The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1833 by six Sorbonne college students, led by Frederic Ozanam to grow in holiness by assisting the poor in Paris. It has grown to become a network of charity encircling the world and today has 850,000 members serving in 150 countries.
As a ministry of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, our local conference continues to carry out the mission of assisting those in need, regardless of age, sex, race, and religion in the greater Bluffton area. All members are volunteers and donations are our only source of income. What makes our charitable organization so special is not the checks we write, the food we provide, or the services we offer. It is the fact that we treat each and every person who comes to us for help with love, dignity, and respect.
St. Gregory the Great Conference operates through a 24/7 help line and home visits by a pair of volunteers, who assess each situation, offer support, and provide for an immediate need. The people who call our help line have one thing in common: some event or emergency has put their lives in crisis. By giving of our time, talent, and treasure, we assist our less fortunate neighbors.
As Vincentians, we strive to be:
- the key to changing someone’s life;
- the comforting voice of St. Vincent de Paul to friends in need;
- the hand that pulls the poor up and out of poverty; and
- an instrument of God’s love by reaching out to others to offer dignity, understanding, and self-respect.