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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153 Countries |
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Members
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Estimated 800,000 |
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Superior General
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Fr. Bertin Sanon, R.S.V. |
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (often called SVP or SVdP) is a worldwide group of volunteers. It's part of the Catholic Church. It was started in 1833 to help people grow in their faith by serving those in need.
This organization was founded by Frédéric Ozanam and Emmanuel Bailly. It is named after Vincent de Paul, a famous saint. The Society is also part of a larger group of Catholic charities called the Vincentian Family.
Many Catholic churches have local groups called "conferences." These groups work together to help people. The Society also runs thrift stores. These stores sell donated items at low prices. The money they earn helps fund programs for the poor. Local groups also create many other programs to meet the needs in their communities.
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How the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Started
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.
Frédéric Ozanam's Vision
The main person who started the Society was Frédéric Ozanam. He was a French lawyer, writer, and professor at the Sorbonne. Frédéric worked with Emmanuel Bailly, who edited a Catholic newspaper. They wanted to restart a student group that had stopped during a time of revolution in 1830. Frédéric was only 20 years old when he founded the Society. He was later honored by Pope John Paul II in 1997. Emmanuel Bailly became the first President of the Society.
Guided by Sister Rosalie Rendu
The Society chose Saint Vincent de Paul as its special patron. This happened because of Sister Rosalie Rendu. Sister Rosalie was a member of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. She was known for her work helping people in the poor areas of Paris. She guided Frédéric and his friends on how to best help those in need. Sister Rosalie was also honored by Pope John Paul II in 1999.
Growing Across France
The SVP slowly grew outside of Paris in the mid-1800s. People in other cities, like Tours, also helped. One such helper was Leo Dupont, known as the Holy Man of Tours.
The Society is part of the larger Vincentian Family. This family includes other groups started by St. Vincent de Paul. These are the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian priests and brothers) and the Ladies of Charity. It also includes the Sisters of Charity and other religious groups.
The Society Around the World
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul quickly spread to many countries.
England and Wales
A priest named Fr. Ignatius Spencer from London learned about the Society while visiting Paris. In 1842, a Parisian leader of the SVP visited London. He convinced Spencer to write about the Society. Then, in January 1844, a London restaurant owner named M. Pagliano gathered 13 Catholic men. They started the first English SVP group. Early projects included helping boys find jobs and creating homes for children in need.
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.
United States
The first Society group in the United States started in 1845. It was in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Old Cathedral. A priest named Fr. John Timon learned about the Society in Paris. He brought the SVP rules to St. Louis. On November 16, 1845, Bishop Peter Richard Kenrick invited Timon to speak. Timon talked about the Society, and important local men decided to start a group. This first group included Moses Linton and Judge Bryan Mullanphy.
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Australia
Gerald Ward was born in London in 1806. He moved to Melbourne, Australia. He knew about the SVP from London. After the Victorian gold rush, he saw many poor people. So, he started the Society in Australia in 1854. Ward was its first president. He also helped set up an orphanage in South Melbourne.
In March 2023, Mark Gaetani became the 18th National Council President. He was inducted by Archbishop Christopher Prowse in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
New Zealand
Fr. Chataigner started the first group in New Zealand in July 1867. However, it did not officially join the main Council in Paris. The first group to officially join was in Wellington in 1908. It was founded by Fr. Petitjean and Charles O'Neill. Other groups then started from Wellington.
Scotland
Charles O'Neill was born in Glasgow in 1828. He became a civil engineer. He joined the Society of St Vincent de Paul after graduating. He was a secretary in Dumbarton in 1851. From 1859 to 1863, he led the Society in Western Scotland. By 1863, he was president of the Glasgow Council and a member of the Paris Council.
India
The Society first came to India around 1852-53. French missionaries started a group in Pondicherry. The Society officially began in India in 1863. At that time, some groups in Bombay officially joined. The Society continued to grow in India. In 1953, the main Council for India was set up. It was renamed the National Council of India in 1973. Its main office is in Mumbai.
The Society Today
Today, the Society has about 800,000 members. They are in about 140 countries worldwide. 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. So, they are not always counted in the statistics. People who are not Catholic can also join. The Society helps everyone, no matter their beliefs.
Ireland
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Dublin on December 16, 1844. It is now the largest volunteer charity in Ireland. It is one of Ireland's most well-known and supported groups. It has over 11,500 volunteers working in every county. Throughout its history, it has helped people during times of famine, war, and economic problems.
Australia
In Australia, "Vinnies" has about 58,000 workers and volunteers. They run local groups, special projects, and Vinnies op shops (thrift stores). They help over 2,200,000 people in Australia each year.
In 1996, Ozcare was started 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 honored as one of the Queensland Greats.
New Zealand
In New Zealand, SVP works in 23 regions. It has over 50 shops that act as centers for welfare services. These include food banks and food trucks. Most Catholic schools have "Young Vinnies" groups. These students help with fundraising and learn how to help people in need. Their work is varied, following the Vinnie motto: "No act of charity is foreign to the society."
United States
The national office for the U.S. 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. Programs include visiting homes, prisons, and hospitals. They also help with housing, disaster relief, and job training. They provide food, clothing, and help with transportation and utility bills. They also care for the elderly and help with medicine. They raise money through a large network of thrift stores.
One of their projects is Aurora Glass Foundry. This company recycles old glass. It turns the glass into decorative products to sell.
Monaco
The first group of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Monaco was created in 1876. This group, called the Immaculate Conception Conference, was started by Monsieur Thheuret and Mr. Gastaldi. Mr. Theuret was the first Honorary President. The Sovereign Prince, Prince Charles III, was one of the first people to support them. The St. Vincent de Paul Society in Monaco is located on 32 Rue Grimaldi.
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. These shops are run by local groups. They are found in places like St. Louis, Cincinnati, Omaha, Nebraska, Dayton, Ohio, Des Moines, Iowa, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, Western Oregon, Georgia, Arizona, Idaho, and Western Washington.
They sell many different items, from clothes to cars, for a low price. Often, they can pick up large donated items from homes. The money earned, and many donated items, are given to help the poor.
