About St. Paul Catholic Church SVDP
A community of faith-driven volunteers serving neighbors in need — one personal encounter at a time — since 1931.
A parish family called to serve
The St. Paul Catholic Church Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an all-volunteer Catholic lay organization rooted in St. Paul Catholic Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. We are ordinary parishioners — neighbors helping neighbors — united by a shared faith and a commitment to serving those who are most in need in our community.
We are part of a worldwide network of Vincentians who believe that charity is not merely the giving of things, but the giving of self. Our ministry is built on the personal encounter: we do not simply provide assistance — we sit with our neighbors, listen to their stories, and walk alongside them in their difficulties.
“Love possesses something of the divine nature, which gives itself without diminishing, shares itself without division, and is multiplied and present in many places at once.”
— Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, Founder
Nearly a century of
faith in action
In April of 1931, a small group of St. Paul Catholic Church parishioners answered the call to serve their neighbors by establishing a Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul right here in this parish — a ministry of compassion that has continued without interruption ever since.
For more than nine decades, our Vincentians have gone out not as social workers, but as friends and neighbors — with the love of Christ, and the knowledge that we do not go alone.
“We thank you, Lord, for the many blessings we receive from those whom we visit. Help us to love and respect them, to understand their deeper needs, and to share their burdens and joys as true friends in Christ.”
— Closing prayer of the St. Paul Catholic Church SVDP Conference
What it means to be
a member of the Society
A Vincentian is an ordinary person who has said yes to an extraordinary call — to see Christ in those who are suffering, and to respond not with pity, but with love.
We Go in Pairs
Just as Christ sent his disciples out two by two, Vincentians always make home visits in pairs — rooted in the Rule of the Society and reflecting the communal nature of our mission.
We Listen First
The home visit is not a transaction. Before any assistance is offered, we sit, listen, and seek to understand the whole person — unhurried, attentive, and compassionate.
We Grow Together
Each meeting begins and ends in prayer. Vincentians gather for spiritual formation — to reflect on experiences, support one another, and deepen their faith through service.
We Follow the Rule
The Society is governed by the Rule of the International Confederation — ensuring that no matter where a Vincentian serves in the world, the spirit of the Society remains one.
A worldwide
family of service
St. Paul Catholic Church SVDP is one Conference within the largest lay Catholic charitable organization in the world. Founded in Paris in 1833, the Society has grown into a global network united by one mission: to serve Christ in the person of those who are poor.
Every local Conference is part of this unbroken chain of charity stretching across 155 countries. We share one Rule, one spirit, and one conviction: that love, given freely and personally, changes lives.
Visit the SVDP USA national website to learn more about the Society’s history, mission, and resources.
ssvpusa.org →Become a
Vincentian.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is always looking for parishioners who feel called to put their faith into action through direct, personal service to their neighbors. No special skills are required — only a willing heart. We meet twice a month at St. Paul Catholic Church.
Get in TouchAttend a Meeting as a Guest
Come to one of our regular meetings, meet our members, and ask questions with no commitment required.
Shadow a Home Visit
Accompany an experienced Vincentian on a home visit to see the ministry in action before joining.
Join the Society
If you feel called, you are welcomed into membership — with formation and support from day one.