Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) – St. Mary’s Basilica Conference was the first SVdP Conference in Phoenix, founded on April 26, 1946. Since then, we’ve been faithfully serving our community with compassion and dedication.
Our members, known as Vincentians, grow in faith and friendship as we serve our neighbors in need. We provide financial assistance for rent and utilities, and our volunteers deliver monthly food boxes every Saturday—totaling around 1,200 deliveries each year, feeding over 500 individuals across 200+ households.
We are one of more than 80 Conferences within the Phoenix Diocesan Council—the largest SVdP council in the world! United in mission, SVdP is committed to feeding, clothing, housing, and healing individuals and families in need. As we say: “No act of charity is foreign to the Society”
Our Programs Include:
- Services for the homeless
- Medical and dental care for the working poor
- Charity dining rooms (our main kitchen prepares 7,500 meals daily)
- Food boxes for hungry families
- Thrift stores across the region
- Transitional housing shelters
- General assistance for individuals in crisis
At SVdP, we don’t just provide help—we bring hope to those facing physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges.
Our History
The Beginning – Paris, 1833
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in Paris, France, in 1833 by a young law student at the Sorbonne, Frédéric Ozanam. During a debate, Ozanam was challenged to show how he and his fellow Catholic students were living out their faith by serving the poor. His response was swift and heartfelt.
At just 20 years old, Ozanam gathered six peers to form the first “Conference of Charity.” They funded their charitable works from their own pockets and the generosity of friends, visiting the poor in their homes to offer aid and companionship. With guidance from Monsieur Emmanuel Bailly and Sister Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity, the group placed their conference under the patronage of St. Vincent de Paul, a 17th-century priest known for his tireless service to the poor.
Coming to America – St. Louis, 1845
In 1845, the Society crossed the Atlantic and took root in St. Louis, Missouri, where the first American conference was established. To this day, St. Louis remains the national headquarters of the Society in the United States.
Planting Seeds in Arizona – Phoenix, 1946
A century later, in 1946, a group of young Catholic men in Phoenix, Arizona, inspired by the same spirit of charity, began their own journey. Tommy Johnstone, a New Yorker familiar with the Society, teamed up with Fr. Louis Shoen, OFM, pastor of St. Mary’s Basilica, to form the first local conference.
On April 26, 1946, they gathered in the old rectory of St. Mary’s, planting the seed that would grow into the Phoenix Diocesan Council. The first Conference President in the Valley was Matthew Trudelle.
By December 4, 1949, conferences from St. Agnes, St. Francis Xavier, and St. Mary’s united to form the Particular Council of Maricopa County. This historic meeting brought together five priests and 25 Vincentians, with Fr. Victor Bucher, OFM serving as the first spiritual director. Other key supporters included Msgr. Robert Donohoe, Fr. Cornelius Moynihan, Fr. James Deasey, SJ, and Bishop Francis J. Green of Tucson. Fr. Charles Hackel from San Francisco also assisted in the council’s formation.
The first officers were:
- Matthew J. Scott, President
- Mickey McGinn, Vice President
- Peter Stephens, Secretary
- Dan O’Meara, Treasurer
SVdP Today – Serving with Love and Hope
Today, the Phoenix Diocesan Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul includes:
- 89 Conferences of Charity
- Over 2,500 active and associate members (Vincentians)
- More than 6,000 volunteers
Together, we continue the mission of serving Christ in the poor, bringing not only help—but hope—to those in need.