OUR CHARISM:  Attentive to following Divine Providence and responsive to the working of the Spirit, Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac became conscious of the material and spiritual misery of their time and they devoted their lives to the service and evangelization of persons living in poverty. Vincentian Family members from many walks of life embrace and practice this charism.

OUR HISTORY:  The presence and activity of the followers of Vincent and Louise in the St. Louis region began in 1818 with the arrival of the Congregation of the Mission in Perryville, MO. In 1826 Rev. Joseph Rosati, CM was named the first Bishop of St. Louis (1826-1843). The Sisters/Daughters of Charity of Emmitsburg, MD arrived in 1828 to staff DePaul (Mullanphy) Hospital; a few years before the cholera outbreak in 1832. Both the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (1845) and the Ladies of Charity (1857) began their United States foundations in St. Louis. In 1859 Guardian Angel began and in 1907, St. Vincent's School in Perryville.

OUR CURRENT REALITY:  Today there are nearly 3,000 members of the Vincentian Family in the region.

Most numerous are 2,600 members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in 143 conferences in St. Louis.

The Society and the Daughters of Charity minister in East St. Louis and Belleville.

Vincentian priests, Ladies of Charity, Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Vincentian youth minister in Perryville, St. Vincent's Parish in St. Louis and St. Catherine Laboure Parish in St. Louis County.

St. Louis Daughters of Charity are engaged in ministries with children, youth, families, elders and in administration of the Province.  They are sponsors of Ascension Health.

In recent years, the charism of Vincent and Louise has found expression in the works of Affiliate, Vincentian Service Corps, Gateway Vincentian Volunteers, Vincentian Marian Youth and Former Daughers.