The Society of St. Vincent de Paul started in 1833 when Antoine Frederic Ozanam gathered six friends together on his 20th birthday. He inspired his friends to create the Conference of Charity to serve the poor of Paris. One resolution they made was that "no act of charity would be foreign to the Conference". They took food and clothing to the homes of the poor, provided shelter, financial, and spiritual assistance, and began tutoring programs.

Sr. Rosalie Rendu, a sister of the Daughters of Charity religious order, mentored the young friends and impressed upon the Conference members the importance of offering kindness, respect, and the compassion of God to those they visited. In Frederic's view, maintaining the dignity of people was as important as the food or clothing they brought. Frederic chose the 17th-century priest St. Vincent de Paul, known as the Apostle of Charity, as the patron of the Conference. Subsequently, the Conference of Charity was renamed the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

As the society grew, its members formed volunteer groups based in Catholic parishes. These groups became known as Conferences. 

The Society grew rapidly. At the time of Frederic's death in 1853, the Society was established in 18 countries. Today, there are over 800,000 St. Vincent de Paul members in 153 countries worldwide.

The St. Joseph Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was formed in 2007. Our special works include our Thrift Store and Donation Center, meal site and food pantry, person-to-person home visits, financial assistance, and micro loans. The Conference also hosts special events throughout the year.

In Rice Lake, we are taking a lead in collaborating with other organizations to truly walk with people in our community. We follow the Vincentian Call to Action to follow Christ through service to people in need and bear witness to His love.