The Society of St. Vincent de Paul traces its origins to Paris in 1833, where Frederic Ozanam and five of his peers studying at the Sorbonne University were challenged by their classmates to demonstrate what they were doing to meet the needs of the city’s poor. The students walked the streets of Paris, engaging in person-to-person ministry by providing food and clothing, confident that Christ would be revealed through their loving acts. They formed the first “Conference of Charity” on April 23, 1833 and adopted, as their Patron, the devoted French priest, St. Vincent de Paul, who alerted the world to social disparity. These students formalized their work changing the official name to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul under the guidance of Sister Rosalie Rendu, Daughters of Charity, who was known for her service to the poor in the impoverished areas of Paris.

Similar groups grew in Paris, then to the rest of France, and eventually throughout the Christian world with the purpose of visiting those in need as an extension of God’s love. Now in over 150 different countries, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is growing close to 1,000,000 members or Vincentians serving their neighbors in need.

In Northern Kentucky, the work of the Society can be traced as far back as 1911, thanks to a report to the Bishop at the time. The report shared that the Vincentians provided help to 90 Campbell County families with groceries, coal to heat their homes, medicine, and shoes. These efforts were made possible by the proceeds of a euchre tournament! The Vincentians told the Bishop they believed the work should still continue.

In 1923, three parish conferences, Holy Cross, Blessed Sacrament, and Mother of God, were aggregated and recognized by the International Society. The Northern Kentucky Council was formed shortly thereafter, in November 1923, to help support the work of the conferences through the creation of programs to meet specific needs and fundraising to provide resources for those programs.