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First Board of Directors for the

Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP)

Standing (L-R) Vice President George Tarmann and President Gene Grass Seated (L-R) Spiritual Advisor Fr. Norbert Winter, Co-Chairs of the Steering Committee Sr. Mary Perpetua and Jack Padon and Secretary Nora McCann.

Important Dates for St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP):

• April 1972: Jack Padon and Sr. Mary Perpetua co-chair a steering committee to establish the Yellowstone County Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The original officers were: Gene Grass, president; George Tarmann, vice president; Nora McCann, Secretary; Vince Hummel, treasurer; Fr. Norbert Winter, spiritual advisor; Carolyn Biegenzahn, historian.
• 1 May 1972: St. Vincent de Paul is incorporated with the State of Montana.
• 15 May 1972: Thrift Store opens at 2610 Montana Avenue, Billings, Montana.
• 9 May 1978: Fire severely damages the Thrift Store.
• 15 November 1978: The Thrift Store reopens after remodeling. Repairs which had been estimated to have been finished within three to four weeks ended up taking six months because of the extensive damage to the store.
• 25 November 1978: Bishop Thomas J. Murphy of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings dedicates the Thrift Store.
• 4 June 1984: Bishop Murphy dedicates Thrift Store expansion into former Ryan Cash and Carry building at 2624 Montana Ave.
• 14 April 1994: Thrift Store outlet opens in west Billings at 1827 Grand Ave.
• 11 January 1997: Thrift Store outlet opens at 655 Main Street in Billings Heights.
• 22 August 1997: Society founder Frédéric Ozanam beatified by Pope John Paul II.
• 14 April 1998: First conference meeting held at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral.
• 8 June 1998: First conference meeting held for Little Flower/Guadalupe Conference.
• May 2001: West End outlet moves to 1235 Grand Avenue.
• 4 April 2003: First conference meeting held at St. Thomas Parish.
• December 2004: West End outlet expands, Heights outlet closes.
• 14 April 2005: First conference meeting held at St. Pius X Parish.
• 10 October 2005: The Sr. Daniel Stefani Memorial Chapel is dedicated.
• 21 November 2005: First conference meeting held at St. Bernard Parish.
• August 2006: Voice of the Poor Committee begins it’s work.
• 20-23 June 2007: Billings District Council hosted the Western Region Meeting.
• 17 January 2011: Dr. Agnes B. Samples named executive director.
• July 2011:  Remodeling of the Charitable Works Office begins.
• 15 October 2011:  Fr. Bart Stevens, Parochial Vicar of the Billings Catholic Cluster of Churches, rededicates and blesses the Charitable Works Office at 2610 Montana Avenue.

Click for the history of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.