The Parish and DePaul University

Early in the history of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Chicago, one person was the superior of the local house, the pastor of the church and the president of St. Vincent’s College, the predecessor of DePaul University. As both the parish and the college grew quickly, that arrangement didn’t last long.

Although the parish shares its roots with DePaul University, they were separated institutionally in 1898. Since then, the college has grown into the largest Catholic university in the nation, serving over 20,000 students. The leadership, service-oriented culture and many on the teaching staff are Vincentians, and the university is a parish in its own right.

Despite the formal separation between the parish and the university, there remain many areas of overlap between the two institutions. The parish owns the church itself, but the university owns the adjacent parish center. The university does not have its own chapel, so St. Vincent de Paul Church is the site of a special Mass celebrating the opening of school, and the Baccalaureate Mass in May each year. Located on the campus of DePaul University, the parish has a collegiate feel. Students are served by both parishes, and service opportunities are open to members of either parish.

While separated administratively, the parish and the university are united by geography, history, and the Vincentian mission.