Blessed Frederic Ozaman
(1813-1853)

Frederic Ozaman was born into a large family in 1813 in Milan, Italy. His were parents originally from France. The Ozaman family returned to France in 1815.

Frederic believed that faith should be put into action by serving the poor. In 1833, he founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society. This is an organization that serves the poor. Today, the Society is based in 131 countries and offers services such as thrift shops, home visits, food centers, and shelters.

In 1841, Ozaman married. In 1845 the young couple welcomed their first and only child into the world. The last five years of Frederic’s short life were devoted to serving the poor through the St. Vincent de Paul Society. In 1853 Frederic died of exhaustion and tuberculosis.

At the 1997 World Youth Day in Paris, Pope John Paul II beatified Frederic Ozaman.