St Vincent de Paul Society to Conclude Centenary Celebrations on January 25
Mangaluru: The St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP), one of the world’s largest Catholic lay service organisations, will conclude its centenary celebrations marking 100 years of service in the Diocese of Mangalore with a grand Valedictory Ceremony on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at the Father Muller Convention Centre, Mangaluru.
The programme will be presided over by the Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore. The International President of the St Vincent de Paul Society, Mr Juan Manuel Buergo Gomez, arriving from Spain, will be the Chief Guest for the occasion.
The Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop Emeritus of Mangalore, Mr Jude Mangalraj, President of the SSVP National Council, and Mr Joseph Pandian, International Ombudsman, will be present as Guests of Honour.
Also gracing the event will be Mr Ivan D’Souza, Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council, Rev. Fr Faustine Lucas Lobo, Director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, and renowned entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr Joseph Elias Menezes.
Joining them on the dais will be Mr Santiago Manickam, National Secretary of SSVP, Ms Asha Vaz, and youth representative Mr Alister Nazareth.
A Century of Silent Service
The St Vincent de Paul Society was established in Mangaluru on January 10, 1926, at Bendur Church, making it one of the earliest Catholic lay service organisations in the region. In the same year, units were formed at Milagres Church, Rosario Cathedral, and Bejai Church, laying the foundation for a century-long journey of compassionate service.
The Society’s mission focuses on visiting the poor and the needy, providing assistance while upholding dignity, confidentiality, and respect.
At present, under the Mangalore Central Council, the Society operates 111 units, each adopting at least five families from their neighbourhoods. Currently, 623 families comprising 1,765 members are being supported. With a strength of 1,618 members across 111 units and two Youth Units, the Society continues its service quietly and without publicity.
Healthcare and Welfare Initiatives
In collaboration with Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangaluru, and Thumbay, the Society is implementing a major healthcare initiative that provides free medical treatment and dialysis care to members of adopted families.
To mark the centenary year, the Society has launched two major welfare projects:
- ‘Shikop’, which offers educational support for higher studies to around 405 students from adopted families
- ‘Aasro’, which provides financial assistance to 100 families for the construction or repair of their homes
During the valedictory ceremony, the SSVP–Trinity Kidney Care Project will be inaugurated with the support of Joseph E. Menezes’s Trinity Medicare Services Trust, Udupi, to assist kidney patients with medicines and dialysis.
Global Legacy
Founded in 1833 in Paris, France, by Blessed Frederic Ozanam and his companions, the St Vincent de Paul Society today functions in 158 countries, with over 800,000 members and more than one million volunteers. In India, the Society was established in Mumbai in 1863 and currently has 7,225 units with over 65,000 members.
A press meet announcing the valedictory programme was held on January 22, 2026, at the Press Club, Mangaluru, in the presence of Mr Joe Coelho, President, Central Council; Mr Ligoury Fernandes, Secretary; Mr Clarence Machado, Treasurer; Mrs Philomena Menezes, Convener of the Centenary Celebration Committee; and Mr Loyd Rego, Convener of the Media Committee.
