“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings
to the poor.” (Luke 4:18)

The Congregation of the Mission, popularly known as the Vincentians, were founded
in France in the year 1625 by St. Vincent de Paul. Vincent’s purpose was to serve the
poor in places and ways that few priests and brothers served, and to assist in
the formation of seminarians and priests. In 1815, the Vincentians were invited to come
to the United States. And in 1865, Bishop John Loughlin, the first bishop of
Brooklyn, invited them to found a Catholic college in his diocese. The Vincentians
moved into Brooklyn, into what later became known as St. John’s, in 1868. For over
135 years, the Vincentians Priests and brothers have served the poor and needy
of Bedford-Stuyvesant in the spirit and charism of their founder and patron, Vincent
de Paul, the “Father to the Poor” and “Light of the Clergy”.

For more information go to : www.cmeast.org