For the sake of the country poor, St. Vincent de Paul founded the Congregation of the Mission to preach and educate the people. They met with local clergy at each parish to find out what their needs were, then finished by making provisions for the ongoing care of the parish’s poorest, usually with the establishment of Confraternities of Charity. This parish work, along with their involvement in seminary education, helped to reform the clergy and the Church in France at the time.

Happy anniversary to the Congregation of the Mission (January 25, 1625)