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CPMC Podcast: Ordinary Catholics can step into advocacy for justice
CPMC Podcast: Ordinary Catholics can step into advocacy for justice 2048 2048 SVDP USA

Ingrid Delgado, National Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, explains how ordinary Catholics can step into advocacy for justice and the dignity of all people

Join Catholic Prison Ministries Coalition for a timely podcast conversation with Ingrid Delgado, National Director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA, who explains how ordinary Catholics can step into advocacy for justice and the dignity of all people. This is especially important during this August congressional recess when our elected officials are back home in their districts, listening to constituents.

Listen on Spotify here or Listen on Kajabi here. 

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ETWN: Society of St. Vincent de Paul Aids Texas Flood Victims
ETWN: Society of St. Vincent de Paul Aids Texas Flood Victims 729 382 SVDP USA

ETWN: Society of St. Vincent de Paul Aids Texas Flood Victims

July 9, 2025 

EWTN News Nightly speaks to SVDP Conference President Mike Henke of Kerrville, Texas – where the tragic flooding has occurred – offering a first hand glimpse of what’s happening on the ground.

Meanwhile, fellow Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA Conferences have started sending supplies and donations.  “Neighbors, friends, strangers, have been amazingly generous and I think they really feel a need to try to help at this point in time.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHxq8yulGBI

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National President John Berry on CFN Live
National President John Berry on CFN Live 954 539 SVDP USA

John Berry on CFN Live

June 27, 2025 

Our National President John Berry was a guest on Catholic Faith Network to talk about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and our nationwide campaign on homelessness prevention. 

 

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Regional Meetings in Nine States
Regional Meetings in Nine States 2560 1706 SVDP USA

Regional Meetings in Nine States

Vincentians from across the United States gathered together this spring and summer at nine different regional meetings to embrace their shared friendship, spirituality, and service to the neighbor. More than 1,000 Vincentians were in attendance, representing all nine regions and hundreds of SVdP Conferences and Councils.  See below for highlights of each region’s gathering.

Southeast Region

Mid-West Region

Some comments from Vincentians at the Midwest Regional Meeting:

“This is my first regional meeting and I didn’t realize all the different works of charity that other Conferences do. I am bringing back some ideas to my own Conference.”
“I always enjoy coming to the Regional meeting. It reminds of why I became a Vincentian in the first place!”
“The spiritual aspect of the meeting serves as a mini-retreat for me and helps me grow as a Vincentian.”

Mountain Region

North Central Region

Mid-Atlantic Region

“For the second year in a row, we had nearly 100 Vincentians attend from the Councils in the region. They noted the strength and relevance of the agenda topics and speakers. From surveys collected, I felt as if our Vincentians are anxious to hear more in-depth information about our Society, its future and best practices among Conferences and Councils, and love their time together in fellowship.” – Paul “Korky” Korkemaz, National Vice-President, Mid-Atlantic Region

Northeast Region

Mid-East Region

South Central Region

“I wanted to share the pictures of the beautiful Vincentians we met on the 645 mile trip that Barbara and I took at the beginning of May. We had a wonderful time meeting the Louisiana councils and conferences and got to understand the amazing works being done. We are truly blessed to have the Society of St. Vincent de Paul represented so well in Louisiana. I want to thank the leadership and the members for all they did to make this trip so much fun as well as the hospitality they showed us. Thank you!” -Michael Pazzaglini, National Vice President – South Central Region

West Region

Some comments from Vincentians in the West Region:

“I mostly liked getting to meet and learn from other Vincentians.”
“I liked the Poverty Simulation, which gave me more insight into the lives of our neighbors in need, especially the time it took to access needed resources.”
“It’s always good to spend time with other like-minded Vincentians. The spiritual talks and mass lifted my spirits, rejuvenating me to go forward in the name of Christ.”
“The poverty simulation softened our hearts and created a better understanding and compassion to the needs of our friends and the continued need from St. Vincent de Paul’s brothers and sisters.”

Regional Map Reference:

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SVdP USA National President John Berry Urges Congress to Protect Medicaid and SNAP
SVdP USA National President John Berry Urges Congress to Protect Medicaid and SNAP 1080 1350 SVDP USA

SVdP USA National President John Berry Urges Congress to Protect Medicaid and SNAP

As Congress tries to pass the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, my fellow Vincentians and I are deeply troubled that some members of Congress see the bill as a hammer and our social safety net as the nail.

While the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled against inclusion of concerning provisions that would act as cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, one thing remains clear: This bill in its current form will have an unprecedented and devastating effect on the poor.

The cuts are staggering. The legislation, as passed by the House, would slash $793 billion of Medicaid funding over the next 10 years, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will lead to 10.3 million fewer people enrolled in this lifesaving program. It would also lead to nearly $300 billion in funding cuts over the next decade for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, resulting in an estimated 7 million people losing or having significantly lowered SNAP benefits.

This means that millions of children will go unfed, millions more adults and those with disabilities will lose health care benefits, and the gap between upper incomes and those on the lower end will widen.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA recognizes the fiscal pressures that Congress and our nation must address. But we must also ask why the poor must suffer the most – and suffer they will.

As one of the largest organizations serving the poor, our lived experience and our Catholic tradition teaches us that parts of this legislation run counter to our moral values. Our Vincentian volunteers are on the ground, striving daily to alleviate poverty in every corner of the land. Our food pantries, thrift stores, and charitable pharmacies are found in urban and rural America, in red states and blue states.

So, today, we are advocating for those too often left behind, forgotten, and marginalized and for our own volunteers in asking Congress to reconsider these painful and unfair proposed cuts. It is time for our voices to be heard.

To those in Congress, we ask that you open your eyes and hearts to those who are suffering and the systems that perpetuate poverty in this, one of the richest nations in the world. As Pope Leo XIV put it so well recently, “Helping the poor is a matter of justice before a question of charity.” Let us commit today to building a more just world that elevates us all.

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Election of Pope Leo XIV: Statement from SVdP USA National President John Berry
Election of Pope Leo XIV: Statement from SVdP USA National President John Berry 1920 1080 SVDP USA

Election of Pope Leo XIV: Statement from SVdP USA National President John Berry

The moment a new Pope steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time is always a powerful reminder that the Catholic Church endures and that the Holy Spirit is not finished with us yet. On behalf of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA, I offer heartfelt congratulations to the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. We assure him of our prayers, our support, and our continued service to those in need as we are called to do by the Gospel.

Pope Leo XIV’s election is a moment of profound hope for the Church and the world, as he is entrusted with leading the faithful into a new era of grace, mercy, and renewal. As with Pope Francis, the papacy of Pope Leo XIV offers us an opportunity to further unity, deepen compassion, and strengthen our shared call to serve our neighbors—values that lie at the heart of the Vincentian mission.

The Society has always followed the Gospel path of encounter — walking with the poor, the suffering, and the forgotten. As the largest lay Catholic organization in the world, we are the hands and feet of Christ in our communities — in the homes we visit, in the meals we serve, and in the listening ear we offer. Pope Leo XIV’s witness to humility, simplicity, and care for the poor resonates deeply with our Vincentian spirit. We see in this new papacy an invitation to continue to grow and deepen our commitment to works of mercy, solidarity with the vulnerable, and the living out of Catholic social teaching — not only in words, but in deeds.

In the coming days and years, we are eager to listen, to learn, and to labor for the Kingdom of God — side by side with Pope Leo XIV, the clergy, religious, and laypeople across the globe.

May God bless our new Holy Father; may his papacy bring light to a searching world; and may we all be renewed in faith, in mission, and in love.

Declaración de John Berry sobre la elección del Papa León XIV

En el momento en que un nuevo Papa pisa el balcón de la Basílica de San Pedro por primera vez, siempre es un poderoso recordatorio de que la Iglesia Católica perdura y que el Espíritu Santo aún no ha terminado con nosotros. En nombre de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl de los Estados Unidos, felicito de corazón al Santo Padre, al Papa León XIV. Le aseguramos nuestras oraciones, nuestro apoyo y nuestro servicio continuo a las personas en necesidad, así como estamos llamados a hacerlo por el Evangelio.

La elección del Papa León XIV es un momento de profunda esperanza para la Iglesia y el mundo, ya que se le ha confiado la tarea de guiar a los fieles hacia una nueva era de gracia, misericordia y renovación. Al igual que con el Papa Francisco, el papado del Papa León XIV nos ofrece una oportunidad para promover la unidad, profundizar la compasión y fortalecer nuestro llamado compartido para servir a nuestro prójimo, valores que se encuentran en el corazón de la Misión Vicentina.

La Sociedad siempre ha seguido el camino evangélico del encuentro: caminar con las personas que viven en la pobreza, los que sufren y los olvidados. Como la organización católica laica más grande, somos las manos y los pies de Cristo en nuestras comunidades: en los hogares que visitamos, en las comidas que servimos y en el oído atento que ofrecemos. El testimonio del Papa León XIV sobre la humildad, la sencillez y el cuidado de las personas que viven en la pobreza resuena profundamente en nuestro espíritu Vicentino.

Vemos en este nuevo papado, una invitación a seguir creciendo y profundizando nuestro compromiso con las obras de misericordia, la solidaridad con los vulnerables y la vivencia de la doctrina Social Católica, no solo en palabras, sino con hechos.

En los próximos días y años, estaremos ansiosos por escuchar, aprender y trabajar por el Reino de Dios, codo a codo con el Papa León XIV, el clero, los religiosos y los laicos de todo el mundo.

Que Dios bendiga a nuestro nuevo Santo Padre; Que su papado lleve la luz a un mundo que la busca; Que todos seamos renovados en la Fe, en la Misión y en el Amor.

– John Berry, Presidente Nacional

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Op-Ed: Should Charity Be Apolitical?
Op-Ed: Should Charity Be Apolitical? 1080 1350 SVDP USA

Op-Ed Published 4/25/2025 in Real Clear Religion. Submitted by John Berry, National President of Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA

Why should a Catholic charity involve itself in advocacy? “Stay out of politics,” many would say. If you want to help the poor, stick with works of charity. Leave it to the experts to address the issues that cause or perpetuate poverty, dependency, and need.

As the president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) USA — one of the largest religious charities in the country — I feel the weight of this question acutely.

At SVdP, we serve those in need without regard for their demographics or creed, no matter what political party is in power. But increasingly, I am convinced that the work of charity cannot, and must not, be neatly divided from the claims of justice. In other words: While SVdP is not a political organization, our work and our faith demand that we advocate for those living in poverty.

In America today, more than a half a million people every night experience homelessness. That number is rising, and the face of poverty is changing; seniors, women, single parents, and the displaced middle class have become a larger part of the more than 5 million people we serve every year.

A recent client at an SVdP in a Midwestern city exemplifies this trend. For years, Scott had worked hard and lived comfortably in the same home. Then his work hours were cut and his health declined; he had to assume primary caregiver responsibilities for his 80-year-old father and a fire forced them to leave their home. Just like that, he was facing homelessness and came to St. Vincent de Paul with nowhere else to go.

As Christians, we cannot simply walk by when we encounter suffering. We are called to act. But what kind of action is called for?

“It is too little to relieve the needy day by day,” wrote Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, the founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “It is necessary to get to the root of the evil, and by wise reforms to diminish the causes of public misery.”

Ozanam famously compared the work of charity to “the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveler who has been attacked,” before adding: “It is justice’s role to prevent the attack.” The personal encounter with our neighbor in need must propel us into action. Charity alone is not enough. We must become fighters for justice.

I am not simply making a “treat the root causes” argument for why religious charities like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul should not shy away from pursuing policy change. I am saying we have a particular responsibility to advocate on behalf of those we serve. Why? Because the people best equipped to craft policy changes that will truly help the poor and suffering are those who have personally served them, spoken with them, listened to them.

It is with this responsibility in mind that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is opening a second National Office, in Washington, DC. We will increase our efforts to advocate on behalf of those we serve and turn our focus more intensely towards the pressing issues of our time, particularly the scourge of poverty and homelessness that afflicts far too many of our fellow Americans. Recently, for example, we urged Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit. We also spoke out against cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food purchase program for schools and foodbanks.

In so doing, we are not drifting from the proper scope of our mission: We are focusing it. SVdP volunteers across the country spend countless hours each year in service to those living on the margins. We don’t come to understand the situations of neighbors in need from books or think tank sessions. We learn by being with them, suffering with them, praying with them, caring for them, loving them. The direct relationship we have with our neighbors in need gives us perspective and insight that we must share with policy makers, like-minded nonprofits, and other organizations to help drive change.

In other words: Charity must lead us towards justice. The personal encounter with those in need obligates us to advocate on behalf of those we serve. If we understand the root of their struggles and yet do nothing to help address the underlying causes, how is that any different from seeing them hungry or cold and refusing to provide them food or warmth?

“When we have fulfilled this ministry, not for a few months, but for many years,” the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s founder wrote, and when we have cared for those in need “at home, at school, at the hospital, not in one city only, but in many . . . then we begin to know the elements of this formidable problem of misery; then we have the right to propose serious measures, and instead of frightening society, we give it consolation and hope.”

So many struggling Americans need consolation and hope today. Those who serve them in charity must not hesitate to advocate on their behalf for justice.

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International members tour St. Vincent de Paul programs in United States
International members tour St. Vincent de Paul programs in United States 600 400 SVDP USA

International members tour St. Vincent de Paul programs in United States

Published in the Catholic Review Apr 4, 2025 

Majid Zaghari, left, vice president for enterprises with St. Vincent De Paul Baltimore, gives a tour of the Good Harvest Community Kitchen facility to leadership from the International Confederation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul April 3 off Moravia Road. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Majid Zaghari, vice president for enterprises with St. Vincent De Paul Baltimore, right, gives an April 3 tour of the Good Harvest Community Kitchen to leadership from the International Confederation of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul April 3 off Moravia Road. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

For the first time in its history, the International Council General Society of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (CGI), met in the United States the week of March 31. Hailing from Europe, Australia, Africa and South America, the group of 12 international chapter presidents were hosted by John Berry, the national president of the United States of America, who took them on a tour from Atlanta to Washington, D.C., to Baltimore April 3.

“I think It is very important to meet in different cities and see what everybody is doing,” Berry said, as the group enjoyed lunch at Beans & Bread in Fells Point, one of St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore’s oldest programs. “I have learned from every place we’ve gone.”

The group was greeted by John Schiavone, president and CEO of St. Vincent de Paul Baltimore, who provided a brief history on the beginnings of Beans & Bread in 1977 by a former Benedictine priest who served free meals in a row house.

“He created a home-like atmosphere,” Schiavone said. “He would greet each person and play the piano.”

By 1986, more than 200 people a day were being served and the program was taken under St. Vincent de Paul’s wings. New programs about health, mental health and recovery were added. The center now also helps clients find housing and keeps in touch with clients to ensure they don’t become homeless again. A career center, where clients can receive help with résumés and applying for jobs, is in the beginning stages.

“It’s a work in progress,” Schiavone said, as he led the tour through the facility, which moved to its current location on Bond Street in 1992 and has gone through several expansions and renovations.

“We are similar in terms of the issues involved,” said Mark Gaetani, the national president of the Australian chapter of St. Vincent de Paul Society. “What I particularly like about it is the follow up.”

“I think this is fantastic,” said Elaine Heyworth, third vice-president general deputy of SSVP and national president of the United Kingdom, who appreciated how all the resources were under one roof.

Juan Manuel Buergo Gómez, president general of the international confederation of the St. Vincent de Society board, of Spain, who spoke through his interpreter Isabel Garzo, executive assistant to the president, also was impressed with the programs at Beans & Bread and at Good Harvest, which the group visited prior to Beans & Bread.

“It is a very professional organization,” Gómez said. “It is working more as a company.”

Gómez, according to Garzo, thinks it would be even better “if the spiritual line was stronger,” suggesting that religious images such as crucifixes or of the founder of the St. Vincent de Paul Society might be added to walls of Baltimore outreach centers.

Gómez found the involvement of students – earlier Schiavone had spoken about a partnership with students and staff from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore – interesting, noting the importance of good training and formation for both employees and volunteers “to establish a good relationship” to serve others better.

After lunch, the group had a tour of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore and met with Archbishop William E. Lori. They visited Sarah’s Hope Family Shelter in Baltimore and then had dinner at the Rusty Scupper before returning to Bethesda.

Founded in Paris in 1833, the society is the largest Catholic organization in the world, with 800,000 members in more than 150 countries with 1.5 million volunteers. On the group’s final day, they celebrated the grand opening of the St. Vincent de Paul USA Washington, D.C., office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“I am very proud of what we do,” Berry said.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, was set to bless the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA’s new Washington office on April 4.

The office will be led by Ingrid Delgado, the society’s first national director of Public Policy and Advocacy and former associate director of Government Relations at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The society hopes that establishing a permanent presence in Washington will strengthen its efforts to highlight key issues related to homelessness and advocate for those affected by poverty to policymakers.

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Papal nuncio blesses new St. Vincent de Paul Society advocacy office on Capitol Hill
Papal nuncio blesses new St. Vincent de Paul Society advocacy office on Capitol Hill 1600 1065 SVDP USA

Papal nuncio blesses new St. Vincent de Paul Society advocacy office on Capitol Hill

Published in Catholic News Agency Apr 5, 2025 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP) celebrated the opening of its brand-new advocacy office on Capitol Hill on Friday afternoon.

Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and blessed the new office, calling on the Holy Spirit to “ignite the talents and gifts of everyone present” for the purpose of serving the poor.

“Compassionate God, may your peace always stay in this office, making it a place where we can each grow in friendship with you, with one another, and with all guests who gather with us in this place. Give us grateful hearts so that we will always be mindful of generosity and goodness to us,” the nuncio said during the blessing.

“May our new office always be a source of healing and hope to those who need your mercy and kindness,” he continued. “Give us the grace to live the mission and values of the society so that we will be worthy to bear the name of our patron St. Vincent de Paul. This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.”

The organization announced earlier this year during the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering that it would open a second national office, which is located on Maryland Avenue, as a part of its efforts to “raise the profile of key issues related to homelessness” to politicians on Capitol Hill.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA served over 5 million people across the country last year, distributing more than $1.4 billion in aid, including $60 million in emergency financial assistance to prevent evictions and ensure people are able to remain housed.

Ingrid Delgado will head the D.C. office as SVdP USA’s new director of public policy and advocacy. Prior to taking on her new position this month, Delgado served for four years as associate director of government relations for the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“In January during the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering [SVdP USA President John Berry] announced the opening of this office, [and] I was so excited,” Delgado told CNA. “Little did I know that I would soon be here in this position.”

“For the last 12 years, I’ve been doing public policy for the Catholic bishops, which has been just really an honor and a privilege, to do authentically nonpartisan policy for our faith,” she continued. “But to now do it for this organization that is in direct service and relationship with our most vulnerable brothers and sisters is just, for me personally, a really exciting opportunity.”

Delgado said she believes now is “a really crucial time” to bring the stories of poor and vulnerable communities that SVdP USA serves before members of Congress, especially as conversations surrounding budget cuts to social services like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid continue.

“I am hoping to bring the stories of people that Vincentians serve and the experiences of the Vincentians of what that means for our communities if those critical services are cut,” Delgado said.

“My hope is that we will build a reputation with all of our elected officials as just a resource for our elected officials so that when they just need to know information about their constituencies, about people who are struggling and who are in need in their districts, that they will come to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as a trusted resource and partner,” she said.

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Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA opens advocacy office in Washington D.C.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA opens advocacy office in Washington D.C. 1600 1065 SVDP USA

Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA opens advocacy office in Washington D.C.

On Friday, April 4, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP) officially opened its new office in Washington D.C. as it seeks to ramp up efforts to advocate for those on the margins. As one of the largest lay Catholic organizations in the nation, SVdP hopes having a permanent presence in Washington D.C. will help its efforts to raise the profile of key issues related to poverty, while advocating to policymakers on behalf of those who experience its daily effects.

The office will be led by Ingrid Delgado, SVdP’s first National Director of Public Policy and Advocacy and formerly the Associate Director of Government Relations at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Grand Opening Ceremonies began with Mass celebrated by Cardinal Wilton Gregory at the Vincentian Chapel at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Then the ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the new office space at 110 Maryland Avenue, NE Suite 506, Washington DC 20002, which is located just steps away from the United States Supreme Court. National President John Berry provided some opening remarks, and introduced special guests to the event, before the ribbon cutting to mark the opening of the office.

In attendance was International SSVP President Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Andrew Bellissario, National CEO Michael Acaldo, new National Director of Public Policy and Advocacy Ingrid Delgado, the SVdP USA Board of Directors, and the SSVP-CGI International Board of Directors.

Last year, SVdP USA served more than 5 million people across the U.S. and provided more than $1.7 billion in aid, including $60 million in emergency financial assistance to prevent evictions and keep people housed. Often known for the thrift stores in cities and towns around the country, SVdP offers programs that are tailored to the specific needs of the communities it serves. Learn more about joining in our work at svdpusa.org.

 

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