The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was born into a world in the throes of change. Paris at the time of the Industrial Revolution was an unhealthy and unsafe place for many. This was the crisis situation in which 7 young men stood up and decided “to go to the margins”. See the presentation

How Frederic Ozanam and his companions collaborated in founding the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. See the presentation

The Seminary of Mary Immaculate in Northampton, Pennsylvania, USA, operated from 1939 until 1990 to form candidates for the Congregation of the Mission. In 1996 the property was sold to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which converted it into a retreat center. In the foyer of the tower there, mosaics depict the life and works of St. Vincent de Paul. See these mosaics with an explanation of each panel

The mission that was set in motion by St. Vincent over 400 years ago continues today in the United States provinces and missions… see how, in this video

May 30 is the Feast Day of Blessed Sr. Marta Wiecka, a Polish Daughter of Charity, whose life was short but full of passion for Christ Crucified and love for God’s children. See a presentation about her life

Contemplation of Jesus, the Lord and Master who became a servant in order to enrich all people with His love, led St. Vincent to draw up plans with regard to visiting the sick poor and others on the margins of society. See the presentation

“O Savior! What Rules! And where do they come from? Had I ever thought of them? Not at all! For, Messieurs, I never had a thought either of our Rules, or of the Company, or of the very term ‘Mission.’ God did all that; men had no part in it.” – St. Vincent de Paul. Read the account of the moving ceremony when St. Vincent distributed the Rules to his Congregation on May 17, 1658 See the presentation

See a video about St. Louise from the Daughters of Charity International.

Louise de Marillac has traditionally been seen as neurotic and dependent on others, particularly Vincent de Paul. Sr. Donna Franklin, D.C. sees St. Louise as a woman who was interdependent, rather than dependent… she knew her strengths and weaknesses and was also profoundly aware that collaboration was essential for successful service. See the presentation

St. Louise was an exciting innovator of social services, initiating and sustaining several projects at a time even while she was conceiving others. See the presentation