The mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is “a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.”
Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (known as “Vincentians”) are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to neighbors in need. Our members represent all ages, every race, and all incomes, and all are gifted with awareness that the blessings of time, talent, and treasure are to be shared with neighbors in need.
The National Council of the United States is part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule.
In service to the local Councils and Conferences, the National Council provides Vincentians throughout the United States with training, education, spiritual formation, and financial support as they assist millions of neighbors in need.
Since its founding in Paris in 1833, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has grown to 800,000 members in over 150 countries with 1,500,000 volunteers. Vincentians understand that service to a neighbor in need is an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ, and are aware that poverty, suffering, and loneliness are present for millions in our communities. For that reason, we collaborate with all who seek to alleviate need and address its systemic causes.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s work is unique in that Vincentians offer tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis. This aid may take the form of intervention, consultation, or through direct financial or in-kind service.
An essential principle of the Society’s work is to provide help while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of our neighbors in need. In addition, the Society recognizes that it must assume a role of advocacy for those who are marginalized or voiceless. Vincentians in the United States serve more than 5 million people annually.
No work of charity is foreign to the Society. To quote our patron, St. Vincent de Paul: “Charity is infinitely inventive.”
