Society of Saint Vincent de Paul

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The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul is an international organization of Roman Catholic lay men and women of all ages, whose primary mission is to help the poor and less fortunate.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 by eight men who wanted to create an organization dedicated to helping those impoverished people living in Paris, France. The primary figure behind the Society's founding was Blessed Frederick Ozanam, a French lawyer, author, and professor in the Sorbonne. He was 20 years old in the year the Society was founded.

The Society took Saint Vincent de Paul as its patron under the influence of Sister Rosalie Rendu, DC (Daughter of Charity). Sister Rosalie (who was beatified in 2004 by Pope John Paul II) was a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, a group of religious women who take vows to serve the poor and those in need, founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Sr. Rosalie, who was well known for her work with the most poverty stricken people in the slums of Paris, guided Blessed Frédéric and his companions in their approach towards those in need.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is part of the Vincentian Family which also includes the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian priests and brothers, also founded by St. Vincent de Paul), Daughters of Charity, Ladies of Charity (organization of lay women who help the poor, founded by St. Vincent de Paul), Sisters of Charity in the Setonian tradition (founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton), Vincentian Service Corp, and several others, including some religious groups who are part of the Anglican Communion (Church of England, Episcopal Church USA, etc.).

The Society numbers about 950,000 in some 130 countries worldwide, whose members operate through so-called "conferences". A conference may be based out of a church, community center, school, hospital, etc., and is composed of Catholic volunteers who dedicate their time and resources to help those in need in their community. Non-Catholics may join with the understanding that the Society is a Catholic organization. St. John's University in New York embraces the Vincentian tradition and runs the Vincentian Center for Church and Society at its Queens campus. DePaul University in Chicago, the largest Catholic university in the United States, derives its title and fundamental mission from St. Vincent de Paul and hosts the Vincentian Studies Institute. Niagara University located in Lewiston, New York also derives its fundamental mission from St. Vincent de Paul and is the oldest Vincentian University in North America.

In Australia, the Society has engaged over 40,000 members and has many more volunteers. 'Vinnies Youth', the youth membership of the Society in Australia, engage young people from the age of 10 to 30 in the Society's many works throughout the country.

Youth SVP is the largest youth organisation in the Catholic Church of England & Wales. Since 1999, over 10,000 young people have put their faith in to action by becoming a member of Youth SVP, in 132 countries around the world.