The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is an international Catholic charitable organization which was founded in 1833 by Frederick Ozanam, based on the example of St. Vincent de Paul.

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul is the patron saint of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He was born in Pouy, France on April 24, 1581, and was ordained a priest on September 23, 1600. Vincent devoted himself entirely to the alleviation of suffering of the poor.

To that cause, he established the Confraternities of Charity, later known as the Ladies of Charity, in 1617. In 1625, he founded the Congregation of the Mission, his community of priests and brothers.

With Louise de Marillac, he cofounded the Daughters of Charity in 1633. Vincent died in Paris on September 27, 1660 and was canonized in 1737.

Pope Leo XIII declared him patron saint of all works of charity.

Vincentian Charism

“A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.”

The ordinary people who belong to The St. Vincent de Paul Society are called Vincentians. The Society offers its members the opportunity to practice the three values of spiritual growth, friendship, and works of charity. 

The purpose of the Society is to fulfill the two great commandments Jesus gave His disciples: love of God and love of neighbor. We seek to grow spiritually in our meetings and through prayer and sharing of our faith. We develop a bond or community of faith with each other. We participate in different forms of spiritual formation, training, and retreats. We seek out God’s needy, both materially and spiritually, and help where we can.

We respond to opportunities to serve that God presents to us. In coming closer to those in need, we become closer to God and each other.

Vincentians are ordinary people from all walks of life: doctors, office workers, lawyers, factory workers, stay-at-home parents, students, retirees. Vincentians are not professionally trained social workers. They desire to serve as Jesus served-with unconditional love.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is easy to join. There is no initiation fee or special qualifications other than the desire to join with others to help those in need for the love of God.

Mission and Values

The motto of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is “No act of charity is foreign to the society.”

Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule.

Organized locally, Vincentians witness to God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ.

St. Ann Conference

St. Vincent de Paul, St. Ann Conference in Haines City has helped nearly 100,000 men, women, and children since the year 2000 with food, financial assistance for utility bills or emergencies, GED classes, and temporary housing.

 Besides helping people meet their daily needs, we offer the Christmas Angel Program that provides Christmas gifts for children and an annual scholarship for further education.

The Conference serves the poor not only in the Haines City area, but also in surrounding communities such as Davenport, Dundee, Lake Hamilton, Loughman, Lake Alfred, Waverly, and the 34759 zip-code area of Poinciana.

The poor come from every ethnic, cultural, and economic background, as well as every age group. Many families have incomes of less than $1200/month and approximately 90% of the people we help are not Catholic. The Conference is funded primarily by the parish of St. Ann and its ministries, and by the donations of various clubs and communities in our area.

St. Ann Conference is fiscally responsible. Here are several highlights.

Nationally Recognized Charity

The National Society of St. Vincent de Paul scores 100 for Accountability and Finance by Charity Navigator and is ranked as a 98% four-star charity for confident donor giving. The Society is listed as Number 45 in the annual list (December 2025) of America’s Top 100 Charities designated by Forbes, Inc. This ranking is based on private contributions received and highlights the organization’s high financial efficiency and charitable commitment.

Elected Officers

The President is elected by membership for three-year terms to ensure continuity, and experienced leadership. The President chooses a board of other officers, including a Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. All officers participate in induction commitment pledges to serve the Society and its clients.

Qualified Treasurer

Our treasurer is a CPA and former CFO of a large for-profit hospital system, accustomed to generally accepted accounting practices.

National Standards and Peer Review Audits

The St. Ann Conference follows the national standards and operation requirements of the national Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Peer review audits are conducted annually to ensure proper financial protocols are used.

Conference Leadership

All St. Ann Conference leadership positions are held by experienced volunteers who have multiple years as members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. There are no paid positions in the Conference, just committed Vincentians who care for the welfare of others.

The position of President is elected to a three-year term by conference membership. The President selects the other officers of the Conference.

President: Donna Ray

Vice President: Kathy Morris

Secretary: Alida Carpenter

Treasurer: Paul Mattis

Spiritual Director: Dave Pipitone