1. April 23,1833: The Society’s Birthday
Ozanam Orientation Speaker Notes
April 23,1833: The Society’s Birthday
Frédéric Ozanam
Emmanuel Bailly
Auguste Le Taillandier
-- Society founded in 1833 by six college students and adult mentor
-- Go back 200 years to understand the story
April 23, Six college students and an adult mentor founded an organization dedicated to serving the poor, naming it after the Apostle of Charity himself, St. Vincent de Paul. This organization would eventually change the world and be found in 150 countries, assisting countless people in need and deepening the faith lives of many. But how did this come about? To understand, we have to go back about 200 years.
Jules Deveaux
Francois Lallier
Paul Lamache
Felix Clave
National Ozanam Orientation 2016

2. April 23,1833: The Conference of Charity
Ozanam Orientation Speaker Notes
April 23,1833: The Conference of Charity
“Let us go to the poor.” Frédéric Ozanam
-- Students moved to action
-- Formed the Conference of Charity
-- Frédéric Ozanam considered to be principal founder
-- After a year, they renamed group the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
After the debate, Frédéric Ozanam urged five of his friends to respond to the accusation with action, saying “Let us go to the poor”.
On April 23, 1833, (Frédéric’s twentieth birthday), the six young men met at Emmanuel Bailly’s newspaper office. They decided to start a group, which they named the Conference of Charity.
This group began meeting regularly and seeking out the poor of Paris. They asked Emmanuel Bailly to serve as the first president. After one year, the group would change its name to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Source notes:
Baunard, on Page 65 "Ozanam in his Correspondence“, attributes the quote “Let us go to the poor” to the biography by Frédéric’s brother Alphonse Ozanam.
Rule Part I section 1.1: “The Holy Spirit was undoubtedly present in all of them at the founding of the Society, fostering the charism of each one. Among them, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam was a radiant source of inspiration.”
Frédéric Ozanam
Emmanuel Bailly
Auguste Le Taillandier
Jules Deveaux
Francois Lallier
Paul Lamache
Felix Clave 2
National Ozanam Orientation 2016