Who we are

History of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was started in 1833 in Paris, France by Frederic Ozanam. As a student at the School of Law at the Sorbonne, University of Paris, Ozanam was part of a group that met on Saturdays to discuss various topics, except politics. During one particular meeting, he and his other fellow Catholics were questioned about what good the Catholic Church is doing in the community now. This inspired Ozanam to create the “Conference of Charity” to assist the poor. Later, the name was changed to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in honor of their patron saint. The group wanted to show their faith by caring for those in need while deepening their love for God. The mission of the Society inspired others across the world to join the organization. Today, there are over 800,000 members and the Society is present in five continents.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was established in the U.S. in 1845 in St. Louis, Missouri at the “Old Cathedral.” Father John Timon, a Vincentian priest, brought copies of the Society’s Rule from Ireland and shared it with Bishop Peter Richard Kenrick. Bishop Kenrick later asked Father Ambrose Heim to establish a Conference. The first official meeting took place on November 20, 1845.  

Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central Texas

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Central Texas was founded in 1963. Today, the Society has over 900 members in 41 Conferences across Central Texas. The Diocesan Council of Austin is part of the South Central Region, one of eight regions reporting to the United States National Council. We serve those in need and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, or orientation. Those we serve are only homogeneous in their desperate need for assistance.