About Us

History of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was started in 1833 in Paris, France by Frederic Ozanam. As a student at the School of Law at the Sorbonne, University of Paris, Ozanam was part of a group that met on Saturdays to discuss various topics, except politics. During one particular meeting, he and his other fellow Catholics were questioned about what good the Catholic Church is doing in the community now. This inspired Ozanam to create the “Conference of Charity” to assist the poor. Later, the name was changed to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in honor of their patron saint. The group wanted to show their faith by caring for those in need while deepening their love for God. The mission of the Society inspired others across the world to join the organization. Today, there are over 800,000 members and the Society is present in five continents.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin was found in 1963. Today, the Society has over 1000 members in 39 Conferences across Central Texas. The Diocesan Council of Austin is part of the South Central Region, one of eight regions reporting to the United States National Council. We serve those in need and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, or orientation. Those we serve are only homogeneous in their desperate need for assistance.

The Vincentian Family Center (VFC) opened in May 2016 in an underserved area of north Austin, located at 901 W Braker Lane. Through the Center, comprehensive services are provided to low-income residents. The VFC is located near two Title 1 elementary schools and it is located on three Capital Metro bus lines. The Center houses the Council staff offices, two of our partnering nonprofits including The Ladies of Charity and Gladney Center for Adoption.