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

Thus was born the Pious Society of the Catholic Apostolate which today is known as the Union of the Catholic Apostolate, an association of religious, clergy and laity. The main apostolic thrust of our religious communities today takes its tone from this original inspiration. We see our task as that of reviving faith, rekindling charity and fostering unity. We see that these ends are consistent with our understanding of
Pope John Paul II’s call for a “new evangelization” in today’s Church.