The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a worldwide organization of lay Catholics formed in 1833 to follow Christ through service in hope to the poor, sick, lonely and marginalised, helping them in spiritual, moral, social and practical ways.

Vincentians establish personal contact with those who are suffering. This contact may be during the home visit, or wherever the person in need is found, in the street, in hospital, in a residential home, in a chance encounter. They not only provide material assistance but also offering friendship, understanding and prayer.

The Society was first introduced in India by the French Missionaries at Pondicherry during the Year 1852-53 as a non-aggregated Conference. The Society was officially started in India in 1863 when some conferences in Bombay were aggregated and the Bombay Particular Council was instituted. 

“No work of charity is foreign to the Society”. Therefore, Vincentians respond to many community and individual needs through programmes such as educational support, food distribution, caring elderly, housing programmes, medical support, self-help programmes, disaster relief services, job training and placement, tree plantation, eco-friendly programmes, defending social justice, etc. 

Vincentians endeavour to help the poor to help themselves whenever possible, and to be aware that they can forge and change their own destinies and that of their local community.