Patron

THE PATRON : St Vincent de Paul

Vincent was born in France in 1581. When he was still a young priest, he was captured by Turkish pirates who sold him into slavery. For two years, he had to work hard for the masters who bought him. He converted his last master and was then set free.

Vincent was sent to do parish work near Paris. He was a very great friend of the poor. He organized groups to look after the needy. The women nursed the sick and cooked meals for them. Men found jobs for the poor who were able to work and gave food and clothes to those who could not work. Vincent also founded the Daughters of charity. With the help of these Sisters, he would gather money to clothe the poor and to nurse the sick. He built homes for the poor, for the aged and for the abandoned children.

He was almost eighty years old when he died in Paris in 1660. His body was found to be incorrupt fifty years after his death. St Vincent is called the Apostle of Organized Charity. This St Vincent de Paul Society continues his work for the poor.