The Society of St. Vincent de Paul commemorates the 187th anniversary of the establishment of the International General Council
Emmanuel Joseph Bailly de Surcy, first President of the IGC
Every 21 July, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul commemorates one of the fundamental milestones in its history: the creation of the International General Council (IGC), the body responsible for safeguarding the unity of the Society and ensuring the faithful observance of the Rule in every country where the SSVP is present. In 2026, we celebrate the 187th anniversary of its establishment.
The creation of the International General Council was a consequence of the extraordinary growth experienced by the Society during its early years. From its foundation in Paris in April 1833 by Blessed Frédéric Ozanam together with six other young Catholic laymen, the work of the first Conferences attracted increasing interest and quickly spread beyond the French capital.
To accompany this growth without losing the identity and spirit that inspired the founders, the first Rule of the Society was approved in 1835. One year later, the Governing Council was established to coordinate the activities of the Conferences, which by 1839 numbered 38: 16 in Paris and 22 in other French cities.
The consolidation of the Society made a new governance structure necessary. Accordingly, on 14 July 1839, the founders agreed to transform the Governing Council into the General Council, granting it broader responsibilities. This decision was ratified by the General Assembly held on 21 July of the same year, a date now commemorated as the official birth of the International General Council. Its first meeting took place on 27 December 1840 and was chaired by Emmanuel Joseph Bailly de Surcy, the Society’s first President General.
Since then, the International General Council has accompanied the growth of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, fostering communion among the various National Councils and ensuring fidelity to the charism of our founders. Based in Paris, it continues to serve as a point of reference for a Society now present in more than 155 countries and committed to serving the most vulnerable.
On this 187th anniversary, we give thanks for our shared history and for all those who, throughout these years, have made the Society’s mission possible through the International General Council. We especially entrust to God the President General, the International Board, and all Vincentians who today serve the Society through its international structure, as well as those who fulfilled this mission in the past.