About us
Assisting the needy in Cheshire County
The Society of St Vincent de Paul Keene - fighting hunger, and helping those who are transitioning to stable housing.
Mission
A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness through building a more just world through personal relationships and service to people in need.
History
As a young law student at the Sorbonne, in Paris, in 1833, Frederic
Ozanam was challenged by his peers to demonstrate what he and his fellow
Catholic students were personally doing to help the poor in Paris.
Within weeks, at the age of 20, Ozanam and six of his peers formed the
first “Conference of Charity.” Through this conference, the seven men
self-financed their works of charity. They initiated the cornerstone of
St Vincent de Paul’s work-the home visit-by visiting the poor where they
lived, providing them with whatever aid and assistance they needed.
Ozanam soon placed the conference under the patronage of St Vincent de Paul, who had spent his life serving the poor in the 16th century France. Twelve years later, in 1845, the Society of St Vincent de Paul began its first American conference in St. Louis, Missouri. To this day, St. Louis remains the society’s national headquarters.
In the early 1970’s, five men who, with Fr Pennett, established a St Vincent de Paul Conference for St Bernard’s Parish. The start was modest by meeting the poor in their homes, befriending them, delivering groceries, serving as advocates, and offering our support for them. The important gift of being Vincentians was the spiritual inspiration the poor gave us on our spiritual journey, while we helped them.
Strength comes from the work done and examples set by the Gospels, Frederick Ozanam, Peter Maurin, Dorothy Day, and Catherine de Hueck Doherty. And, of course examples modeled by fellow Vincentians and persons we served.
St Vincent de Paul is Global!
Learn more about the National Council of the U.S., headquartered in St. Louis, MO.
Learn more about our International Council, headquartered in Paris, France.