Ambassador. Connect. Teach. Empower others. Continues exploring key community resources to maintain self-sufficiency. Provides educational workshops and online resources to stay motivated on journey. ONGOING PROGRAM Hosts community job fairs , networking opportunities and recognition events throughout the year. Provides alumni participants the opportunity to become mentors, facilitators, and even Vincentians to continue strengthening the community. MUST FIRST COMPLETE PHASES I and II Participant Experience Christy Christy loved the getting ahead program. She states it was instrumental for her personal and professional growth. Christy has learned systemic poverty and how to overcome it. Although she remains at her current job, she states she now has a better insight on how to look for better opportunities. Christy has gone through the 16 week getting ahead program, graduate program and is now helping facilitate alumni program. Mary Mary had lost her job and had no income for over 3 months. Due to her lack of knowledge about available resources, this was a difficult situation to overcome. After participating in the Getting Ahead program, she has started to work through her situations and begin a new path to financial stability. Mary continues to refer other individuals to the program and hopes to become a facilitator for the program to help others around her. Gloria Gloria shares that the getting ahead program is an open environment to discuss situations that have impacted you, and how the resources provided in the program helped resolve those issues. She says what she liked the most was that resources cam from both mentors and other participants in the program. Gloria would like to participate more with the community and expand the information she has received in the prgram. Systemic Change Requires YOUR Help Ways to Give

← back to homepage SUPPORT OUR MISSION. We are a community actively living our faith by loving and providing hope to our neighbors in need. We envision a future where access to financial and social resources is not limited by where one lives. Donate JOIN US. MAKE AN IMPACT. Vincentians are active or associate members of the Society who God calls to grow in spirituality through friendships and service. Use your gifts and talents to create a legacy of impact across the Greater Houston communities. Learn How