St. Vincent de Paul Society

St. Vincent de Paul societies have long been a source of charity for those coming to the Catholic Church for assistance.

St. Vincent de Paul was born in 1581 to a family of simple farmers in France. As a priest, St. Vincent began his ministry serving the affluent. He later heard the call to serve the poor and spent his life showing others how to care for those in need. St. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Mission, more commonly known as the Vincentians. Along with St. Louise de Marillac, he also founded the Daughters of Charity. Both of these religious orders have service to the poor at the heart of their ministry. A little over a hundred years after St. Vincent de Paul’s death, a group of French university students founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The Society quickly spread around the world and continues to serve the needs of the poor.

St. Vincent de Paul groups, called conferences, focus on person-to-person contact, visiting with the poor and individually addressing their needs. There are currently 9 in the Diocese of Knoxville. They reach out to the neediest in their communities, offering prayers, friendship, resources, and assistance.