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St. Vincent de Paul Society
Our History, Our Mission, and Our Founders
Our Mission
- As a premier Catholic lay organization comprised of diverse and dynamic individuals growing spiritually through service, the Saint Vincent de Paul Society cultivates hope for those in need. In collaboration with other social service providers, the Society is the Voice of the Poor, working to reduce poverty and suffering and to correct the conditions that foster these injustices.
- We aim to speak as an organization on behalf of the poor, the disadvantaged, and those who are so often ignored in our culture. Where injustice, inequality, poverty, or exclusion occurs, the Society tries to speak out with charity and with the aim of contributing to the improvement of unjust situations within culture.
- We offer support such as emergency food, clothing, household necessities, and financial assistance, as well as emotional support through person-to-person interaction with those who are in need.
- Members of the Society are to be on a journey to live more closely with Christ. This journey is partly accomplished by visiting and helping the poor, but also by prayer and reflection, worship, meditation on Holy Scripture, and by building strong relationships with other Vincentians.
District Council Office
520 Crescent Avenue South Bend, IN 46617
574-234-6000
Donation/Home Pickup - Press 2 Emergency Food Assistance - Press 3
St. Vincent de Paul Resale Stores
1827 N. Bendix Dr., South Bend 9:00am - 6:00pm
2302 South Bend Ave., South Bend
10:00am - 7:00pm
4644 W. Western Ave., South Bend 10:00am - 7:00pm
All locations closed on Sundays
For more information, visit our website.www.svdpsb.org
Contact Us
Mission and History.indd 1 11/4/2015 1:53:54 PM
Our History Our Founders
St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was founder of the Congregation of the Mission, Daughters of Charity, Confraternities of Charity, and Ladies of Charity. A man of deep faith and keen intellect, he has become known as the "The Apostle of Charity" and "Father of the Poor." His contributions to the training of priests and organizing services for the poor shaped our church's role in the modern world.
St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660), inspired and directed by Vincent's spiritual leadership, founded the Daughters of Charity.
Blessed Frederic Ozanam (1813-1853) founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as a young student with others of the Sorbonne in Paris. Frederic's writings on social justice anticipated the first social encyclical of our modern times, Rerum Novarum.
Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC (1786-1856), a Daughter of Charity, served in the Mouffetard area of Paris. Sister Rosalie mentored the founding members of the Society, sending them on home visits, forming them in the spirit of St. Vincent, and teaching them how to serve the poor with respect and compassion.
At the age of 20, Frederic Ozanam started The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He and some
colleagues began visiting the poor and outcasts in the streets of Paris, following the example of St. Vincent. Soon the Society and its work spread
around Europe and was carried around the world by missionaries.
1833
The Society was founded in the USA in St. Louis.1845
The first conference (parish group) was founded in Michiana in St. Patrick’s Parish in South Bend when
30 men gathered to discuss their outreach efforts to the poor. Following St. Patrick’s, other parishes
started their own conferences.
Up until 1950, each conference had its own “wardrobe” where clothing and household goods were kept. In 1950, the Council realized that this system was not adequate. The bishop provided a loan to purchase an empty store building and a used truck on W. Washington Street, which became a central collection and distribution point.
The space on Washington Street filled quickly and a vacant store next to the building was purchased and renovated. Eventually, that building became
cramped and in June 1969, made possible by a $200,000 loan from Bishop Pursley, a new store
was built on Sample Street.
More growth came in the 1980’s and 1990’s with an expanding thrift store operation and 18 conferences operating in parishes around South Bend and Mishawaka. Since more than 60% of those helped by the Society lived on the west side of South Bend, the Council offices and thrift store moved to Ardmore Trail, into an 80,000 square foot building.
The District Council Office purchased the building at 520 Crescent Avenue and moved its
administrative office and client choice pantry.
A third resale store, Vinnie’s Community Store, was opened on Western Avenue.
The Ardmore Distribution Center and Resale Store moved to Bendix Drive. The Society is the largest volunteer charity
organization in the world, active in 135 countries. Currently, the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Joseph County has one District Council Office, three resale stores, one distribution center, and nineteen parish conferences.
1904
1950
1969
1999
2011
2014
2015
Present
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