History of SVdP

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam, a 20 year old student of Sorbonne University in Paris, France.

In answer to taunts to Catholics to practice what they preach Frederic Ozanam and a group of fellow students started seeking out and visiting the poor of Paris in their homes, taking them food and clothing and offering them their friendship and their concern. This small group took as their Patron the great French priest, who alerted the world to social problems, St. Vincent de Paul.

Similar groups began in Paris then to the rest of France and eventually spread throughout the Christian world with the purpose of visiting for the love of God, those in need. Currently the Society of SVDP has approximately 900,000 members in 113 countries.

Fredric Ozanam was beatified on August 22, 1997 in Paris, France by Pope John Paul II.

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Published on: 2005-12-18 (7054 reads)