Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Origins of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Blessed Frederic Ozanam (1813 - 1853)
The Society of St Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam, a 20-year-old student of the Sorbonne University in Paris. In answer to a taunt for Catholics to “practice what they preach,” Frederic Ozanam and a group of fellow students started to seek out and visit the poor in their homes, taking them bread and clothes, their friendship and concern. This small group took as their patron the great French priest, St Vincent de Paul.
St. Vincent de Paul (1581 - 1660)
St. Vincent de Paul was founder of the Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity, Confraternities of Charity, and Ladies of Charity. 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. Louise de Marillac (1591 - 1660)
St. Louise was a contemporary of St. Vincent and she was inspired and directed by Vincent's spiritual leadership. She was Vincent's collaborator in founding the Daughters of Charity and organizing hospitals for the sick poor, asylums for the orphaned, workshops for the unemployed, championing literacy for the uneducated, and establishing standards for local charities. Louise was a wife, mother, teacher, nurse, social worker and religious foundress.
Blessed Rosalie Rendu (1756-1856)
Sr. Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, is recognized as a co-founder of the Society of St Vincent de Paul. She mentored the founding members of the Society in the spirit and heritage of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac.
Sr. Rosalie always recommended patience, mercy and courtesy. She taught Frederic Ozanam and the first members of the Society how to make home visits and how to see Jesus in the poor. She gave them families to visit and advice on the Vincentian way to go to them: with respect and compassion. Sr. Rosalie Rendu was beatified in Rome in 2003 by Pope John Paul II. All Vincentians celebrate this beautiful model of love for the poor. (SOURCE: THE MANUAL)
Sr. Claire Herlihy & Sr. Lorraine Amodeo
Sr. Claire and Sr. Lorraine are the Founders of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in 1988. Monsigneur O’neill encouraged Sr. Claire Herlihy and Sr. Lorraine Amodeo to start SVdP. With $700 donation from the church, they built SVDP with only a few members, delivering food to the poor. In 2001, the De Paul Women’s Resource Center was established to give positive support to women and children in need here in Vallejo. The mission of the Center are:
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To be a welcoming presence of hospitality for women in need, regardless of race, religion or national origin.
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To provide, whenever possible, limited financial assistance and access to information about available service in order to prevent homelessness
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To support and challenge women seeking needed services.