St.
Vincent’s new society was committed to addressing
the many social needs of the day. He took a particular interest
in the young girls orphaned by the political upheaval of
the day and the cholera plague. In June of 1838 the Society
opened a house of refuge and education, the “Pia Casa
di Carità,”or “Pious House of Charity”
for them and entrusted them to the care of several pious
women. The Founder dressed them in the habit of the Third
Order of St. Francis. The work was able to go forward with
the assistance of committed laity.
While
the religious and civil education of young girls has always
had a prominence in the apostolic works of the community,
changing times required changing apostolates