Early in 1978 the St. Vincent de Paul Society was established in Bermuda through the   initiative of  the Sisters of Charity and a lay woman who approached Bishop Brian Hennessy about this possibility.  Bishop Hennessy readily agreed as the Society was close to his heart as he had been a member in Canada since he was ten years old.  The first meeting took place on March 16, 1978.  The first group was a microcosm of the Church in Bermuda as it was composed of men and women, black, white and Portuguese.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international voluntary Catholic Christian organization. The purpose of the society world wide is to provide direct aid to those who suffer, and to help individuals reduce and even eliminate the causes of their suffering, themselves. Society members are encouraged not only to meet the immediate needs of those who approach them but to also where possible give them the valuable gift of their presence. The society was founded in 1833 by Frederic Ozanam, a twenty year old student at the Sorbonne in Paris.  He and a group of fellow students started to seek out and visit the poor in Paris.  They took as their patron the great French priest, St. Vincent de Paul , who alerted the world to social problems.  On August 23, 1997, Frederic Ozanam was declared "Blessed" by Pope John Paul II.

    Officers                                                                                               

    President: Mrs. Joanne Judd

    Vice President / Acting Secretary:  Mrs. Annette Barclay

     Treasurer: Mrs. Paddy Simmons

     Contact #: 1-441-232-4414

On his death bed, St. Vincent de Paul stated: "It is only because of your love, because of your love alone, that the poor will forgive you the bread you give them. "