Society of Saint Vincent de Paul facts for kids
Blessed Frédéric Ozanam
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| Named after | St. Vincent de Paul |
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| Founded | April 23, 1833 |
| Founder | Blessed Frédéric Ozanam Mr. Emmanuel Bailly |
| Focus | Sanctification of members through service of the poor |
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Area served
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155 countries |
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Members
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800,000 |
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Superior General
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Fr. Bertin Sanon, R.S.V. |
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Volunteers
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1.5 million |
| Remarks | Slogan: serviens in spe |
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (often called SVP or Vinnies) is a worldwide group of volunteers. It's part of the Catholic Church. This organization was started in 1833. Its main goal is to help its members grow in their faith by serving people in need.
Frédéric Ozanam and Emmanuel-Joseph Bailly de Surcy founded the Society. They named it after Vincent de Paul, a famous saint. The Society is part of a larger group of Catholic organizations called the Vincentian Family.
Many Catholic churches have local groups called "conferences." These groups work together to help people. The Society offers practical help to those who are poor or need support. They also run thrift stores (sometimes called "op shops"). These shops sell donated items at low prices. The money they earn helps fund programs for people in need. Local groups also create many different programs to meet the specific needs of their communities.
Contents
History of the Society
How it Started in France
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul began in 1833. It was created to help poor people living in the crowded areas of Paris, France. The main person behind its founding was Blessed Frédéric Ozanam. He was a French lawyer, writer, and professor at the Sorbonne.
Frédéric worked with Emmanuel Bailly, who edited a newspaper called Tribune Catholique. They wanted to restart a student group that had stopped during a time of change in 1830. Frédéric was only 20 years old when he started the Society. Pope John Paul II recognized him as "Blessed" in 1997. Emmanuel Bailly was chosen as the first leader of the Society.
The Society chose Saint Vincent de Paul as its special helper. This happened because of Sister Rosalie Rendu, DC. Sister Rosalie was a member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. She was well-known for helping people in the poor areas of Paris. She guided Frédéric and his friends on how to help those in need. Sister Rosalie was also recognized as "Blessed" in 1999.
The SVP slowly grew outside of Paris in the mid-1800s. It gained supporters in places like Tours. People like the Venerable Leo Dupont, known as the Holy Man of Tours, became helpers.
The Society is part of the Vincentian Family. This family also includes two groups started by St. Vincent de Paul himself. These are the Congregation of the Mission (with priests and brothers) and the Ladies of Charity. Other groups, like the Sisters of Charity, are also part of this family.
Growth in England and Wales
Venerable Fr. Ignatius Spencer from London learned about the Society during his visits to Paris. A Parisian leader, Adolphe Baudon de Mony, visited London in 1842. He convinced Spencer to write about the Society in the Catholic Magazine.
Then, in January 1844, M. Pagliano, a London restaurant owner, brought together 13 Catholic men. They formed the first English SVP group. Early projects included helping boys find jobs and creating the first home for "the Rescue Society." This group still helps children in many areas today.
In 2013, there were over 10,000 members in more than 1,000 groups in the United Kingdom. They made over 500,000 visits each year to more than 100,000 people.
First Steps in the United States
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The first Society group in the United States started in 1845. It was in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Basilica of St. Louis King of France. This church is also known as the "Old Cathedral." Fr. John Timon, CM, learned about the Society while visiting Paris. He brought copies of the SVP rules to St. Louis from Dublin, Ireland.
On November 16, 1845, Bishop Peter Richard Kenrick opened the new St. Vincent de Paul church. He asked Timon to give a sermon. Timon spoke about the Society. Important local leaders heard his talk and decided to start a group. They held a meeting on November 20, 1845. The group included Moses Linton, who started a medical journal. Judge Bryan Mullanphy, who later became mayor of St. Louis, was the chairman. Bishop Kenrick appointed Fr. Ambrose Heim as the group's spiritual guide.
Starting in Australia
Gerald Ward was born in London in 1806. He was asked to help with the mission in Melbourne by Father Patrick Geoghegan. Ward knew about the SVP from London. He saw how poor people were after the Victorian gold rush. So, he started the Society in Australia in 1854. Ward was its first president. He also helped set up the SVP orphanage in South Melbourne.
In March 2023, Mark Gaetani became the 18th National Council President. Archbishop Christopher Prowse officially welcomed him at St. Christopher's Cathedral, Manuka in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. Mark took over from Claire Victory.
New Zealand's Beginnings
Fr. Chataigner, SM, started the first group in New Zealand in July 1867. However, it did not officially connect with the main Council in Paris. The first group to officially join was the Wellington Conference. It was founded in 1908 by Fr. Petitjean, SM, and Charles O'Neill. Other groups then formed out of Wellington.
Scotland's Contribution
Charles O'Neill was born in Glasgow in 1828. He became a civil engineer. After graduating, he joined the Society of St Vincent de Paul. He was a secretary in Dumbarton in 1851. He led the St Vincent de Paul Society in the Western Districts of Scotland between 1859 and 1863. By 1863, he was the president of the main Council in Glasgow. He was also a member of the international Council in Paris.
The Society in India
The Society first came to India through French missionaries in Pondicherry around 1852–53. This was a local group that was not yet officially connected. The Society officially started in India in 1863. At that time, some groups in Bombay became officially recognized. The Bombay Particular Council was also set up.
From then on, the Society continued to grow in India. On November 9, 1953, the main Council for India was created and connected with the international Council. This main Council was renamed the National Council of India on August 6, 1973. Its main office is in Mumbai. The current President's office is in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Bro. S. Jude ZR Mangalraj became the 14th National President of India on February 28, 2021.
What the Society Does Today
The Society has about 800,000 members in around 140 countries worldwide. These members work through local groups called "conferences." A conference can be based at a church, school, or community center. It is made up of Catholic volunteers who want to grow in their faith by serving the poor. Some groups exist without officially joining a local Council. Because of this, they are not always counted in the statistics. People who are not Catholic can also join. The Society helps everyone, no matter what they believe.
Helping in Ireland
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Dublin on December 16, 1844. Today, it is the largest volunteer charity in Ireland. It is one of Ireland's most well-known and supported groups for social help. It has over 11,500 volunteers working in every county in Ireland. Throughout its history, it has helped people during tough times. These include a famine, a civil war, two world wars, and several economic problems.
Activities in Australia
In Australia, "Vinnies" has about 39,000 workers and volunteers in 2025. This number is lower than a decade ago. Their work includes local groups, special projects, and Vinnies op shops. They help over 1,800,000 people in Australia every year.
In 1996, Ozcare was created as a special project of the Society. It provides care and services for older people and those with disabilities.
In 2018, the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland was named one of the Queensland Greats. This award was given by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Work in New Zealand
In New Zealand, SVP works in 23 regions. It has over 50 shops that act as centers for welfare services. These services include food banks and food trucks. Most Catholic schools have "Young Vinnies" groups. These students help with fundraising and learn how to work directly with people in need. The work is varied, following the Vinnie motto: "No act of charity is foreign to the society." This means they are open to all kinds of helpful actions.
Efforts in the United States
The national office for the Society in the United States is in St. Louis. In 2015, there were over 97,000 members in 4,400 communities. They spent over $473 million helping people in poverty. Their programs include visiting homes, prisons, and hospitals. They also offer housing help, disaster relief, job training, and food pantries. They provide dining halls, clothing, help with transportation and utility bills, care for the elderly, and medicine. They raise money through a large network of thrift stores.
One of their working companies is Aurora Glass Foundry. This company recycles old glass. It turns the scrap glass into different decorative glass products to sell.
The Society in Monaco
The first group of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Monaco was started in 1876. This group was called the Conference of the Immaculate Conception of Monaco-City. A special plaque on the Place de la Visitation remembers this. It thanks people like Monsieur Thheuret, a church official, and Mr. Gastaldi, the Mayor of Monaco. Mr. Theuret was named the first Honorary President. The Marquis de la Riva, a close helper of the Prince, was the Vice-President of Honor.
The first active President was Lieutenant Plati. The ruler, Prince Charles III, was one of the first people to support the group. At that time, the Immaculate Conception Conference was connected to the Nice Conferences.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society in Monaco is located at 32 Rue Grimaldi. This is in the Condamine neighborhood.
Saints and Blesseds Connected to the Society
Saints
- Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925), a mountain climber and member of the Society. He will be recognized as a saint on August 3, 2025.
- Gianna Beretta Molla (1922–1962), a doctor and mother. She was recognized as a saint on May 16, 2004.
Blesseds
- Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam (1813–1853), the founder of the Society. He was recognized as "Blessed" on August 22, 1997.
- Alcide-Vital (Jean-Joseph) Lataste (1832–1869), a priest and member of the Society. He was recognized as "Blessed" on June 3, 2012.
- Contardo Ferrini (1859–1902), a lawyer and scholar. He was recognized as "Blessed" on April 13, 1947.
- Manuel Luque Ramos and 4 Companions (died 1936), who died during the Spanish Civil War. They were recognized as "Blessed" on November 18, 2023.
- Ceferino Giménez Malla (1861–1936), a Romani person who died during the Spanish Civil War. He was recognized as "Blessed" on May 4, 1997.
- Maria Jorda Botella (1905–1936), a member of the Society who died during the Spanish Civil War. She was recognized as "Blessed" on March 11, 2001.
- Josef Mayr-Nusser (1910–1945), who was killed by the Nazis for refusing to join their army. He was recognized as "Blessed" on March 18, 2017.
St. Vincent de Paul Charity Shops
The St. Vincent de Paul Society runs charity shops in many countries. These include Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Ireland, and Canada. Local groups organize these shops in places like St. Louis, the Cincinnati area (with 7 shops), Omaha, Nebraska, Dayton, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, Florida, California, Pennsylvania (with 24 shops), Western Oregon, Georgia, Arizona, Idaho, and Western Washington.
They sell items from clothing to cars for a small price. Often, they can pick up large donated items from homes. The money earned, and many donated items, are given to people in need.
