Frédéric Ozanam’s compassion and extraordinary work for the poor of Paris began in 1831 with a challenge: "What is your church doing now for the poor of Paris? Show us your works and we will believe you!" The eighteen-year-old young man and his friends had founded a Catholic study group in the city, and it was during a group meeting that this voice of dissent was raised.

Two years later, having secured sponsorship and Catholic spiritual leadership, Frédéric and a group of seven friends founded the “Conference for Charity” in Paris. They began to serve the poor by bringing material assistance to those living in poverty. Meanwhile, a like-minded young religious woman, Sister Rosalie Rendu, became acquainted with Frédéric and helped him and his friends to do good works, which is how the St Vincent de Paul Society started. In very little time, St Vincent de Paul spread throughout France and a little bit later jumped the Channel in sprang up in Great Britain. Before long SVdP grew to 15,000 members at Frédéric’s death in 1840.

Frédéric Ozanam was to recognize the huge gulf between the wealthy and the poor in the 1800’s and to act to create a means where financial assistance could move from rich to poor with the inspiration of St Vincent de Paul, a 17^th century French priest. Father Vincent and his fellow religious brothers took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and stability, and devoted themselves entirely to the destitute throughout France. His story fueled Frédéric’s urge to provide love and compassion to the poor.

During the early 19^th century those people who were blind and lame and could not work or find work lived in the streets of the great cities like Paris, as did orphans (called street urchins), widows without means, and people who ended up homeless due to financial pressures. SVdP helped many of these people to feed themselves, find housing and to recover their human dignity. Men and women who were former prisoners found themselves in this group as well. Guided by our Lord Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit the work of 800,000 Vincentians in 150 countries in 47,000 Conferences, and 1.5 million volunteers and collaborators. Every day, SVdP helps over 30 million people around the world.