St. Vincent's
Mission Statement
St. Vincent’s is dedicated to strengthening low-income families and seniors through programs rooted in the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church. Faithful to the charism of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, we serve our sisters and brothers by providing affordable housing, early childhood education, and family enrichment opportunities.
Our History
St. Vincent’s has a long and rich tradition in Santa Barbara dating back to the pioneer days of the 1850s. Soon after California became a state, Santa Barbara had need of an English-speaking school and orphanage. Bishop Amat of Monterey (Santa Barbara) wrote to the Daughters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland requesting Sisters to come to Santa Barbara for this purpose. The leadership of the Daughters of Charity responded to this need and made the commitment to send Sisters from Emmitsburg to Santa Barbara. The Sisters arrived by steamer on January 5, 1858, stepping on the beach near where Stearns Wharf is today. Within the week, they had established the first English-speaking school and orphanage in the region.
Social Teachings of the Catholic Church
The Social Teachings of the Catholic Church show concern for the poorest members of society. Solidarity with those who live in poverty is a commitment to understanding the connection and interdependence we have with each person, individually, and collectively as a society. Solidarity is a commitment to helping others empower themselves. This concept of solidarity is one of the main themes of the Church’s social teaching. The other themes include the life and dignity of the human person, the call to family and community, fundamental rights of the human person along with the corresponding duties and responsibilities to one another, concern for the poor and vulnerable, the dignity of work, and care for God’s creation. As you see in St. Vincent’s mission statement, our work is “rooted in the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church,” and we strive each day to instill in our work these important teachings.
Charism of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
A charism is a special gift of the Holy Spirit that characterizes an individual or group and that is used to contribute to the common good and glorify God in the Church and the world. The Vincentian Charism refers to the gifts, spirit, and teachings of St. Vincent de Paul who, along with St. Louise de Marillac, established the Daughters of Charity in Paris in 1633. Following the example of humility and compassion evidenced in the life of Jesus Christ, St. Vincent and St. Louise were committed to providing excellent, respectful service to their brothers and sisters who were poor and marginalized.
Living Our Mission
St. Vincent’s has provided continuous services to the Santa Barbara community for over 155 years. St. Vincent’s lives out its mission through programs that address homelessness, abuse, childcare, and basic needs with an emphasis on education, counseling, and family strengthening. These vital programs serve almost 600 residents and clients each day.