Feast Day formats

[ FEAST DAY  |  27 SEPTEMBER ]

Vincent de Paul was born in the small southern French town of Pouy (later renamed Saint Vincent de Paul in his honour).

He ministered to the wealthy and powerful. However his appointment as chaplain to a poor parish, and to galley prisoners, inspired him to a vocation of working with people most marginalised and powerless.

The Society was named after Saint Vincent de Paul and follows his teachings and compassion for people in need. Saint Vincent de Paul is the international patron of the Society.

“Deal with the most urgent needs. Organise charity so that it is more efficient… Intervene with authorities to obtain reforms in structure… there is no charity without justice.”

Birth: 24 April 1581, Pouy, France  |  Death: 27 September 1660
Canonised: 16 June 1737

[ 9 SEPTEMBER ]

The St Vincent de Paul Society was founded in Paris on 23 April 1833 by a group of young Catholic university students led by the 20-year-old, Frederic Ozanam, who had a passion for social reform.

Ozanam was a dynamic leader, whose strong Catholic faith led him to champion the rights of the poor, the sick and the ‘wage slave’ workers, with radical and influential ideas such as partnership and profit sharing. 

“Let us do without hesitation whatever good lies at our hands.”

Birth: 23 April 1813, Milan, Italy  |  Death: 8 September 1853
Beatified: 22 August 1997