“What do you do besides talk to prove the faith you claim is in you?”
With these words, the idea for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was born. Frédéric Ozanam was a 20-year-old law student at the Sorbonne in the spring of 1833. When confronted by another student about practical applications of his Catholic faith, Ozanam was inspired to found a “conference of charity” to assist the poor.
The international Society of St. Vincent de Paul today is the world’s largest social assistance organization, with operations in over 140 countries on five continents. More than 800,000 Vincentian volunteers worldwide work to further Frédéric’s vision to “embrace the whole world in a network of charity.”
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Hotline
314-286-5212
Henry Telfair, President
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded to serve persons in need through prayer and friendship. Members of the Society at Mary Queen of Peace commit to ongoing spiritual growth as a means to serve our brothers and sisters in Christ.
As part of our mission, we make personal visits to families and individuals requesting assistance. In both our parish and in our sister parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Ferguson, we offer prayers, financial support, community resource information, and guidance to help those experiencing situational and/or generational poverty as well as lifelong challenges.
The most common forms of support are food and payment of utility bills, rent, and mortgages. We also help with car and home repairs, medical bills and equipment, prescriptions, appliances, tuition, taxes, and other critical expenses. In addition, we provide vouchers for food, furniture, and clothing. In a typical year, total cash and in kind aid exceeds $100,000, and we assist hundreds of people in need. Most of our funds come from donations by members of the parish and its organizations for which we are most grateful.
Meetings are held most Mondays in the Lubeley Room at 7:15 pm. Interested parishioners are welcome to join the Society at any time.
Our Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference has received a credit of $4,000 for the items you donated during our recent furniture and clothing drive. We filled over three trucks. These credits can be used to help our Neighbors in Need with clothing, bedding, furniture, and household items.Thanks for your help in making the drive successful.
The Society was introduced into the United States in St. Louis, in 1845 at the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, popularly called “The Old Cathedral”. An American Vincentian priest brought copies of the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul back from Ireland to St. Louis. With the assistance of Bishop Peter Richard Kenrick the Society was able to hold its first meeting in the United States on November 20, 1845, only twelve years after its foundation in Paris. Since its beginning the Society has continued to grow. At the present time there are more than 3,000 active Vincentians in St Louis, and 144 Parish Conferences. For more information about the Council visit the website: svdpstlouisorg.
The National Office is located in St. Louis and formulates policies and programs that are implemented by Councils and Conferences throughout the United States. Some of these programs include an automobile donation program and the annual Walk For The Poor. With the guidance of the National Office the Society has taken a leading role in providing disaster relief during such national emergencies as Katrina and now Harvey and Irma. At the present time there are more than 150,000 active Vincentians in the United States, in 81 Diocesan Councils, 80 District Councils and 4,500 Parish Conferences. For more information about the National Council visit the website: svdpusa.org.
Click below for a 90-minute movie based on the TV series “Our Faith in Action: Today’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul.” The program follows SVdP members on their spiritual growth journey through service to people and families in need. From the Society’s traditional assistance with food, rent and utilities to innovative health care, education and mentoring programs, the Society’s members, known as Vincentians, see the face of Christ in the people they encounter. Click here to watch the movie.
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.