Vincentians

05-01-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

05-01-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Often when explaining what the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is, I use the 3-legged milk stool as an analogy. Our purpose is to grow in holiness, in service to the poor, and in friendship. Those are our essential elements.

I’m woefully lacking in spirituality so that’s an area where I can improve the most.  Friendship is where I am most comfortable. Servant Leaders spend much of their time with other Vincentians. We have the opportunity to offer a smile, to be welcoming, and to listen to and value their opinions.

One of the things I learned at Invitation for Renewal (a very powerful experience that I suggest every Vincentian consider) is that our founder Blessed Frederic, guided by Sr. Rosalie, organized a discussion club that became a Society of Charity! Today, other clubs use the term “fellowship” to refer to mutually supportive gatherings and friendship building activities.

In my Conference, Vincentians and their spouses have dinner and a cocktail hour twice a year to socialize with no other agenda. When I was Council President, we would host these dinners after the holidays to share our decorations and again on the patio in the summer. My wife Susan was called the “hostess with the mostest” because she picked a theme (think Italian, Mexican, Greek) and the food would reflect it. I did what was allowed — greeter and bartender!

I’m also reminded of friends who became Vincentians because I invited them. Friendship is so powerful. Don’t we gravitate toward those who have values, interests, religion, and locations that are similar to ours? My friends wouldn’t invite me to a hockey or soccer game, but they ALL know I’m a Dodgers fan.

Jesus shows us how: “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” As I work on growing in holiness and service, I quote our friend Joe: “Friendship is the glue that keeps the other two elements together so that we are cohesive.” In the coming months, may we each go out of our way to spread friendship, and increase our service and grow in holiness!

In God’s plan, we all have strengths. I think one of mine is friendship. Have you thought about yours?

Don Kany

National Vice President, Mountain Region

A Seat for Everyone at SVdP

A Seat for Everyone at SVdP 2560 1920 SVDP USA

A Seat for Everyone: A New Year’s Meal Served with Dignity by SVdP

When Meghan McKern joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) in Chicago, she wasn’t sure how she could help. As a fine dining chef with years of experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, she wondered how her skills fit into the hands-on, person-to-person service that defines Vincentian work.

“I’m not an academic,” she said. “But I’m a laborer. I wanted to do something real. I just didn’t know what.”

That changed after a simple moment — loading a car with donated supplies alongside Pam Matambanadzo, President of the Mary, Mother of God SVdP Conference in Chicago.

“She told me, ‘Everyone brings their talents. You just need to do whatever you’re comfortable with,’” Meghan said. “That opened the door.”

Together, they began to imagine what it could look like to offer not just a meal — but an experience rooted in dignity, community, and celebration. That conversation sparked A Seat for Everyone, a special New Year’s Eve dinner co-hosted with St. Thomas of Canterbury Soup Kitchen for about 100 guests, many of whom were experiencing homelessness. This is just a small fraction of about 5 million vulnerable individuals that SVdP serves per year.

Pam and Meghan didn’t want to serve just any meal. The goal was to create an experience that reflected a family-style holiday meal. With Meghan’s culinary background, she created a menu featuring braised beef, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, and carrots slow-cooked in the pan gravy. Dessert? Costco cake — at the special request of one of the regular soup kitchen volunteers.

The dining room was transformed. Balloon arches framed the entrance. Tables were covered in cloths and adorned with handmade centerpieces. Volunteers served the meal, plated with care, rather than handing out food in containers.

“For a lot of folks we served, New Year’s Eve used to be a time to gather, celebrate, dress up, go out,” said Pam. “Now, for many, it’s about survival — figuring out where they’ll sleep, how to stay warm. This night gave them a memory. A moment of joy and normalcy.”

Each guest also received a hoodie designed with original artwork by the parish pastor and sponsored by parishioners for $35. The garments were a gesture of warmth and welcome during the coldest time of year.

“There was one man who came in and just kept asking, ‘Is this really for us?’” Pam said. “He said, ‘Thank you for seeing us.’ That stayed with me.”

For Meghan, the night was transformative — not just for the guests, but for herself.

“Planning the dinner brought me back to my faith,” she said. “I realized I didn’t have to be perfect. I just had to show up. God would carry the rest.”

She spent most of the night in the kitchen, rotating dishes, checking trays, and making sure everything came out just right. Though she didn’t see many reactions firsthand, she heard stories in the days that followed about how the guests had felt honored, how the soup kitchen volunteers welcomed the collaboration, and how people kept asking when it would happen again.

Meghan remembers one helper in particular.

“I put a message out on the Nextdoor app asking for help,” she said. “Jess responded without asking for details — she just said yes and showed up.”

Meghan called her “a little angel.” Jess became her sous chef for the night, helping to prep and serve food throughout the evening. The two bonded over the experience, discovered they lived on the same street, and have since become friends.

“I think the Spirit was present,” Meghan said. “We were trying to serve others with care and intention, but we were also sitting at that table ourselves. It wasn’t us and them — it was just us.

Plans are already underway to bring A Seat for Everyone back for Thanksgiving.

“Meals like this remind us what Catholic social teaching looks like in practice,” said Pam. “It’s not just about feeding people — it’s about reminding them they matter.”

 

04-24-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

04-24-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

A Shepherd to the Poor: Remembering Pope Francis

In the passing of Pope Francis, the world has lost not only the Bishop of Rome but a tireless voice for the voiceless, a prophet of mercy, and a shepherd whose heart beat in time with the most forgotten of God’s children. For those of us who have dedicated our lives to serving the poor and marginalized through our vocation to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, his life was a living gospel—both a challenge and a consolation.

From the moment he stepped out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2013 and simply bowed his head, asking the people for their blessing before offering his own, it was clear we had a different kind of pope. He took the name “Francis,” after the humble saint of Assisi, and like that saint, he walked a path of radical simplicity, compassion, and solidarity with the poor.

He reminded us time and again that the Christian faith is not an abstraction. It is not a comfortable theory. It is a call to action — a call to love. And not the easy kind of love that stays within the boundaries of polite society, but the kind of love that stoops down to wash the feet of the homeless, that listens to the cries of the refugee, that welcomes the addict, the broken, the excluded.

In his World Day of the Poor messages, Pope Francis poured out his heart to those on the margins, and to those who serve them. In 2021, he wrote, “The poor, always and everywhere, evangelize us, because they enable us to discover in new ways the true face of the Father.” For those of us in this mission, we know the truth of those words. We have encountered Christ in the trembling hands of the hungry, in the eyes of a woman fleeing abuse, in the fragile hope of someone who has lost everything but still believes in grace.

Pope Francis was not content to merely speak about the poor — he went to them. He visited hospitals, refugee camps, prisons, and homeless shelters. He embraced lepers, kissed the feet of migrants, dined with the homeless. His actions said loudly what his words reinforced: “We are called to discover Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them.” (World Day of the Poor, 2017)

Francis taught that charity is not simply about giving — it is about relationship. About drawing near. About breaking down the barriers that divide “us” and “them.” He wrote, “The poor are not people ‘outside’ our communities, but brothers and sisters whose sufferings we should share, in an effort to alleviate their difficulties and marginalization.” (World Day of the Poor, 2020) That vision transformed the Church. It transformed each of us.

Many of us who serve, in our encounters at people’s homes, at shelters, at food pantries, and at recovery programs, saw in Pope Francis the embodiment of what we hope to be. His humility did not diminish his authority — it deepened it. His tenderness did not weaken his leadership — it defined it. He reminded us that the Church is most fully herself not when she stands in splendor, but when she kneels beside the wounded.

We loved Pope Francis not because he made our work easier, but because he made it holier. He called us to more. To see our volunteerism not as a duty, but as a Eucharistic act—a way of becoming bread broken and shared for others. He saw the poor not as a problem to solve, but as people to love. And he called on the whole Church to “go out to the peripheries,” where, he reminded us, Christ Himself is waiting.

In 2023, he wrote: “Where the poor are concerned, it is not talk that matters; what matters is rolling up our sleeves and putting our faith into practice through a direct involvement, one that cannot be delegated.” He never let us off the hook. And thank God he didn’t. Because of him, countless hearts were lit with a fire of compassion, and many who once looked away from the poor began to look into their eyes—and see Christ.

Now, as we mourn him, we also thank God for the gift of his life. We thank God for the man who reminded us that the smell of the sheep is a sweet fragrance to the Good Shepherd. That mercy is the greatest expression of justice. That to serve the poor is not just a noble option—it is the heart of the Gospel.

1 John says, “Let us love, not with words but with deeds.” And oh how he lived that love every day of his papacy. He loved with his presence, with his simplicity, with his unwavering focus on those the world forgets.

For those of us in the trenches of mercy, in the homes of those in need, in the food lines and the shelter dormitories, in the hospital rooms and dining rooms, we carry his legacy forward. We will go on loving, not with words, but with deeds. We will go on seeing Christ in the poor, and we will go on knowing that Pope Francis is still praying for us — from the heavenly peripheries — still urging us to keep walking, keep loving, keep serving.

May his memory bless the Church. May his vision animate our mission. And may we, like him, choose every day to live a faith that comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable — until every tear is wiped away, and the poor are poor no more.

Peace and God’s blessings,

John

Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA President John Berry Remembers Pope Francis

Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA President John Berry Remembers Pope Francis 992 558 SVDP USA

Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA President John Berry Remembers Pope Francis

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP) joins the world in grieving the passing into heaven of Pope Francis. While this is a time of great sorrow, it’s also a time to joyfully remember and honor the legacy of his holy and historic papacy and a life devoted to serving both Christ and humanity with a loving and generous spirit.

From the minute he first emerged onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope that night in 2013, the Holy Father had a singular mission – to remind us of Christ’s command to love the poor. In a world beset with hatred, war and poverty, he gave voice to the poor, the migrant and the disenfranchised in a way that dared not be ignored. Then he challenged us, in God’s name, to something about it. With the love of a father, he commanded us to go into the peripheries to meet the poor where they are, and with the teaching authority of a humble priest, he reminded us that the path to heaven requires us to love and protect the most vulnerable among us.

In his final message to commemorate the World Day of the Poor last November, Pope Francis reminded us that the “poor hold a privileged place in God’s heart” and that “God is impatient until he has rendered justice to them.” This is a call that our 90,000 Vincentian volunteers heed each and every day in ways that bring us directly into contact with the lost and forsaken sheep of the Lord, and it’s why we grieve in a special way today. While the world has become dimmer with the passing of Pope Francis, his life serves as a a light of faith, fidelity and service that will always burn bright.

We also pray that the College of Cardinals will be filled with the Holy Spirit as they assemble and begin the process of selecting the next Pope. May the Lord’s example of love and compassion be instilled into them, and may they be ever mindful of Matthew 22:37-39: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

-By John Berry, National President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA


Presidente de San Vicente de Paul en Estados Unidos John Berry Recuerda al Papa Francisco

La Sociedad de San Vicente de Paúl en Estados Unidos se une al mundo en el duelo sobre la partida al cielo del Papa Francisco. Aunque sea un momento de gran tristeza, también es un tiempo para recordar y honrar el legado de su santo e histórico pontificado y una vida dedicada a servir a Cristo y a la humanidad con un espíritu amoroso y generoso.

Desde el momento en que emergió por primera vez como Papa en el balcón de la Basílica de San Pedro en el 2013, el Santo Padre tuvo una misión singular – recordarnos el mandamiento de Cristo de que amemos al pobre. En un mundo acosado por el odio, la guerra, y la pobreza, él le dió voz al pobre, al inmigrante, y a los desfavorecidos de una manera que no se podía ignorar. Después, nos retó, en nombre de Dios, a que respondiéramos. Con el amor de un padre, nos mandó a ir a las periferias a encontrar a los pobres donde ellos se encuentran, y con la autoridad de enseñanza de un sacerdote humilde, nos recordó que el camino al cielo nos requiere que amemos y protejamos a los más vulnerables entre nosotros.

En su mensaje final conmemorando el Día Mundial de los Pobres el noviembre pasado, el Papa Francisco nos recordó que “los pobres tienen un lugar privilegiado en el corazón de Dios” y que “Dios está ‘impaciente’ hasta no haberles hecho justicia.” Este es un llamado que nuestros 90,000 voluntarios Vicentinos escuchan todos los días en una manera que nos pone en contacto directo con las ovejas perdidas y abandonadas del Señor, y es la razón por la cual nos entristecemos hoy de una manera especial. Aunque el mundo se ha vuelto más sombrío con el fallecimiento del Papa Francisco, su vida sirve como luz de fe, fidelidad, y servicio que siempre brillará.

También oramos para que el Colegio Cardenalicio se llene del Espíritu Santo mientras se reúnen y comienzan el proceso de elegir al próximo papa. Que el ejemplo del amor y la compasión del Señor se infunda en ellos, y siempre tengan presente a Mateo 22:37-39: “Amarás al Señor tu Dios con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma y con toda tu mente. Este es el gran mandamiento, el primero. Pero hay otro muy parecido: Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.”

Escrito por John Berry – Presidente Nacional de la Sociedad de San Vicente de Paul en Estados Unidos

04-17-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

04-17-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

VisionSVdP Phase III

In today’s Frédéric’s Five, you will find links to all the data from the VisionSVdP Listening Sessions held in 2024. There is a lot of data in there — and a lot of information to look over and read. It is fascinating to see the comments from Vincentians from all over the country about their thoughts, feelings, and ideas regarding the future of SVdP USA! I urge you to jump in and look through the comments of your brother and sister Vincentians.

As we have begun a preliminary analysis of the comments, there have been some emerging themes that have been identified.  These include:

  • Advocacy & Social Justice
  • Collaboration & Partnership
  • Communication & Outreach
  • Home Visit & Service Delivery
  • Membership & Recruitment
  • Organizational Structure & Governance
  • Resource Allocation & Fundraising
  • Special Works
  • Spirituality & Core Values
  • Technology Adoption
  • Training & Formation

Of these Emerging themes, the Top 5 that had comments associated with them were:

  • Home Visit & Service Delivery
  • Spirituality & Core Values
  • Membership & Recruitment
  • Organizational Structure & Governance
  • Communication & Outreach

We will be addressing these five areas in Phase III of VisionSVdP. However, there are many themes not in the top five that can easily be considered ‘subcategories’ of those five. For example, Technology Adoption is a prime candidate as a subcategory of both Organizational Structure & Governance and of Communication & Outreach. So all of the common themes are going to be addressed, as well as all other comments, in one way or another.

So, where do we go from here?

Beginning June 1, Working Groups will form at the Conference and/or Council level to begin discussion, developing suggested actions and recommendations for a specific subject. Each Working Group will focus on ONE THEME from the five above.

Instructions and materials for the Working Groups will be sent out in mid-May.

Approximately September 1, all Working Group recommendations will be sent to the highest-level Council (the Council represented by a National Council Member [NCM]).

The Council will create a Working Group that will take up all submitted recommendations and create one Council Report of Recommendations and Actions for each of the five themes above. This needs to be completed by December 1, 2025.

The Council will then elect two Delegates to the National VisionSVdP Congress, to be held in the first Quarter of 2026. These Delegates cannot be the NCM, and one Delegate should hold no Office at the Council or Conference level if possible.

All expenses for the Congress will be paid by the National Council. The Congress is anticipated to be three days of intensive work and will develop a final set of recommendations and actions.

Have a Blessed Easter.

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

From Temporary Shelter to Stability: SVdP’s Motel to Home Program Breaks Through in Virginia

From Temporary Shelter to Stability: SVdP’s Motel to Home Program Breaks Through in Virginia 2560 1707 SVDP USA

From Temporary Shelter to Stability: SVdP’s Motel to Home Program Breaks Through in Virginia

It’s hard to imagine what to do next after finding out that 1,300 kids in your local school district are homeless.

But Dan Kearns, Executive Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Richmond Council, acted quicky. After learning last fall from Henrico County Public Schools that 113 of those students live in motels, Kearns and his Council extended a hand almost immediately.

Extended stay motels have become the only semi-stable housing available to many families living in poverty. If a family has been evicted, it can be hard for them to find another landlord who will rent to them. They sometimes end up in motels where, yes, they have a roof over their heads—but conditions are cramped, kitchens are almost non-existent, and the high living cost means it’s all but impossible to save towards a deposit on a more sustainable living situation.

“We knew there was a challenge – how do we help these people living in motels?” Kearns said. “And we knew that SVdP Georgia already had a program that served this population, so we mirrored it exactly after theirs.”

That program is Motel to Home, where SVdP staff and Vincentian volunteers provide financial assistance to families living in motels so that they can move into more stable housing. SVdP Richmond tailored the program to fit local needs, and since the program’s inception last October, they’ve worked with five families – three of which have moved into permanent housing.

Motel to Home is just one of many programs offered by SVdP with a focus toward homelessness prevention across the country – keeping families secure so that they don’t end up on the street. Among them are Home Visit Encounters – the heart of SVdP’s services – food pantries, shelters, thrift stores, dental clinics, charitable pharmacies, and much more.

Last year, SVdP USA served 5 million vulnerable individuals.

“I always look at SVdP as kind of the first responders to poverty,” Kearns said. “A lot of other organizations act almost as the extended care hospital, but what about people who are in an emergency? They can’t wait two or three weeks to get a phone call back. And I always say SVdP is really good at that – keeping the patient alive until we can figure out the root causes of their illness.”

A family must have income to qualify for the Motel to Home program, according to Kearns. When sitting down with the families to look at potential homes, SVdP recommends a monthly rent of about 40% of the family’s monthly income.

“We want you to be sustainable going forward,” he said. “We want you to stay in this home. So, at its core, a lot of it is financial counseling and direction.”

Take Tawanda from Richmond, for example. Mary’s Choice, a local faith-based organization that provides housing assistance, reached out to SVdP to ask that they help Tawanda and her two sons move into a home. They were all living in a motel at the time, and one of the sons was expecting with his girlfriend. Kearns sat down with the family, looked into an application, and discussed finances.

Once they determined the monthly rent the family could afford, Kearns and his team helped Tawanda and her sons move into a suitable home over the holidays. But that’s not all – they also helped furnish the home with brand new mattresses from a local SVdP thrift store.

Kearns still regularly checks in with Tawanda’s family.

“These individuals aren’t just a number. We don’t say, ‘Here’s your assistance … see you next month or maybe never again. Our services are efficient, but we also make it personal.”

Other SVdP Conferences across the country also help struggling families transition from motels to stable housing. The SVDP Conference at Sts. Joseph and Paul Catholic Church in Kentucky recently helped a mother and two sons move from a motel into a home and also secured a job for the mother. SVdP St. Louis, with the help from the St. Patrick Center and local parishes, raised funds to help a mother pay off a lingering hotel debt and move into a new home with her children. She was also given thrift store vouchers to furnish the home.

“We start with the heart here at SVdP,” said Kearns. “We don’t care what your situation is – we will figure it out. But first, we’re going to reach out to you to let you know we are here to help.”

Not a Life Sentence: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Des Moines

Not a Life Sentence: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Des Moines 2560 1708 SVDP USA

Not a Life Sentence: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Des Moines

BEING BORN INTO POVERTY DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A LIFE SENTENCE. THAT’S WHAT THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL DES MOINES COUNCIL WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW. 

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Des Moines Council wants people to know that just because they may have been born into poverty, that doesn’t mean they have to spend their lives on the brink. The Council’s Back2Work program helps those interested in improving their lives to tap into their God-given potential, break the cycle of poverty, and live lives full of purpose. The program is meant to help participants with a history of substance abuse, mental health challenges, or incarceration overcome barriers to self-sufficiency.

Back2Work helps them re-enter the workforce and earn a livable wage — all while learning a new job and marketable skills. Back2Work includes two weeks of pre-employment training, and then six months of on-the-job training — along with classes at SVdP that cover topics such as healthy relationships, financial literacy, and career coaching. The Council also coordinates with Catholic Charities to provide participants with counseling and mental health support.

This is all part of an effort to give people holistic, wraparound support so that they can succeed long-term. Once training is over, participants receive follow-up and additional support. SVdP often helps them set up continuing education classes — such as ESL or HiSET — so they can keep moving forward on their career path.

Back2Work participants usually land jobs in fields such as electrical work, landscape, hospitality, manufacturing, and healthcare. 90% are employed at $18.25 an hour — and in Des Moines, that kind of steady income can help buy groceries, a car, and even a home. It can help an entire family escape generational poverty.

In addition to Back2Work, SVdP Des Moines runs a Reentry program that works with incarcerated individuals. With a more one-on-one focus, this program provides people with professional training and mentorship and helps them troubleshoot potential barriers to success like transportation, housing, and access to healthy choices. Thanks in large part to this program, the Des Moines region has a significantly lower recidivism rate than the rest of the state.

04-03-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

04-03-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 1200 1200 SVDP USA

Every night, over half a million people in America experience homelessness. Imagine walking past them knowing they are someone’s mother, father, or child. As Vincentians, we don’t have to imagine it, we live it.

And we cannot simply walk by — we are called to act. We understand our profound responsibility to act boldly in service to others. The words from 1 John, “Let us love, not with words but with deeds” are a reminder to all of us of the profound responsibility we share as Christians to live out our faith not just in what we say, but in what we do.

We are each familiar with the calls to action required to address the many needs in the world. And we celebrate the profound joy that comes from growing in holiness through our response to Christ’s call to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give shelter to the homeless, welcome the stranger, minister to the sick, and visit the prisoner. The work of every Vincentian and volunteer is a vital lifeline for countless people in need — individuals and families often standing at the brink of despair, searching for a glimmer of hope.

Every year, we are faced with new challenges and opportunities. The world is constantly evolving. So how do we respond as we answer the call to serve? Amid the excitement of new beginnings and the anticipation of fresh starts, there are also apprehensions about the changes and challenges that may lie ahead. But amidst these feelings, one constant remains: the enduring power of hope. And so, we must be Bearers of Hope to the countless many who wonder if hope exists, who wonder if love exists, who wonder if anyone cares.

For hope is the belief that even in the face of adversity, goodness and redemption are possible. It is the conviction that we can overcome obstacles, heal divisions, and build a more just and compassionate world. Let us remember that hope is not naive optimism. Hope, in the Vincentian tradition, is rooted in the unwavering belief that God is present among the poor and the suffering. When we stand alongside them, we stand with Christ Himself.

Hope is the seed, but justice is the harvest.

If we do not act, hope remains just a dream. Justice must propel us to action, inspiring efforts that ripple outward, create lasting change, and making our world a better place. And so, we must also become fighters for Justice.

But we face a difficult challenge when frankly we sometimes must wonder if the world has lost its mind. A world that mirrors almost identically that of the 1830s in Paris, France, where Frédéric Ozanam wrote in 1836:

“The question that is agitating the world today is not of political forms, but it is a social one. It is a struggle between those who have nothing and those who have too much. It is a violent clash of opulence and poverty which is shaking the ground under our feet. Our duty as Christians is to intervene between these two camps, to ensure that some deprive themselves in order to fulfill a law, and others receive as a benefit; that some stop demanding and others stop refusing; that equality prevails as much as possible among people; that the voluntary community replaces taxes and forced borrowing, that love accomplishes what justice alone cannot do.”

So, as in 1836, we must become Advocates not only for Justice, but also for Love, transforming hope into action, and helping to heal our wounded world.

Yet the challenges of the world still face us and try to beat us down. A world where in January, thousands marched in our nation’s capital to advocate for the sanctity of life. Politicians came out, made speeches, had their pictures taken, then went right back up the marble stairs of the Capital and continued to plan how to cut billions of dollars in aid to babies who are born to the poor and the homeless. A world where it seems to be acceptable by some to cut 1.5 billion dollars in aid to USDA for food for the hungry, a billion dollars for vaccinations for the poor, and billions of dollars in aid to the homeless, the hungry, the sick, the unemployed and the elderly — all while spending trillions of dollars to plant a flag on Mars.

So, the world demands that we must become Advocates for Justice, transforming hope into action, and helping to heal our wounded world.

There are those who say we should not involve ourselves in advocacy or the great issues of the day. They say we should stay out of politics, be content with the charity we offer, and not try to change the things that cause or perpetuate poverty, dependency, and need.

To those people, I would say that if we do not use the knowledge and learning we uniquely gain through our personal encounters with the people we serve to help change the causes of poverty, dependence, and need then we are failing in our duty as Christians — and we are not being true to the foundations of our Society.

At SVdP, we serve those in need without regard for their demographics or creed, no matter what political party is in power. But the work of charity cannot, and must not, be neatly divided from the claims of justice. Make no mistake; while SVdP is not a political organization, our work and our faith demand that we advocate for those living in poverty.

Recall Frédéric Ozanam’s famous quote:

“Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveler who has been attacked. It is justice’s role to prevent the attack.”

In 1848, Frédéric Ozanam was the Vice President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. On the occasion of the General Assembly that year, he wrote a letter that spoke to the vital importance of advocacy that the Society was obligated to undertake based on how we encountered the poor. Frédéric wrote:

“Yes, without doubt, it is too little to relieve the needy day by day. It is necessary to get to the root of the evil, and by wise reforms to diminish the causes of public misery. But we profess to believe that the science of welfare reform is learned less in books and parliamentary debates, than by climbing up the floors of the poor man’s house, by sitting at his bedside, by suffering the same cold as him, and by drawing out the secret of his desolate heart through the outpouring of a friendly conversation. When we have fulfilled this ministry, not for a few months, but for many years; when we have thus studied the poor at home, at school, at the hospital, not in one city only, but in many, in the countryside and in all the conditions where God has put it, 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.”

Those words are as true today as when they were written on December 14, 1848. They could have been written last week and been applicable to our world in 2025. They are our heritage, they are our history, they are the calling we must continue to follow in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul today. Those who don’t understand that simply do not understand the wholeness of the Society.

St. Vincent de Paul himself lived in a world plagued by war and social upheaval. But his response was not just to provide bread and wood. He developed a network of priests, religious, and laypeople to not only provide food, shelter, and spiritual comfort to the wounded and displaced, but worked for the release of galley slaves and sought to protect the most vulnerable, living out Christ’s call to be a peacemaker. Vincent’s actions remind us that even in times of great darkness, the light of charity and justice must shine together. Vincent condemned greed and political ambitions that fueled wars and created poverty, but he did so to restore dignity and hope to those who suffered.

From a Vincentian perspective, we must see beyond the political rhetoric and recognize the human face of every victim of poverty. Each refugee, each orphan, each grieving mother is Christ crucified anew. To follow Vincent’s path means to reject the idea that poverty and suffering are inevitable. It means believing that justice is possible, but only when we confront self-interest and systemic injustice.

Our call to serve the poor, the refugees, the sick and all those who suffer injustice and oppression is also deeply rooted in Scripture. The Old Testament prophets often reminded Israel of their duty to care for the marginalized. We hear Isaiah proclaim:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

That call tells us that our work must be holistic and transformative, addressing both immediate needs and systemic injustices.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus presents us with a clear and unambiguous description of how God will judge whether we lived out his commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Jesus tells us that our service to others is not just a charitable act — but a divine mandate.

Tomorrow, April 4, we will open our 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. Last year, SVdP USA provided over $1.7 billion in services directly to over 5 million people in need across this country. That’s not just a number — that’s 5 million lives changed, 5 million families given a second chance, 5 million reminders that love is unstoppable! The unique direct relationship we have with our neighbors through our personal encounters gives us a perspective and view from the reality of the poor that we will be able to share with policy makers and like-minded nonprofits and other organizations. To fail to do so would be a disservice to those we serve and an abandonment of our obligation to our faith.

The stark and shocking reality of America and the world today is that millions of our brothers and sisters lack basic necessities — affordable housing, nutritious food, and quality healthcare. Families live on the streets, children go to bed hungry, and the cycle of poverty persists. Imagine a mother putting her children down to sleep on a cold night with no bed and no roof overhead. Or a child going to school hungry, unable to focus on learning. This is the reality we must work to change.

This is a crisis of conscience for our nation and every nation. It is a stark reminder that the pursuit of individual prosperity cannot come at the expense of the common good. We are called, as followers of Christ, to be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves.

What must we do next? How do we turn faith into action, hope into impact?

Primarily, we must open our eyes and our hearts to the suffering around us. We must acknowledge the realities of poverty and homelessness in our own communities. We must listen to the stories of those who are struggling, and we must seek to understand their experiences.

We cannot help if we do not understand. And we cannot understand if we do not listen.

Secondly, we must not only serve the poor, but stand beside them, speak for them, and challenge the systems that keep them in poverty. We must advocate for affordable housing, living wages, and access to quality education and healthcare. Our faith and our actions must walk hand in hand.

And finally, we must cultivate a spirit of solidarity and collective action. We must remember that we are all interconnected, and that the well-being of each of us is dependent on the well-being of all. We must work together to build a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

As we look ahead, I am inspired by what we can accomplish together. Imagine a community where every child has access to food, every family has a safe place to call home, and every individual feels valued. Together, we can make that vision a reality.

The task before us is daunting, but not insurmountable. We cannot solve the problems of poverty and homelessness overnight. But we can, each one of us, make a difference. We can be a force for good in the world. We can build a more just and compassionate society, a society where everyone can live a life of dignity and hope.

Our goal must be not just to alleviate suffering but to encounter the divine in our service to others. By looking to the future with hope and embracing new ways of doing things, we serve in ways that are both meaningful and transformative.

We stand poised to face new challenges with courage and creativity. As we move forward, let us do so with hearts full of love, minds open to innovation, and spirits grounded in the timeless values of our faith.

Together, we can make a difference that echoes through the ages, bringing hope and healing to a world in need.

My Brothers and Sisters, the call to serve is a divine mandate that transcends time and tradition. Let us be committed and courageous in our approach to answering that call.

Together, we are the light that dispels the darkness. We are the hands of Christ, the voice of the voiceless, the hope of the hopeless. And we will not stop until justice is done, until love reigns, until all are seen, heard, and embraced in dignity.

As we move forward with courage and faith; without fear or apprehension let us be inspired by the words of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam: “Let us not be discouraged; let us be better.”

In closing, I offer you the words of St. Vincent de Paul: “Go to the poor: you will find God.” This simple yet profound directive guides all of us in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in our mission to serve with love and compassion.

Peace and God’s blessings,
John

John Berry
National President

(Note: Some of the content of this reflection was adapted from the March 27, 2025 FamVin Vincentian Reflection, “Hope and Peace in a World Torn by War”)

A Thrift Store Reborn: Rekindling the Spirit of Service in Albuquerque

A Thrift Store Reborn: Rekindling the Spirit of Service in Albuquerque 644 429 SVDP USA

A Thrift Store Reborn: Rekindling the Spirit of Service in Albuquerque

Since its opening in 2012, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s (SVdP) thrift store in Albuquerque has made it its mission to serve the community. But operational challenges and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic recently put the store’s future in jeopardy. And now faith, perseverance, and community support have given the store a fresh start.

The Albuquerque thrift store is one of more than 380 SVdP thrift stores across the country, each one supporting vulnerable individuals by providing affordable essentials, shopping vouchers, and financial assistance for local SVdP Conferences and homelessness prevention programs.

The Albuquerque location faced its share of setbacks, struggling with outdated systems, staffing shortages, and security concerns. At the same time, the need in Albuquerque has grown. As of August 2024, homelessness in the city has more than doubled over the past two years. Unprecedented rent increases and shortages of affordable housing have left many residents seeking assistance from SVdP.

Fueled by dedicated volunteers, new leadership, and a renewed sense of purpose, SVdP’s network of charity transformed the store — ensuring it remains a community resource for those experiencing homelessness.

In July 2023, Linda Strasburg, who had recently been named interim Archdiocesan Council President for Albuquerque, contacted SVdP’s National Thrift Store Committee to assess the store. Store Support Director Jeffrey Beamguard, a veteran of the thrift industry with over 40 years of experience, visited in November to evaluate the situation. Some of his key recommendations included implementing a new POS system to boost sales, hiring additional staff, increasing security to prevent vandalism and dumpster diving, and improving the store’s overall appearance.

“It will not be easy to change what has been the norm for years. Now is the time to completely embrace this plan and give it 100% by everyone,” said Jeff in his assessment.

Local Vincentians accepted the challenge.

Linda, now serving as the Archdiocese Council Santa Fe Board President, got straight to work with local leaders. In February 2024, they hired Brittany Deloya as the new store manager.

“When Brittany joined the team, she had no prior management experience. SVdP supported her by covering coursework at a local college and training at the SVdP national store location in Phoenix, and she has embraced every learning opportunity since,” said Linda.

The team began applying Jeff’s recommendations, including updating the POS system and reorganizing the backend of the business. Raymond, whom Brittany referred to as ‘the handyman,’ installed freezer strips to help regulate the store’s temperature, painted signs, and put up walls to create a fitting room. He also removed the security bars from the windows so The Knights of Columbus could give them a fresh cleaning. A volunteer with experience working on airplanes offered to repair the trucks at a discounted rate, allowing the store to resume donation pickups. Clearinghouse Manager Luana Salazar’s husband painted the building.

“All the things that we’ve implemented make the store and the warehouse better. It has improved 120%,” said Luana. “It’s lively, it’s open, it’s clean.”

As improvements were made, customers took notice and shared their appreciation for the changes.

“I do consistently hear feedback about how the store looks, the appearance, and the way we’ve arranged it,” said Brittany. “They’ve told me they enjoy shopping here and that this has become one of their go-to thrift stores on weekends.”

When it came time for the grand reopening, Archbishop John C. Wester led the blessing ceremony for the thrift store, warehouse, and clearinghouse. In addition to SVdP leadership, staff and volunteers, representatives from The Catholic Foundation, the Knights of Columbus, and more were in attendance.

“In 2 Timothy, Paul tells us to rekindle the fire that is within us. When the fire dies down, we must stir the ashes and find the hot spots in order to rekindle the spirit. Throughout this last year we have rekindled the fire of our work by making many changes and improvements in our facility including security fencing, exterior painting and a state-of-the-art point of sales system. We have rekindled our vision,” said Linda in her grand reopening remarks.

As the team looks ahead, plans are in development to build a food pantry on the property, which could create a one-stop-shop where those in need could get food, clothes, and furniture.

“I don’t think we’re done growing. If you were to talk with us in six months to a year, I believe we’d have similar stories to tell,” said Linda.

A Midyear Meeting to Remember in St. Louis

A Midyear Meeting to Remember in St. Louis 2560 1707 SVDP USA

Vincentians from all across the United States gathered together March 5-8 in downtown St. Louis at the Midyear Business Meeting of SVdP USA. While in attendance, leaders learned about governance, leadership, advocacy, and finance, while renewing and deepening shared spirituality and friendships with one another. More than 200 leaders were in attendance, representing all nine regions and hundreds of SVdP Conferences.

National President John Berry welcomed members with his Presidential Address on Thursday with this speech. He began his address in this way: “Every night, more than a half a million people in America experience homelessness. Imagine walking past them knowing they are someone’s mother, father, or child. As Vincentians, we cannot simply walk by — we are called to act. As Vincentians, and as Christians, we understand our profound responsibility to act boldly in service to others.”

Other highlights included Director David Garcia’s update on the SoCal wildfire relief efforts, Archbishop Andrew Bellisario CM’s spiritual retreat,Good Governance workshop with John Hallissy, and a Finance Presentation by Ed McCarthy.

To make our meeting times together more effective, SVdP USA is moving away from the Midyear Meeting starting in 2026. Instead, SVdP will focus on regional meetings and meetings of other affinity groups, including Executive Directors, Stores, Spiritual Advisors, Conference Presidents, and more.

See below for highlights of last week’s Midyear Meeting, and view video presentations here.