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History

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, was founded in April 1833. Frederic Ozanam, a student at the Sorbonne in Paris, was challenged by a fellow student with the question “We agree that at one time your Church was a great Church and was a great source of good. But what is your Church doing now? What is She doing for the poor? Show us your works and we will believe you.” Ozanam accepted the challenge. He and seven friends founded the Society with Ozanam’s words “We must do what is agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the Gospel. Let us go to the poor!” After spreading in France, the Society reached England in 1844 and the United States the next year. The Society continues to expand throughout the world and is established in 132 countries, with a membership of approximately one million people. St Vincent De Paul (916) 972-1212 2275 Watt Avenue Sacramento, CA 95825