Major Branches of the Vincentian Family
Introduction
The Vincentian Family incorporates all the associations founded by St. Vincent de Paul or inspired by his mission.
Ladies of Charity (1617)
St. Vincent de Paul was a parish priest when a woman told him of a local family in need of help. Vincent spoke of the family during his sermon, and there was an outpouring of charity from parishioners. He thought, shouldn’t these good women give themselves to God to serve the poor permanently? Soon the ladies formed an association in which each would take her turn in serving the poor corporally and spiritually. The Ladies of Charity are now known internationally as the AIC (International Association of Charity). In the U.S. they are known as the Ladies of Charity.
Congregation of the Mission (1625)
The Congregation of the Mission is a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers founded by St. Vincent de Paul for the evangelization of the poor and the formation of the clergy. Vincentian priests and brothers total over 4000 worldwide and serve in 86 countries.
Daughters of Charity (1633)
Vincent de Paul, a French priest-reformer, and Louise de Marillac, a widow, established the Company of the Daughters of Charity as a group of women dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. Prayer and community life were essential elements of their vocation of service, with a spirit of humility, simplicity and charity. Today, the Daughters of Charity are an international community of over 19,900 Catholic women ministering in 91 countries.
Sisters of Charity (1809)
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton founded her community at Emmitsburg, Maryland. Her desire to give her life to works of charity led her to adapt a Rule from the Daughters of Charity. Today the Sisters of Charity Federation has around 4,000 members in 13 Congregations in the U.S. and Canada who trace their roots to St. Elizabeth and/or to St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul (1833)
The Society is an International Catholic lay organization which offers person-to-person services to the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
Association of the Miraculous Medal (1847)
Mary gave the Miraculous Medal to the world for the poor, the suffering of the whole world, who are without hope. Mary sees Christ in all her children, especially the poor. Through the AMM, Mary continues to reach out to her poor children with her motherly love.
Vincentian Marian Youth (1847)
The Vincentian Marian Youth came about under the influence of the apparitions of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal to St. Catherine Labouré. Its purpose: “To form members to live a solid faith following Jesus Christ the evangelizer of the poor. To live and pray like Mary, with simplicity and humility, taking on the spirituality of the Magnificat. To arouse, animate and sustain the missionary spirit of the association, especially through missionary experiences to those who are poorest and to youth.”
Lay Vincentian Missionaries (1999)
The Lay Vincentian Missionaries association is the youngest member of the Vincentian family and came about from the heart of the Family in 1999. Its goal: to foster, facilitate, sustain and coordinate the missionary presence and work of the laity in the missions of the Vincentian Family.