History

HISTORY - St. Vincent de Paul founded the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) in 1625 to preach the Gospel to the poor and to work for the formation and education of the clergy.  Today, the Vincentians are a community of priests and brothers working in many nations throughout the world.  The Vincentians came to the United States in 1818.  The Eastern Province was established in 1888. 

One hundred years after the Vincentians came to this country, in April of 1918, Father Martin Blake, C.M. founded Our Lady of Angles Association at Niagara University, New York.  Father Blake dedicated the Association to the work of spreading devotion to Our Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of Angels.  He invited donors to assist the Vincentians in their work of forming and educating seminarians who were studying at the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels, then located on the Niagara University campus.