WHO WE ARE
Inspired by Gospel values, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic lay organization that brings women and men together spiritually to serve families and individuals who are in need of assistance - regardless of race, color or creed. Our members are known as VINCENTIANS and are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group and economic level with one unified missio
n to serve our neighbors in need with humility and without judgement. WHAT WE DO
Our conference operates out of Saint Brigid Parish by the Rule of the Society embracing all works of charity throughout Millbury, Massachusetts. Our work includes, (but is not limited to) helping families and individuals who are having difficulty paying their rent, fuel, water, electricity or grocery bills. The Society also offers Referral Services for long term assistance. The goal and hope of every is to bring systemic change to the lives of the people they serve. Not only do we provide immediate relief, but whenever possible, we supply long term relief. In the Worcester metro area, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is comprised of over 300 volunteers known as Vincentians. Last year these dedicated volunteers served over 1900 individuals with rent, utilities, food, clothing, and other kinds of assistance. As a Catholic lay organization, an essential part of the Society’s work is to maintain the confidentiality and dignity of those being served, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or age. WHY WE DO IT
By seeing the face of Christ in the faces of those who are suffering, we remember His words, “What you do for the least of mine you do for Me”
HISTORY
The Society’s history clearly reveals the hand of God and the zeal of a twenty-year-old name Frederic Ozanam who was a law student at the Sorbonne, in Paris. Frequently, engaged in debates, Frederic was once asked “In the past the Catholic church helped the poor, but what is the church doing now for its poor?” At that very moment, Frederic was deeply moved. After a visit to the tenements in Paris to see first-hand the needs of the poor, Frederic Ozanam, along with 6 companions founded the “Conference of Charity” on April 23, 1833 to serve the needs of the poor. The name soon changed to The Society of St. Vincent De Paul in honor of the 16th century saint who spent his life serving the poor. The conference was guided by the hand of Sister Rosalie Rendu, of the Daughters of Charity. Sister Rosalie was very close to the poor and understood how to serve our brothers and sisters in need with spiritual guidance and dignity. It’s no small wonder that 200 years earlier, St. Vincent de Paul had founded the Daughters of Charity with St. Louise de Marillac by his side.
Blessed Frederic died on September 8, 1853, on the day of the feast of the birth of the Blessed Mother, to whom he had great devotion. He was 40 years young. The first Conference in Worcester, MA was St. John Conference, founded in 1879 and aggregated June 9, 1881. The Worcester Diocese was founded in 1950 and the official name was: The Particular Council of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the County of Worcester, Inc. On January 31, 1998, the Worcester Council officially changed it's name to: The Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Diocese of Worcester, Inc. On July 19, 2019, Saint Brigid Conference was officially established as part of the Diocesan Council of Worcester, Inc.
On September 27, 2019, the Worcester Council was officially recognized as a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization by the IRS under the name of Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Diocesan Council of Worcester, Inc.
