The Society was founded by Frederic Ozanam in 1833.
Frederic was a law student studying at the Sorbonne
in Paris. He was active in a discussion group with several fellow Catholic students. The group was challenged to address some of the social issues that were confronting France at that time especially the plight of the poor. Frederic decided to found the
“Conference of Charity” to assist the poor.
His mentor was Sister Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity. She taught the members of Frederic’s group the art of helping the poor and sick. She sent them on home visits, teaching them how to serve the poor with respect and compassion. Home visits were to become a special charism of the organization. The group eventually changed its name to “The Society of St. Vincent de Paul”.
Fredric Ozanam was proclaimed Blessed on August 22, 1997, by Pope John Paul II at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris. Today Vincentians everywhere pray for his Canonization at all of their meetings. Since its humble beginning, the Society has blossomed into an international organization. The International Council includes membership in 150 Countries, on five Continents consisting of 45,000 Conferences comprising over 800,000 members. Today the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is the largest private social service organization in the world.