Vincentian Tradition
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Vincentian Tradition St. Vincent School rests on the foundation of the Vincentian charism, which is based on the example and teachings of St. Vincent de Paul. A 17th-Century priest, St. Vincent recognized Jesus Christ as the ultimate teacher, and followed Him by dedicating his life to prayer and service. St. Vincent’s mission was to serve the poorest of the poor, whom he called his “lords” and “masters.” He integrated both prayer and reflection into his service, and encouraged others to do the same. St. Vincent’s success in calling both religious and lay people to join in his work laid the foundation for many Vincentian groups that exist today. Some of these groups include the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Priests), the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (which St. Vincent founded with St. Louise de Marillac), the Ladies of Charity, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Vincentian Marian Youth (which has a group at St. Vincent School). The entire St. Vincent School community endeavors to follow the example of prayer and service St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac set for us four centuries ago. We are thankful and proud to be part of the Vincentian family.
About the Daughters of Charity
St. Vincent School is sponsored by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1633, Vincent de Paul, a humble French priest, and Louise de Marillac, a widow, established the Company of the Daughters of Charity as a group of women dedicated to serving the “poorest of the poor.” Prayer and community life were essential elements of their vocation of service. Today, the Daughters of Charity are an international community of over 19,000 Catholic women who minister all over the world. The Daughters of Charity still serve the “poorest of the poor.” Their ministry touches those in need through education, health care, social and pastoral services. One Daughter of Charity currently serves at St. Vincent School. All Daughters of Charity who live in California are part of the Province of the West, which has ministries located in California, Utah, Alaska, New Mexico and Arizona. To learn more about the Daughters of Charity Province of the West, please visit their website. Thank you to the Daughters of Charity Province of the West for providing some of the above information.
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Our Vincentian Founders
St. Vincent de Paul (French) Born April 24, 1581; Died September 27, 1660.
St. Louise de Marillac (French) Born August 12, 1591; Died March 15, 1660.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (American) Born August 28, 1774; Died January 4, 182
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Founders' Festival
The Founders’ Festival is a day-long celebration to honor our Vincentian founders through prayer, service, and fellowship. The Festival, which has become a beloved tradition among our children, first took place at St. Vincent School in 2011. St. Vincent School joined with Mother of Sorrows School (one of our sister Daughters of Charity schools) to honor our founders – St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton – and to celebrate being Vincentians. That same year, our other two sister Daughters of Charity schools in Los Angeles (Our Lady of Talpa School and Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal School) also partnered for a Founders’ Festival. Since 2011, each of the Los Angeles Daughters of Charity schools has partnered with another school to celebrate the Founders’ Festival once per year.
One month before the Festival itself, teachers from both schools gather to meet and pair by grade level to plan a service project that their classes will complete during the Festival. Following this meeting, classes from each school exchange letters and prepare for their service projects. All of this builds excitement among our children for the Festival itself. On the day of the Festival, both schools gather and begin the celebration with prayer and a pep rally. Each grade pairs then disperses to complete service projects and share fellowship. A picnic lunch gives the students time with their new-found friends and Vincentian family. Then, A Eucharist celebration closes the day and provides time for students to joyfully express through songs and prayers their gratitude to God for blessing us with founders who are role models. Student leaders also share what they learned throughout the day and thank everyone who made the Festival possible. The St. Vincent School community looks forward to continuing this wonderful tradition in the future with our Vincentian brothers and sisters. -
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