Workshops, Retreats, & Events

From the time of the Society’s inception, our founders relied upon others for direction and formation in the spirit of St. Vincent. In that same spirit, the Cincinnati District Council offers formation and training for our Conference Members and Officers to deepen our knowledge of the Society and our spirituality; to improve the sensitivity, quality and efficacy of our service to those in need; and to increase our awareness of available resources.

 Please click the button below to be taken to the PDF of this year’s full schedule of events. Upcoming events are listed in chronological order below.

Please email formation@SVDPcincinnati.org for more information, or to sign up for any of the events listed below. Thank you!

Annual Summer Conferences Forum

Saturday, August 15, 2026 from 9:00am – 12:00pm at The Ozanam Center (1125 William L. Mallory Sr. Street, Cincinnati, 45214).

Conference Presidents, or their appointed delegates, from around our Council will gather for a time of important updates, feedback, and voting on Council business at this regular meeting of the District Council. This is also a wonderful opportunity to get to know one another and grow in our spiritually rooted fellowship. Voting packets and important prep information will be sent out the first week of August to all Presidents and registered delegates.

Register for this upcoming gathering through our online registration form by the end of the day on Wednesday, August 12.

Annual Fall Fellowship

Sunday, October 4, 2026 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains (325 W 8th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202).

At the heart of our Vincentian vocation is an invitation from our Lord, Jesus Christ—to come together in love and service to Him and to our neighbors.

You are warmly invited to join fellow Vincentians for our annual Fall Fellowship Mass &  Recognition Reception, a joyful celebration of our shared mission. Together, we will give thanks for the gift of our calling and honor the many Vincentians and volunteers whose generous service brings Christ’s presence to life in our community.

This year, we gather on the Sunday following the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains. The celebration will include a special recognition ceremony of Vincentians service anniversaries, major Council award presentations, and a reception following the Mass. The Most Rev. Robert Casey, Archbishop of Cincinnati, will be our presider and honored guest at this year’s reception.

Come celebrate, connect, and be renewed in the spirit of our shared mission.

This years Major Council Award honorees will be updated once nominations have closed at the end of August. To nominate someone, please see the forms on our website and or use this link provided. Nominations by Vincentians should have the support of either the President or Spiritual Advisor from their Conference.

To register for attending the Fall Fellowship, please use our online form here. Please register by the end of the day on Friday, September 25. 

Ozanam Orientation

Dates vary, see link below for currently scheduled offerings (1 per quarter).

Developed by our National Council, this Orientation explores through a day long retreat format what the meaning of being a Vincentian is and how we can live out our calling in simple ways within our own lives, and the life of our Conference. We will dive into exploring our roots and the story behind the Society’s life, different ways Vincentians live out their calling, and discuss the ways we can better strive to authentically meet our neighbors in need where they are at and support them for a transformative experience reflecting God’s unique love and compassion.

To signup and take part, please do so through our online form here by the end of the day one week prior to the offered session. No cost to attend, all materials and food/beverage for the experience provided.

Vincentian Welcome & Onboarding Sessions

Ongoing at the Neyer Outreach Center 1146 William L. Mallory, Sr. Street (formerly Bank St.); dates determined in registration form below.

Inviting all new Vincentians! This session will serve as an introduction to St Vincent de Paul and your life as a Vincentian. You will receive resources that we hope will be useful throughout your vocation and be able to hear from and ask questions of fellow Vincentians while also having the opportunity to become more familiar with your Outreach Center and the many services/resources available in the community. We look forward to seeing you there! Please sign up here, if you don’t see a date coming up just email us and we will let you know when the next session will be.

Rendu Academy – Mentoring Course

Saturday from 9:00am to 3:30pm at the Ozanam Center (1125 William L. Mallory, Sr. Street – formerly Bank St.); exact dates listed in registration.

Thinking about journeying alongside our neighbors in need more frequently as a Vincentian or volunteer? Taking on this ministry is no small feat which is why we are excited to offer you the opportunity for a deeper, more practically focused training that will equip you for the road ahead, whether that is for one off encounters with a neighbor or you discern becoming a potential mentor. This one day training will provide an overview of the mentoring & accompaniment tradition within the Society, as well as best practices to assist you in working with our neighbors in addition to tips and skills that can help you more broadly in life. All Academy days will include snacks, beverages, and a lunch for those registered. For Vincentian members of a Conference, it is highly encouraged that you complete the Ozanam Orientation prior to taking part in this course.

To register for an upcoming session, held roughly once every 6 months, please use our online form here; all registrations are due 72 hours prior to the start of the Academy.

Safeguarding Initial Training

Ongoing virtually via Microsoft Teams or in-person by request; dates determined in registration form below.

Safeguarding is how we live our Vincentian call to protect and honor the dignity of every person—especially those most vulnerable. Each quarter, on a  Wednesday from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, new members and those engaging more regularly with the Society are invited to join our introductory Safeguarding Training. Together, we’ll explore what safeguarding means, how to respond when concerns arise, and who to contact for support.

Register here (at least 36 hours in advance) to reserve your spot and take part! All materials are sent out a day prior to those registered prior to the cutoff for a training.

If you also assist in your parish, school, or other Catholic ministries, we encourage you to complete SafeParish training instead and share your certification with us. Questions? Email our team at Safeguarding@svdpcincinnati.org.

Virtual Formation Training

Looking for Formation and training opportunities on-demand for your busy schedule? Seeking out our online Safeguarding Training or one of our courses related to CMS? Then log into the “Ozanam Center Online” and have core trainings accessible at your fingertips when you need it. All courses are setup to enable you to complete according to your own pace and needs. To sign up and take part in one of our online courses today, simply follow this link to register for a free account and enroll in one of our courses.

Regional Formator Training

Are you interested in learning to present the core of all Vincentian formation, the Ozanam Orientation? We have opportunities coming up to dive into what it means to be a Formator/Presenter of the Ozanam Orientation, provide guidance and understanding on overall Vincentian Formation, and help equip you for assisting your fellow Vincentians in their journey. To register, please use our JotForm provided here.

Formation Request Form

Every year we aim to host a series of workshops and experiences on various topics throughout the Cincinnati District, and are always happy to collaborate on specialized offerings for a Conference, Family of Conferences, or even collaborate on how that might look with engaging your Parish Family as well. We also have workshops and retreats in bite-sized opportunities able to take place during a Conference meeting upon request by one of your support team members. If you and your Conference would like to discuss with the team possible topics and experiences that could work for you and your Family, reach out to your support team using this request form , or email directly at Formation@SVDPCincinnati.org. To see a list of available workshops for this season, click here.