Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul – September 27th
“How much our hearts should be on fire with love for this ministry of assisting poor people and for devoting ourselves earnestly to it, because the need is so great, and God expects this of us.” – Saint Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been putting these words into practice since its founding by Blessed Frederic Ozanam in 1833. Challenged by a detractor of the faith to demonstrate the good he was doing socially in France, young Frederic and six companions formed this Catholic lay organization and named it for St. Vincent de Paul. The group adopted the name the “Society of St. Vincent de Paul” in honor of the saint revered for his work among the needy. Members of the Society, or “Vincentians,” are men and women who strive to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need.
Throughout the Diocese, St. Vincent de Paul helps over 25,000 people in need with over $3M in services, food, utilities, rent and medical assistance. The most critical need in Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland is affordable housing. For many, the average cost of an apartment is $1,500 – $2,000 a month. This is beyond the ability of those on a fixed income or making less than $35,000 a year to afford. Frequently there is a 2 – 6 year wait for affordable housing throughout Delaware, places like Luther Towers, Frazier Place and Delaware Housing Authority. The members of St. Vincent de Paul of St. Polycarp frequently are trying to bridge the gap of what people can afford and the actual cost of housing. Your generosity makes a dire situation livable. The St. Vincent de Paul Society works with other churches including the Smyrna Ministerium, Catholic Charities, other agencies that support our neighbors in need, and Delaware Social Services.
The Conference of St. Polycarp serves the needy in the Smyrna-Clayton area funded principally by our parishioners’ donations. The St. Polycarp Conference of St. Vincent de Paul has been in existence for 35 years. During that period, we have assisted over 5,000 individuals and families. We help families within the boundaries of St. Polycarp parish which includes Smyrna, Clayton, Cheswold, Kenton, Townsend, and parts of north Dover.
Updated January 2026
