Saint Vincent de Paul is the Patron and the Inspiration of De Paul College. Born in Pouy, France in 1581, Saint Vincent had his early education with the Franciscans at Dax and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1600. He completed his higher studies from the University of Toulouse in 1604 and began his services for both the spiritual and social development of the people.
Saint Vincent initiated a spiritual awakening in France with his discourses and sessions which came to be known as Popular Missions. To meet the overwhelming demand for these services, he founded a society of men called the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) in 1625 whose members, over 3500, are working today in nearly 90 countries in the world.
Another notable and imitable contribution of Saint Vincent de Paul to humanity is the organized services for the care of the poor and the underprivileged in the society. He organized these services through the Confraternities of Charity, an association of laywomen who used to visit, feed, and nurse the sick and the poor. The movement could motivate many noble and wealthy women who aided him in establishing hospitals and homes for the foundlings. The countless services undertaken by these Confraternities of Charity led to the founding of a religious society of women known as the Daughters of Charity in 1633 who dedicated their entire lives for the care of the sick and the poor. Saint Vincent’s vision, services and political interventions also influenced public servants and social and spiritual leaders to be mindful of the less privileged while making polices and organizing programmes. He motivated millions to engage in community services and to contribute for the care of the economically backward sections of the society.
De Paul College upholds and teaches The Dignity of Human Beings, taught and practiced by its founder. The values of inclusivity, human dignity, service and professionalism, which are the essential ethos of Vincentian Personalism, shape the distinctive culture of the college.
