e-Gazette

  • No Comments
  • No Likes

Daily Prayers August 1 – August 5
Daily Prayers August 1 – August 5 940 788 SVDP USA

Monday, August 1

Lord Jesus, help me to share all of Your gifts:
The loaves, the fish, the love of the Father,
Which multiply as they are shared,
Which feed the body and soul,
Which by Divine Providence,
Are never diminished.
Amen

Tuesday, August 2

Lord Jesus, with me even when I wander,
To hear Your voice in the darkness,
I shall be found.
Lord Jesus, who walked upon the water,
To follow Your word with faith
I shall not drown.
Amen

Wednesday, August 3

Lord, in my hour of need
I cry out to you
In faith
Lord, in Your answer
You fill my heart
With hope
Lord, let me be Your answer
To serve my neighbor
For love
Amen

Thursday, August 4

Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior,
Who do You say that I am?
Am I one who was faithful?
Am I one who was hopeful?
Am I one who served for love?
I am a building stone
Upon the rock.
Lord, who do You say that I am?
Amen

Friday, August 5

In Your image, O Lord,
You have formed me.
How can I but follow Your way?
In my service, O Lord,
You transform me.
So I take up my cross every day.
Amen

Daily Prayers are written by Tim Williams, National Vincentian Formation Director.

  • No Comments
  • No Likes

Another Round of Nominees Announced for Youth Award
Another Round of Nominees Announced for Youth Award 1728 864 SVDP USA

This year, the National Youth Committee hosted a Society-wide search for young people doing amazing work in their community. Vincentians from around the country nominated youth from their Councils for the new Alice Garvey Excellence in Youth Award which will be presented at the National Assembly in Baltimore.

“As a committee, we were blown away by the number of submissions and the incredible projects these youth were doing on behalf of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul,” said John Paul Brissette, National Youth Committee Member. “Each week leading up to the National Assembly, we will be shining the spotlight on the nominees and their stories. Our goal is to encourage and celebrate our youth involvement in SVdP with excerpts directly written by those who nominated them.

This week, we would like to introduce our first two nominees:

Kaitlyn Leder – St. Peter Conference Macomb, MI

In 2015, ten-year-old Kaitlyn Leder declared she wanted to join St. Vincent de Paul at St. Peter’s Church so she could help other people. So began her seven-year journey with us. Kaitlyn became an activist among her peers to build a poverty informed community. She approached the state representative for our district and convinced him to visit our pantry to witness our outreach initiatives to reduce the isolation of our neighbors and to help them find the tools to regain their financial and social comfort levels. Now a junior in high school, Kaitlyn continues to involve other students in our activities including organizing a Christmas food drive to benefit the pantry. We are proud of Kaitlyn for who she is and how she is selfless with her time and energy to serve the less fortunate. Kaitlyn embodies one of the goals of our ministry – to see the face of Jesus in those we serve.

Scotty Leonard – San Bernardino Needles SVdP

Scotty is a Freshman in Needles High School and is currently attending Special Education classes. Scotty understands that giving his love, his talent, and his time is more important than giving money. Scotty started volunteering in October 2021 and began working about 20 hours a month. Since and including January 2022, Scotty has worked between 80 and 100 hours every month, to date. In 2021, Needles St. Vincent’s provided a Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Dinner, to the entire community of Needles. We served over 600 meals on those two days with Scotty’s help. Young members keep St. Vincent’s young. Scotty sees with new eyes and is always looking ahead. A good leader must first learn how to follow, then he/she can lead. Scotty work experience with St. Vincent’s in the Needles, has exposed his true spirituality and respect for the poor. This has helped Scotty to grow as a leader.

  • 10 Comments
  • No Likes

08-04-2022 A Letter from Our Servant Leaders
08-04-2022 A Letter from Our Servant Leaders 1363 1363 SVDP USA

At the national Invitation For Renewal (IFR) experience, we utilize a protected conversation environment in which the participants can share their joys and challenges, frustrations, victories, and concerns. At times we get some real doozies!

This recent time though was different, and not in a good way. Several participants expressed that they were close to quitting – either their Society leadership role or their Vincentian experience entirely – before they journeyed to St. Louis to undertake a five-day, four-night immersion into the Society’s culture, history, and governance as well as into their own relationship with Christ. The experience “pulled them from the abyss” and, thank God, re-energized them to continue their Vincentian journey.

Okay, so 28 members and leaders got a positive shot in the arm. What about the rest of our 90,000 brother and sister Vincentians? How are they feeling these days, after months of isolation due to COVID, and extreme changes in how we conduct the Society’s services and businesses? If they have not been able to go to Mass, or to meet in person with their Conference, has this dampened or eliminated sense of fellowship affected them? Overall, how has their relationships with God and with their fellow Vincentians changed over the past two years? And what can any of us do about it?

Our focus throughout the pandemic, as always, has been primarily on the people we serve. We recognize their challenges before we see our own. After all, on average a family in poverty has fewer resources – financial, faith, and friendship resources – than we likely have. We knew that life would be tough for them as pandemic conditions changed, especially for people in need. Yet while we raced to act to keep up with our services, and even to create and nurture needed new ones, did we leave our own needs behind?

We have seen this in others, such as first-responders who kept serving in the hospital, police, and fire stations at the sacrifice of their own mental and physical health. Without asking for it, they were often celebrated in the community and nationally as the heroes they are, because everyone learned of their sacrifices and risks, often voluntarily taken. Vincentians, however, often work behind the scenes, humbly and in the “shadows.” They don’t seek recognition; in fact, they often actively avoid it! They would rather the attention be on the plight of the poor, the unemployed, the sick and others who need our help. “I’m good” they might say to anyone asking. But are they really?

We may have recently taken stock of our Society locally to ask how our programs are delivered, and if what we have always done still works in times of changing conditions, technologies and outside resources. Now we must also take dedicated time to ask how we ourselves are holding up. We may have been through a faith and volunteerism Hell, and it isn’t getting that much better very quickly unless we act. The first step is to recognize where we are, then we can do something about it.

What can we do as brothers and sisters? As always, we can pray together, share with each other, and get back to meeting in person not just to perform the Society’s business but also simply to be there for each other. We can share all those frustrations we have seen and experienced recently, and ask for help. Chances are that what you experienced was the same for others in the room. How can we support each other, and perhaps make it better? We start with our ears and our hearts, and then our heads and hands. Break out the tissues, the beer, the laughter or whatever it takes to have honest conversations about our Vincentian experiences.

We talk a lot, including in this space, about the continuing need to recruit new members. Can we honestly recruit truthfully and joyfully if we ourselves are beaten down and battered by life over the past year or more? Can we invite others to join us if we’re not sure ourselves if we can continue?

It may be easier to keep the members we have than to find new ones, but it will still require conscious effort. Let’s take time to retrench and renew. Don’t put it off, start now! Despite the challenges, we know deep down that there is still much to celebrate. There is much to look forward to in our service and commitment to each other and to God. We can and must take the necessary steps to re-discover the joy we had when we started.

God still lives in us. The Face of Christ is still within us and in each other. Step back to take a breath, to re-center and to check on our fellow Vincentians. We need to be okay before we can make it more okay for others. Whether to ask for help or to offer it, please reach out to a Society member today.

Yours in Christ,
Dave Barringer
CEO

  • No Comments
  • No Likes

Next Round of Nominees Announced for Alice Garvey Excellence in Youth Award
Next Round of Nominees Announced for Alice Garvey Excellence in Youth Award 1728 864 SVDP USA

This year, the National Youth Committee hosted a Society-wide search for young people doing amazing work in their community. Vincentians from around the country nominated youth from their Councils for the new Alice Garvey Excellence in Youth Award which will be presented at the National Assembly in Baltimore.

“As a committee, we were blown away by the number of submissions and the incredible projects these youth were doing on behalf of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul,” said John Paul Brissette, National Youth Committee Member. “Each week leading up to the National Assembly, we will be shining the spotlight on the nominees and their stories. Our goal is to encourage and celebrate our youth involvement in SVdP with excerpts directly written by those who nominated them.

This week, we would like to introduce our first two nominees:

Aaron Wohlberg – SVdP St Charles Borromeo

Aaron has been a member of the St. Charles Borromeo St. Vincent de Paul Conference as a Mini Vinnie for two years. As a Mini Vinnie, Aaron has dedicated himself in service to the St. Vincent de Paul Society. As a Mini Vinnie Aaron has served our Conference in many ways. He has helped with the Backpack Program for two years. The Backpack Program provides weekend meals for 50 children in the Orchard

Farm School District. The Assistant Principal of Aaron’s school described Aaron as, “Willing to help wherever needed without being asked.” His Troop Leader describes him as, “Respectful and helpful to the older scouts and adult leaders.”

Kate Polakowski- SVdP St Andrew Conference of Sierra Vista, AZ

She has been involved in our St Vincent de Paul Council’s food drives, walks for the poor, Thanksgiving food basket distributions, and community food bank monthly commodities distributions. She serves the needs of the poor for 17 hours per week while completing her Associates Degree as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She puts into action in very many ways the Vincentian charisms of spirituality, friendship, and service.

  • 6 Comments
  • No Likes

07-28-2022 A Letter From Our Servant Leader
07-28-2022 A Letter From Our Servant Leader 1367 1520 SVDP USA

Dear Vincentian Friends,

A topic that I have talked and written about for the past few months is the need for our Society to increase our capacity to serve. We need to increase our membership, need to be better prepared to meet the changing environment we live in, and need to attract more supporters of our work. A key to this effort will be improving our communications about who we are and what we do.

A speaker at a past National Assembly observed that the Society is a wonderful example of the Gospel mandate to not let our left hand know what our right had is doing when we perform acts of charity. He reminded us, however, that the Gospel also tells us to not put our light under a bushel. I have shared this story before, but I repeat it because we need to walk the appropriate path between these two poles.

Frederic Ozanam was keenly aware that we are called to perform our acts of charity with humility and confidentiality, but he also reported the work his Council was doing in Lyon back to Paris, often on a monthly basis. We know that because we have letters of his with those reports, which sometimes included an apology if the report was sent too late to be shared at the meeting of the Council General.

I hope you looked at the 2022 Impact Report released by the National Council last week. It is an excellent example of a best practice I hope all of our Councils and Conferences will adopt. Formerly, we called these our Annual Reports. They were full of financial data and membership information. While that may be interesting to some people, what most people want to know is how did we make a difference in our communities and in the lives of those we serve. That is why we now provide an impact report.

When you read the report, you will see a few articles that provide statistics for volunteer hours worked or funds provided, but you will also find stories about how we made a difference in people’s lives. The report relates, too, some of what our members experience as they serve. As we focus on systemic change and advocacy, tables of data, and statistical charts fail to capture much of what we do.

Certainly, we must be very careful to protect those we serve. Even if neighbors in need agree to let us share their stories, let’s be sure we are not pressuring them to share their names and images. Confidentiality remains a strong and still-needed tradition in our Society.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a light that we must not hide. Our Society gives help and hope to neighbors in need and offers our members the opportunity to put their faith into action. The light our Society shines provides much-needed hope to the communities we serve and real credibility for the community of Catholics to which we belong. If our pastors, fellow parishioners, community leaders and donors understand who we are and what we do, we will have a strong Society able to attract new members and supporters to better serve our neighbors in need.

Serviens in spe,
Ralph Middlecamp
National Council President

  • No Comments
  • No Likes

National Council Looking for Associate Vincentian Formation Director
National Council Looking for Associate Vincentian Formation Director 1200 628 SVDP USA

In order to better serve our growing number of Spanish-speaking Members, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, National Council of the United States, seeks an Associate Vincentian Formation Director who is a native Spanish speaker, well-grounded in Catholic faith and teaching, and a dedicated student of Vincentian spirituality and heritage.

Working closely with the National Vincentian Formation Director, the successful candidate will help to provide direction in the spiritual formation and training of the membership of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States.

Objectives:
– Assists the National Vincentian Formation Director to ensure the National Council Office and its staff function in accord with National Council policy, the Rule of the Society, and as individuals who see Christ in those in need.
– Assists the National Vincentian Formation Director to ensure the Vision, Mission, Values and strategic plans of the Society in the United States are implemented professionally, on time, and within budget.
– Assists the National Vincentian Formation Director to recommend to the CEO and President plans for consideration and adoption for current and future programs or operations of the National Council and the Society as a whole.

Key Responsibilities:
– Provides Vincentian membership, with a special focus on Spanish-speaking Members, materials and resources relative to the primary focus of the Society: Vincentian Spirituality and Heritage.
– Takes initiative and collaborates in the implementation of National Strategic Plan Formation goal.
– Serves as staff for National Formation Committee and assists National Committee Chairpersons with programs, communications, and reports.
– Collaborates in the creation of Vincentian materials and training for Spiritual Advisors, with a special focus on Spanish-speaking Spiritual Advisors.
– Collaborates in the production of Spanish language materials for the National Ozanam Orientation program and the training of Ozanam Orientation Formators and Presenters.
– Collaborates with the Regional and Council Vincentian Formation Committees and plans, encouraging greater inclusiveness and support for Spanish-speaking Members and Leaders.
– Collaborates in the design and implementation of the formation programs for current and future leadership of the Society.
– Supports the National Vincentian Formation Director in creating and delivering on-line formation programs and supervising Formation resources posted on the website.
– Assists National Council with spiritual formation issues as they impact on publications, meetings, and other National activities.
– Is available when invited for presentations at days of prayer, retreats, Ozanam Orientation programs at Council, Regional, and National Meetings.
– Attends Regional, National and other meetings as directed by the Society’s leadership.
– Maintains confidentiality about any proprietary data and privileged information concerning SVdP, its staff, members, volunteers, entities and programs.
– Other assignments as determined by the National Vincentian Formation Director.

Key Competencies
– Understanding of the mission, vision, and values of the Society.
– Ability to articulate Vincentian spirituality.
– Ability to analyze, clarify and problem solve.
– Ability to take initiative.
– Ability to address various audiences.
– Ability to plan.
– Ability to teach in areas of spiritual formation.
– Awareness of National, Regional and/or local needs.
– Experiential knowledge of Vincentian spirituality.
– Spiritual formation and education experience.
– Passion for the Vincentian heritage and spirituality.
– Conceptualization of the implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Society.
– Competent in developing measurable objectives.
– Willingness to function as part of a team.
– Ability to deal responsively with internal and external customers.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience Requirements:
– Fluent in spoken and written Spanish; preferably a native Spanish speaker.
– Ability to understand the wider context and create meaning in translation to the target language.
– Ability to read, analyze, and interpret historical, spiritual, and theological texts, and to convey their meanings in language accessible to lay people of varying educational backgrounds.
– Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedural manuals reflecting good policies and governance.
– Is a Catholic who understands the teachings and principles of the Catholic Church.
– Knowledge of and experience with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
– Knowledge and experience of Vincentian spirituality and heritage.
– Excellent oral and written communication skills.
– Comfortable and experienced as a public speaker.
– Education and organizational skills.
– Skills in multitasking.
– Computer skills
– Interpersonal relational skills.

Preferred Skills, Knowledge, and Experience:
– Degree in Pastoral Theology or related experience.
– 3-5 years in Lay formation experience.
– In-depth knowledge of the lives of St. Vincent de Paul, St Louise de Marillac, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and Blessed Rosalie Rendu.
– Currently a member of the Society or of a Vincentian Family organization.

Scope/Complexity:
– Being a Vincentian presence throughout the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
– Provide assistance to Diocesan Councils and individual Conferences throughout the United States.
– Multiple interfacing within the Society regarding its relationship with God.
– Enhance the operational effectiveness of the National Council’s staff.
– Implement the challenge of Vincentian leadership for the formation of members.

Accountability:
– Supports the Rule (SVdP USA governance manual) and By-Laws of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
– Adheres to policies and procedures of the Society and all pertinent legal regulations.
– Prepares and accomplishes annual performance objectives.
– Participates in annual self-evaluation and performance review.

Acknowledgement
Position descriptions are an overview of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignments as requested.

  • 1 Comment
  • No Likes

07-21-2022 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
07-21-2022 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1363 1363 SVDP USA

Some days it feels like the world is upside down. Conflicting information, opposing trends and biased news accounts make it difficult to get a fair reading on what life looks like for everyday Americans. All I know for certain is that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s members are part of every American community, and often are called upon to help when things get rough.

Here are just a few data points that make me scratch my head in confusion:

  • Inflation is at historic levels, stated at 9.1 percent, yet regular expenses such as food (12.2%), new vehicles (11.4%) and airfares (34.1%) are measured even higher.
  • Gasoline (up 59.9%) and other household energy costs (21.9%) are up over 12 months but again, perceived by many as even higher, usually referenced by the cost to fill their vehicle’s gas tank.
  • Jobs appear more plentiful than ever! And wages have risen, especially for lower-wage jobs. Yet almost 95 million – 30 percent – of Americans are now on Medicaid, and more than 41 million receive federal food stamps averaging $228/month.
  • Rent costs are rising quickly after many months of abatements and other COVID-related freezes. Meanwhile, housing sales were red-hot until just a few weeks ago. Homelessness in any case appears economy-proof and just as prevalent.
  • Energy costs and supply chain issues dominate the blame game for rising costs, yet corporate profits still look good! Why then is the stock market down so low? Americans worry about both today’s finances and their retirement funds – if they have them

What’s a Vincentian to do? Fortunately, we are a hardy bunch, and we focus on the individual and family. We do not judge those we serve; however, we should be informed and prepared. What do the stats above and other changing, often contradictory economic stories suggest about how our Conference should respond to help our neighbors?

First, it has always been part of our Society’s work and obligation to those we serve to advocate. Our Voice of the Poor groups and our Conferences know the real-life stories of our communities, and these are powerful advocacy perspectives to share with elected officials and others who create and manage policies. If nothing else, we should explain how almost any policy might create unintended, unanticipated consequences for the poor.

Second, all this dynamic change underscores the importance of the Home Visit. That’s right, our help still begins with a relationship and assessment of needs. Yes, we serve anyone who comes to us asking for a food box. A Home Visit, however, can lead that family to additional resources we can provide for other needs.

It also may lead to more sustainable solutions to reduce the need to return to us later. Thus third, we can advance our systemic change tools of employment assistance, job training, and education, predatory lending alternatives, financial literacy, and other local supports.

Absent forethought and planning, a Conference can continue to give food and gas cards, and pay rent and utility checks for people all day, every day. This won’t change anyone’s life for the better by putting a financial Band-Aid on the problem. We can’t spend our way out of this problem. (By the way, this might be a good lesson for others as we advocate!) We can, however, spend our precious time and dollars wisely toward lasting change.

The world may be topsy-turvy. The Society can as always be both a faith-driven voice of reason and a force for good, navigating the crazy with steady, thoughtful approaches that help one family at a time, over time. We must realize that yesterday’s tools may or may not work, or work sustainably, for today’s problems. Just as we pivoted and adapted to the pandemic, now we must do the same for the economic and political realities of today.

Let’s meet soon as a Conference with a sole special-agenda intention of stepping back to discern the community’s present needs. Let’s then re-design as needed our resources and responses in line with our Society’s mission, our faith, and our best hopes and dreams for our neighbors in need. The rest of the country may be bonkers right now. As Vincentian friends and the face of Christ for those we serve, we can rise above it all to help families make better sense of their situations and to give them our greatest gift -hope – for their futures.

Yours in Christ,
Dave Barringer
CEO

  • No Comments
  • 1 Like

Contemplation – Grateful Friends
Contemplation – Grateful Friends 940 788 SVDP USA

One of the four permanent principles of the church’s social doctrine is solidarity, which is a “common path of individuals and peoples towards an ever more committed unity.” [CSDC, 192] Whatever may separate us on the surface, each of us is created in God’s image, and meant to live in community. Solidarity reminds us that we are all dependent and interdependent upon each other.

As Vincentians, we often encounter those who are deprived materially, and who, because of their deprivation feel separated, forgotten by the rest of society. It isn’t only that they cannot afford “the finer things in life,” but that over time, they begin to feel those things are not really meant for people like themselves.

At the same time, there is nothing easier for people of means to say, in all sincerity, that money doesn’t matter to them, or to find their lives empty despite material comforts. Whatever our station, it is easy for us to allow our circumstances to separate us from others, and thus from God’s plan.

It was one of Bl. Rosalie Rendu’s great insights that the “poor rich…are more to be pitied than we think; they have griefs and trials that the poor know nothing about. If the poor knew what those poor rich often have to suffer, they would not envy them as they do.” [O’Meara, 33]

The “poor rich”, many of whom Rosalie found “would be so glad to help the poor, if they knew how to go about it”, became, through “the luxury of her sympathy”, friends to the poor. [Ibid, 35]

It was said that in Bl. Rosalie’s parlor, awaiting her wise counsel, the rich and poor sat side by side on the straw chairs, with no rank or status separating them. To each she offered her love, and from each she asked for help.

Indeed, as Pope Saint John Paul II teaches, our exercise of solidarity “is valid when its members recognize one another as persons”, the strong and the weak, the rich and the poor together, each of us and all of us pursuing the good of the other. [Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 39]

In living and fostering the moral virtue of solidarity, Bl. Rosalie became known as “the Good Mother of All”. More than 50,000 Parisians turned out for her funeral procession in 1856, and the people of Paris donated a tombstone which stands as a tribute to “the Good Mother” and a monument to solidarity from her “grateful friends, the poor and the rich”.

Contemplate

How can I be a more “grateful friend” in all my social interactions?

Recommended Reading

A Heart of Fire: Apostolic Reflection with Rosalie Rendu

  • No Comments
  • No Likes

News Roundup July 9 – July 15
News Roundup July 9 – July 15 1200 1200 SVDP USA

With 100,000 Vincentians across the United States and nearly 800,000 around the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering. Read some of their stories here:

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

Help us share the good news of the good work being done in your local Conference or Council! Email us at info@svdpusa.org with the subject line Good News.

  • 9 Comments
  • No Likes

07-14-2022 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders
07-14-2022 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1368 1387 SVDP USA

This isn’t a stores column, but let’s use a store as an example. When reviewing a Thrift Store, I always request that the manager and I close our eyes and we suddenly appear in the middle of the store. What do we see, and what is the store trying to tell us?

In a recent overseas stores tour, the request led me to see a lot of signage about sustainability. That’s a fairly new term for what stores used to call “reuse, renew, and recycle” to which all Thrift Stores can contribute. While such sustainability is a great stores benefit and certainly a very Catholic objective, it is not why we operate our stores. Rather it is one of many good business practices we undertake in the course of our work.

Thus a second and most important question, for all our works: Why don’t we tell more people about our actual mission in what we do to meet it?

Our mission is to bring people to holiness, done through the serving of the poor, assisted with the operations and revenues of, in this example, the store. Our members often complain that no one knows enough about the Society. However, we continue to tell them only what we do. What we often fail to tell them is who we are.

It is natural to confuse activity with intentions. Our communities see our food pantries, pharmacies, and other programs, and so assume that these are the Society’s mission. Even worse, for privacy reasons we purposely don’t show the public our core Home Visit service, so they have no evidence that this is any aspect of our Society’s mission. At best they know we “help the poor,” and because that’s often enough to stimulate donations and good will from most people, we leave well enough alone.

This might all be fine if our mission was to attract volunteers and funds to help our neighbors in need. That’s dangerous thinking because many good people don’t need a faith basis to be charitable. As pro football coach, Bill Parcells once said, you are what your (win-loss) record says you are. What does our Society program, signage and advertising “record” say we are? Could we easily be confused with another social services organization, another used goods store, or a parish ministry?

Marketing people look for the “unique offering” that distinguishes you from the competition, and hopefully provides an advantage in attaining organizational goals.  A unique offering of the Society in a few words is that we offer our members the chance to see the face of Christ. That’s one heck of an offering, right?

We are not embarrassed by our Catholic faith, nor by our members being driven by it to serve the poor. We can be much more intentional about this in our materials messaging, signage, and especially in our language. When asked what the Society does, the proper response might be different for a parishioner than someone else, and that’s fine. Whether the response is, “We help our members grow in holiness through serving the poor,” or “We are Catholics and others who put our faith into action by serving the poor,” at least both point to the same north star of our mission. Yes, we accomplish lots of other good outcomes! We provide sustainable solutions for clothing and household goods. We make efficient use of medications and food supplies to help the most needy. We pay rent and utility bills. We teach neighbors how to be more self-sufficient. We advocate. We do all this and so much more, which, again, is fantastic.

Let’s not confuse what we do, though, with who we are. Others, perhaps many others in our community, can do what we do. No one else is who we are, the members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We are not simply good people doing good works, we are disciples.  And we pray that others will join us and share in our vocation.

I invite you to close your eyes during your Vincentian service, and then re-open them. With this fresh view, what do you see?  Do others see it too?

Yours in Christ (see, isn’t that easy?),
Dave Barringer
CEO

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

    ABOUT SVDP USA

    The National Council of the United States, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Inc. is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the National Council are deductible. The Council’s tax identification number is 13-5562362.

    CONNECT WITH US

    © 2024 National Council of the U.S., Society of St. Vincent de Paul | Privacy Policy

    Enter your
    text here
    Skip to content