Vincentians

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A Midyear Meeting to Remember in St. Louis

A Midyear Meeting to Remember in St. Louis https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/SVDP-USA-Midyear-2025-58-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png March 13, 2025 March 13, 2025

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, a 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.

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Devastating Wildfires Heighten Importance of Homelessness Prevention in California

Devastating Wildfires Heighten Importance of Homelessness Prevention in California https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/California-wildfires-2025-destruction-with-SVDP-staff-at-parish.jpg 2048 1536 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png March 3, 2025 March 3, 2025

by David Garcia, Executive Director, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles

The recent wildfires that have devastated Los Angeles and its neighboring communities bring the threat of homelessness ever closer to countless doorsteps.

I’m not just talking about the tens of thousands of people that have been displaced due to the fires, many of whom face the awful challenge of finding a place to live and rebuilding their lives after their home was destroyed. All sorts of establishments have also been destroyed — offices and shops, restaurants and schools, parks and recreation centers. According to Morgan Stanley, an estimated 20,000-40,000 jobs have been lost from the fires — another devastating and long-term impact. For many Californians, this job loss and profound disruption pushes them closer to the brink of homelessness. Effective, preventative intervention needs to happen now — before it’s too late.

Make no mistake: Even before the fires, California residents have been struggling. The average median rent in California is already $2,763 — 38% higher than the national average, according to Zillow — and that was before the housing supply in Los Angeles took a catastrophic hit. Many Californians need to find a new job, a new home, or both – when they were already struggling to keep up with rent and feed their families. That situation puts far too many California families far too close to the edge of homelessness.

Responding to this situation effectively means responding to it proactively. While many homelessness services organizations focus on what happens after someone becomes homeless, homelessness prevention is at once far more effective and humane. It involves identifying and supporting people who are on the verge of losing their homes – assessing their underlying threats to homelessness and taking preventative measures that will keep them housed.

This is our approach at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We administer Home Visits to those seeking assistance to meet them where they are and learn the best ways, tailored to their specific situation, to help keep them in stable housing and off the streets.

Since the fires broke out, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences in the neighborhoods that were affected by the fires have been tirelessly active in addressing the critical needs of their communities. Conferences and the Los Angeles Council have hosted fire relief distributions. Items given out include shoes, clothing, food, water, towels, pet supplies, and baby essentials. In addition, gift cards were distributed, and immediate financial assistance was offered. We continue to work with the fire victims once they move into new housing by providing move-in assistance and home furnishings through St. Vincent de Paul’s National Disaster Services Corp’s House in a Box program.

New research indicates how well these preventive measures work. According to a recent study conducted by Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), persons who received an average of $2,000 in emergency financial assistance were 81% less likely to become homeless within six months of enrollment and 73% less likely within 12 months.

The state of California has spent $24 billion on homelessness in the past five years. Granting that much of that money is well spent, consider how acute the crisis remains. How much farther could that spending go if we invested some of it in preventing homelessness rather than ameliorating its worst effects? As we look to help those who lost their livelihoods in the fires, it’s time to find out just how effective prevention can be. I am confident it will alleviate a much higher long-term housing crisis in the future.

Homelessness isn’t going away in California. The aftermath of the wildfires in Los Angeles is a stark reminder of that. There is a pressing need to step in and intervene now, before the demand for affordable housing becomes too great and more families are forced out of their homes. By turning our attention to prevention, we can work together to stop the future scourge of homelessness in Los Angeles.

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SVDP USA Will Open Washington D.C. Office to Advocate for Measures to Prevent Homelessness

SVDP USA Will Open Washington D.C. Office to Advocate for Measures to Prevent Homelessness https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DC-office-e1738084944209.png 1152 1101 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 28, 2025 January 28, 2025

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA (SVdP), which serves more than 5 million people living in poverty a year, announced it will open a second national office in the heart of Washington D.C. this year to advocate on issues related to poverty and homelessness and to expand the organization’s presence among policy makers in the nation’s capital.

Speaking at the Catholic Social Ministry Gathering (CSMG) in Washington D.C., SVdP National President John Berry said the time was right to take a bold approach to highlighting the causes of homelessness and the steps that can be taken to reduce the number of people who are unhoused.

“The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s unique, personal approach to supporting so many people in need provides a distinct and important platform to drive awareness of how to help at-risk populations,” Berry said. “Homelessness continues to be a pressing issue that is often forgotten. We will use our experience and our national platform to drive greater awareness of this crisis and work to provide solutions that work.”

The soon-to-be named director of the Washington office will help lead the organization’s advocacy efforts, with an initial focus on homelessness among the elderly and families with children.

In December, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “point-in-time” estimate found more than 770,000 people in the U.S were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2024. That was an 18% increase from 2023. This year’s point-in-time survey was conducted on Jan. 22.

At the same time, a separate report showed that the number of older women classified as impoverished rose from 11.7% to 15% in 2023. Today, one in six American women 65 years old or older live in poverty. Among Black, Latina, and Indigenous populations, the poverty rate is closer to one in five.

“Helping these vulnerable populations is something that everybody, right or left, conservative or liberal, can support,” Berry said. “SVdP USA was recently recognized as the 59^th largest nonprofit in the United States, and it is only natural that an organization with a national and global impact as large as ours, should use the knowledge and front line experience that we uniquely obtain through our work to engage in debate and policy creation at the highest levels.”

“At the same time, it’s important to remind people that the work of our 90,000 Vincentian volunteers goes on day in and day out in cities and towns across the country. These are the men and women who make the difficult journeys of their neighbors their own journey, providing help, direction, and Christian friendship.”

Berry’s announcement came amid SVdP’s sponsorship of CSMG, which is the premier annual gathering of U.S. Catholic social ministry leaders. The conference is organized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and this year’s theme, “Missionaries of Hope, Advocates for Justice,” recognized the call to be beacons of God’s love.

Keynote speakers for the four-day conference included his Eminence Christophe Cardinal Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States; Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, President of the USCCB; Dr. Emile Cuda, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, The Holy See; and Most Rev. Joseph J. Tyson, Bishop of Yakima.

SVdP’s Berry and CEO Michael Acaldo also led a discussion about the organization’s mission and the ways it intends to advocate on homelessness prevention in Washington. SVdP’s headquarters will remain in St. Louis.

SVdP’s model includes a wide range of efforts to prevent homelessness and serve communities with tailored programs to serve with specific needs. But the core of the SVdP mission, are the person-to-person encounters that serve as the essence of its ministry. During these encounters, Vincentians may visit the homes of people who need assistance to remain housed.

Encounters also occur wherever necessary to support people in a dignified manner. This assistance runs the gamut from financial help to pay rent and utility bills, to helping with food and prescription assistance, to linking the person with other public and private organizations, to prayer and spiritual comfort. This is efficient, non-bureaucratic and effective in getting people the help they need at that moment – help that is often enough to stave off a pending eviction.

Besides living out Christ’s calling to love our neighbor, SVdP USA believes its approach offers a more cost-effective and humane solution to address the nation’s housing crisis. Research by the National Alliance to End Homelessness reveals that it costs an average of $35,578 per year to support a person who is chronically homeless, including costs for emergency shelters, healthcare, and law enforcement. In contrast, preventing homelessness through early intervention costs, on average, $2,000 per household, according to the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities at the University of Notre Dame.

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Remarks to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

Remarks to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic Social Ministry Gathering https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/JohnBerry2024.jpeg 1024 1024 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 27, 2025 January 30, 2025

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

“Let us love, not with words but with deeds.” Those words from 1^st John were used by Pope Francis to open the very first World Day of the Poor in 2017, and they remind us of the profound responsibility we share as Christians to act boldly in service to others. Tonight, as we begin this Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, I would like to share some thoughts on how we transform this divine mandate into action.

During our time together, we will be discussing issues important to our ministries and those we serve. We will discuss the calls to action required to address the many needs in the world. And we will also 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 Ministry represented here 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.

And we must not fail — not in our resolve, not in our compassion, and not in our duty to act.

A new year brings challenges and opportunities. This year, how will WE respond to them as we answer the call to serve? Amongst the excitement of new beginnings, 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, it is proper that the theme of our gathering is “Missionaries of Hope, Advocates of Justice.”

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. As Dr. Martin Luther King said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

But hope alone is not enough. It must propel us to action, inspiring efforts that ripple outward, create lasting change, and make our world a better place. But we face a difficult challenge when frankly, we sometimes wonder if the world has lost its mind. A world where yesterday thousands of people marched to advocate for the sanctity of life, and politicians came out and spoke to them and had their pictures taken with them and then went right back up the marble stairs of the Capitol and continued to plan how to cut billions of dollars in aid to babies that are born to the poor and the homeless. A world where it is considered acceptable to cut billions of dollars in aid to the homeless, but it’s OK to spend trillions of dollars to plant a flag on Mars.

So, WE must become Advocates for Justice, transforming hope into action, and helping to heal our wounded world.

Our call to serve the poor, the refugee, the sick, and ALL those who suffer injustice and oppression is 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.

In the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, we celebrate a rich heritage of charitable work that has come before us, since our founding in 1833 in Paris as an effort by six college students to find a way to put their faith into action through service to the poor. That small effort has become a fire that lights the world. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul today serves in 155 countries around the world, with 800,000 Members and 1.5 million volunteers. We provided more than 1.49 TRILLION Euros in Service to over 30 million people in 2023.

This year, we will celebrate the 180^th Anniversary of the founding of the Society here in the United States. St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, one of those 6 students and the founder of the Society, laid a foundation that continues to inspire us.

Our founders underscored the importance of charity as an inclusive act, not merely an exchange of goods — but a genuine relationship and community-building effort.

Our SVdP core value is deep, personal encounters with those we serve. It is this heritage of compassionate, relational charity that is the foundation of who we are and what we cherish and honor as we move forward.

Our Vincentians understand the words that George Bernard Shaw wrote many years ago, “The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them.” So, the SVdP commitment to a human-to-human, Christ-centered encounter with all those we serve is unwavering and ensures that we are never indifferent to their material needs, but more importantly, we are not indifferent to their need to be seen, to be heard, and to be loved; by us and by God. Our commitment to compassion and service is unwavering.

In his 2017 World Day of the Poor message, Pope Francis wrote:

“We may think of the poor simply as the beneficiaries of our occasional volunteer work, or of impromptu acts of generosity that appease our conscience. However good and useful such acts may be for making us sensitive to people’s needs and the injustices that are often their cause, they ought to lead to a true encounter with the poor and a sharing that becomes a way of life.”

That true spiritual encounter touches us. It enriches us. It is a shared encounter. We Vincentians know that we get more from our encounters with our neighbors in need than we give.

But to be able to alleviate the suffering and need of those who we help, we must also recognize the need for adaptation to a world that is changing around us. Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, challenged us to rethink our approach to charity. He wrote:

“No one can demand that the poor remain on the margins of society, and no one should be indifferent to their plight. We need a Church that is open to the world, which listens to the poor, and which is ready to adapt to their needs.”

While Scripture provides us with timeless guidance, the challenges we face today require a modern lens. Thus, Pope Francis urges us to go beyond immediate relief and address the roots of poverty with innovative solutions.

As we strive to uphold the timeless virtues of compassion and charity, we must be ready to confront the future with boldness and adaptability.

And we must not fail — not in our resolve, not in our compassion, and not in our duty to act.

To serve effectively in an ever-changing world, we are challenged to open our minds and hearts. We must ask ourselves: How can we be more inclusive? How can we address the root causes of poverty, rather than just the symptoms?

The needs of the poor are evolving. 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 at SVdP USA. For example, today, issues like digital exclusion and environmental challenges require us to consider solutions we didn’t have before. Charitable organizations must be bold and imaginative.

Areas such as new technology solutions can create new avenues for assistance, education, and empowerment, but we must balance those with our commitment to the Christ centered human encounter between people.

As the world evolves, so do the needs of the poor. We know change often meets resistance, especially when it challenges traditions. Yet, it is through change that we grow and better meet the needs of those we serve.

To address the infinite misery of the present and future, we must be willing to think creatively. This means developing better systems to reach more people in an ever more mobile society, collaborating with other organizations such as the ones represented here at CSMG and those beyond the Catholic sphere, to amplify our impact, and continuously educating ourselves about the root causes of poverty and injustice. That is why CSMG is such an important gathering for all of us. Let us not lose this time we have together to strengthen the bonds between our organizations, create new collaborations, and refine our approach to solving the challenges we all face. We need to be open to innovative ideas from all members of our community, especially the younger generation, who bring fresh perspectives and energy to our missions and who we too often overlook.

To address the changes in the world today, and to achieve tangible results and real impact, we must answer the crucial question: What is that great balance that must be achieved between WHAT we do and HOW we do it? What we do is bring love, respect, and compassion, and that must never change. But how we do it must change. Our willingness to adapt will make what we do much better.

This year, SVdP USA is launching new initiatives to channel our hopes into concrete action. I am pleased to announce tonight that we will be opening our second National Office in Washington, DC in March. 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 recognized as the 59^th largest nonprofit in the United States by Forbes Magazine, SVdP USA provided over $1.7 Billion in services directly to over 5 million people in need last year through our network of nearly 90,000 volunteers. This unique, direct relationship we have with our neighbors in need 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. The new DC office will anchor that advocacy work.

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 like tonight — 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 change.

And we must not fail — not in our resolve, not in our compassion, and not in our duty to act.

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.

So, how do we translate our hopes and dreams into meaningful action?

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 challenge the systems that perpetuate poverty by advocating for affordable housing, living wages, and access to quality education and healthcare. When we advocate for policies addressing affordable housing or living wages, we embody Isaiah’s call to ‘loose the chains of injustice.’ Our faith and our actions must walk hand in hand. We must support organizations that are working to address the root causes of poverty, including systemic racism and economic inequality. Our Washington DC office will advocate in partnership with USCCB, Catholic Charities, CRS, and other willing and like-minded nonprofits on these matters. Together we can drive the changes needed to address poverty at its source.

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.

And we must not fail — not in our resolve, not in our compassion, and not in our duty to act.

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.

In his 2023 message for the World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis wrote:

“Our daily efforts to welcome the poor are still not enough. A great river of poverty is traversing our cities and swelling to the point of overflowing; it seems to overwhelm us, so great are the needs of our brothers and sisters who plead for our help, support, and solidarity.” … It is easy to delegate charity to others, yet the calling of every Christian is to become personally involved.”

This call to perseverance in the face of what at times seems like hopelessness reminds us that our efforts, though sometimes modest, are significant. Every novel approach, every innovative idea, can make a profound difference. Each of us matters.

Addressing the topic of individual impact, Robert Kennedy once spoke to university students in South Africa amid the struggles against apartheid. Kennedy spoke passionately about how individual effort, which at times can seem fruitless and insignificant, does make a difference. He said:

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events. It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

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.

Let us commit, in the spirit of the Gospel of Matthew 25, to serving Christ in the least of our brothers and sisters.

Let us commit to be courageous in adapting our charitable efforts to meet the evolving needs of the poor.

Let us commit to embrace this new year with renewed hope and a renewed commitment to action as instruments of God’s love and mercy in the world.

Let us commit together to build a beloved community where all are welcome, where all are valued, and where all can flourish.

Let us commit to be bold, compassionate, and innovative as we work together to build a future filled with hope and healing.

And let us commit that our efforts will reflect the love of Christ in every act of charity we undertake.

Together, let us be the light that dispels the darkness, the hands that heal, and the hearts that love unconditionally.

As we move forward with courage and faith; without fear or apprehension let us be inspired by the words of Blessed Frederick 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, and I invite you to make it your guide as well.

Thank you and God bless.

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Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family

Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Long-Island-home-visit.png 1198 1198 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 17, 2025 January 17, 2025

Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family

No family deserves to spend the holidays sharing one mattress on the floor of their apartment.

Josephine Melton-McGovern and Marianne Simpson, two volunteers for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, couldn’t believe what they saw last November when they first stepped inside the apartment of a family of four in Long Island. The room was barren—no furniture in sight, just a single mattress where the mother, father, and their two young children, a two-year-old and a four-month-old, all slept together.

“I saw it as a safety issue, especially for the four-month-old,” said Josephine. “I explained it to the mother, and she was all ears. She understood what I was saying.”

That same day, Josephine and Marianne helped deliver a donated portable crib for the baby. The next day, they stocked the family’s shelves with food and drawers with clothing. Within three days, the family’s apartment was fully furnished with a new mattress, box spring, and frame, along with blankets, sheets, pillows, two dressers, a sofa, end tables, a coffee table, and a kitchen table with chairs.

Two days later, the family also enjoyed a real Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to a turkey and fixings provided by SVdP.

“All [the mother] kept saying was ‘Thank you! Thank you!’ They were so grateful. We were so glad they had a nice Thanksgiving – I was so worried about that.”

As part of their Vincentian charism, Josephine and Marianne serve families like this every day. They know that a lack of bare necessities is the grim reality for many who have lost their homes or are on the brink of homelessness. This family had recently moved out of a shelter and into an apartment—a success story in the minds of many organizations. But they had also lost all their belongings due to a roach infestation.

Marianne and Josephine visited the family as part of a Home Visit Encounter, a core tenet of SVdP’s work. In the Home Visit, Vincentians go in pairs to visit those they serve. In doing so, they are able to assess the family’s situation in a way that many other charitable organizations are not. Because of that Home Visit, Marianne and Josephine were able to discern that the family needed more than just a new mattress.

Michael Bedell, president of the St. Frances Cabrini Conference for SVdP, learned of the Long Island family’s needs from a questionnaire they filled out on the organization’s website. He then gave them a call to get more information and schedule a Home Visit. The family is one of 65 that he and his Conference have administered Home Visits for in the last year.

“We’re calling each family and are basically saying to them, ‘Is there anything we can do for you during the holidays?’” said Michael. “It might be a ham, it could be a toy, it could be anything … but we try to put those touches on people so they can have a good holiday. We also recognize that Christmas can’t end in December. It’s got to go all year round.”

And it does. Every day, SVdP Councils and Conferences all over the globe are helping individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness – through services such as rent and utility assistance, shelters, food pantries, thrift stores, pharmacies and medical clinics, and much more.

For Marianne, the Home Visits particularly hit home.

“I feel so fortunate to help because I’ve been in that situation – I raised five children on my own,” Marianne said. “I know what it’s like to have to reach out, go to the church, go to social services – all of those things. The more people that I can help to not have to go through that, the more it makes me feel good.”

SVdP USA flips the traditional model of a nonprofit in the homelessness services sector. Instead of vulnerable individuals having to go out and seek things like food, clothing, and support, SVdP’s Vincentian volunteers come to them via the Home Visit, providing tangible assistance, a listening ear, and friendship.

Bedell says it’s the instinct of a Vincentian to go out and serve.

“We all do it from our hearts with no expectations,” he said. “But when we give, we also receive back. We all close our eyes at night knowing that we changed a life. There is no better feeling in the world and it is a feeling more people should seek.”

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Meet Michael Acaldo, CEO

Meet Michael Acaldo, CEO https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Michael-Acaldo-CEO-St-Vincent-de-Paul-USA-headshot-web.jpg 2048 2048 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 10, 2025 January 10, 2025

From the Bayou to CEO: Meet Michael Acaldo

MICHAEL ACALDO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL when he applied to lead SVdP Baton Rouge. He was graduating from Louisiana State University and just looking for a job. His father filled him in on the details.

“By some miracle, they decided to give the opportunity to someone with no real experience,” he says. Thirty-four years and 11 months later, it’s safe to say that things worked out well.

What Michael noticed right away was that his experience of knowing very little about SVdP was not uncommon. “The Society has been in Baton Rouge since 1865 . . .but there was not much public branding relative to what they did.”

Michael understood that raising awareness of SVdP was essential — both for raising funds and more importantly, for reaching people in need. “Part of the Vincentian spirit is one of humility. But it’s critical you get the word out because that’s what evangelizes for your organization!” he exclaims. “You rob people of that gift if you’re not open about [your work].”

Over the next few decades, Michael’s mission was to help SVdP Baton Rouge become a leader — in providing hot meals, establishing a comprehensive sheltering program, and working with SVdP Conferences all across the region to prevent homelessness. Under his watch, the Baton Rouge Council was SVdP’s first Council in the country to start a foundation and the first to have a community pharmacy. But he also made it a top priority to make sure that the public knew what SVdP was doing. Michael ran major campaigns with all the local television and radio stations over the years, building a reputation around the region that led to sustained fundraising success.

“WE WERE SO BLESSED TO SERVE CHRIST!” he reflects. “Some days we would serve 500 people in our dining room – that’s an opportunity to serve Christ 500 times. And it’s so uplifting to be a witness to 1,500 volunteers helping those in need each month. Both the Vincentian family and those we were blessed to serve — they both touched my soul and my heart.”

Now as the new CEO of SVdP USA, it’s this heart of Christian service that has kept him grounded. “Humility and spiritual growth are the foundation of everything we do,” he says. “And the more we grow spiritually, the more we realize we have to grow.” With God’s grace, SVdP will surely grow under his careful stewardship.

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SVdP North Texas Spotlight: Providing Health and Financial Freedom

SVdP North Texas Spotlight: Providing Health and Financial Freedom https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Prescription-medication-meds-pharmacy-svdp-North-Texas-scaled.jpg 2560 1707 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 10, 2025 January 10, 2025

Providing Health and Financial Freedom in North Texas

After spending 30 years working in finance, Luis Gonzalez sensed the Lord calling him to something new. After a cold call from a non-profit recruiter, Luis made a career change, and now he has been the CEO of SVdP North Texas since January 2022. Under Luis’ leadership, SVdP North Texas has expanded two signature programs that uniquely serve their community.

THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHARITABLE PHARMACY is the only freestanding charitable pharmacy in Texas. By partnering with 300 clinics around the state, it uses an Amazon model to ship prescriptions state-wide. The service is completely free to uninsured individuals and has grown from filling 7,000 prescriptions in 2018 to more than 103,000 — or $100 million of medications — in 2024!

“Our pharmacy saves lives,” Luis says. “Most patients receive medication for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.”

“A favorite story of mine about the impact of our Charitable Pharmacy actually involves one of our delivery drivers. Demetray* worked for us for four years delivering medications. After an unexpected hospitalization, he was prescribed daily medications that he couldn’t afford. We were able to enroll him in our program, provide his necessary medicines, and save him hundreds of dollars per month.”

THE MINI LOAN PROGRAM empowers people to find financial freedom by escaping cycles of debt and building healthy financial skills. SVdP North Texas connects individuals to partner banks and guarantees mini-loans of $500 to $4,000 to consolidate predatory payday and auto title loans into a low-interest loan with manageable monthly payments. To date, they have given out 475 loans. Recipients also receive financial coaching for the duration of the loan. When a loan is paid off, SVdP deposits $50 in the participant’s newly established savings account to encourage future saving.

“The spirituality of SVdP is unique. It’s a moment of encounter — encountering Christ in the poor and bringing Christ to them. It’s connecting our faith to works and action. Our motto is ‘Serve in Hope,’ and it is a blessing to show our neighbors in need that they can have hope because they are seen and loved.”

Luis is grateful for the opportunity to lead SVdP North Texas. “I want SVDP donors to know that their support enables us to show our neighbors that God cares for them, especially in their hour of greatest need. It is a privilege to work on behalf of our donors. Thank you for letting us serve in your name!”

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01-09-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

01-09-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/servant-leader-michael-acaldo-1.png 1200 1200 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 9, 2025 January 9, 2025

5 Great Virtues to Center Our Lives On!

As we enter a new calendar year, many of us embrace resolutions or new goals to better ourselves. The focus is usually on the mind, body, and spirit. As a Vincentian family, we have five great virtues to center our new year on — Simplicity, Humility, Gentleness, Selflessness, and Zeal.

Every new year is an opportunity to embrace our Vincentian Virtues. When I undertake a new resolution or change in my life, I often find it difficult to keep my full attention on it throughout the course of a year.

We are thrilled to announce this first publication of our new Frédéric’s Five newsletter, which is built on our five virtues. Every week, you will receive this email, which will be an ongoing reminder to grow and live by these essential elements of our Vincentian life.

This new publication will be shorter, more focused, and much easier to get through in today’s busy world. We will continue the popular Servant Leader column written by our Vincentian leadership. This will be followed by a Feature section highlighting newsworthy content, a compact Q&A section, a Calendar of Events section, and a Faith in Action section. Quick links to important Vincentian resources have also been added.

Our goal is that, by highlighting the five virtues, we help readers to keep each virtue close to their hearts and minds as they read the content.

Where did all these wonderful ideas to change the format of our membership newsletter come from? They came from you, our Vincentian family. Over time, we heard your feedback about the things you loved about the e-Gazette, and the things that you felt could be improved.

I would like to give a shout out of appreciation to Jill Pioter, National Director of Marketing and Communications; Pam Hudson Johnson, National Director of Membership Services; Kristen Blacksher, Digital Communications Manager; Tim Williams, Senior Director, Formation & Leadership Development; and the other Vincentian leaders that took all these thoughts and put them together in this wonderful new format.

As I mentioned above, these changes are from input we have received over time, and we want you to continue to give us input by commenting on this article or emailing us at usacouncil@svdpusa.org. Your input will be a gift to us to share through this new publication.

In my past columns, I have talked about my love and admiration for the many Vincentians that I have been blessed to observe, who live lives full of spirituality, friendship, and service. We are so blessed to have so many Vincentians emulating St. Vincent de Paul in their commitment to the five Vincentian Virtues. For a Fred Talk and more information on our Virtues, visit https://members.ssvpusa.org/our-spirituality/the-vincentian-virtues.

I know all of you are keeping those in California devastated by the wildfires in your thoughts and prayers. Be assured that our National Council and our SVdP USA Disaster Services Corporation will respond with a Vincentian compassionate hand of hope to those impacted by this terrible disaster.

Thank you for making 2024 a great year for our Society, and I wish you and your family a 2025 filled with blessings!

Happy New Year,
Michael J. Acaldo
National CEO

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SVdP Supporters Walk for the Poor in Anderson, Indiana

SVdP Supporters Walk for the Poor in Anderson, Indiana https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fop-walk.jpg 800 800 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 8, 2025 January 8, 2025

Even the after-effects of Hurricane Helene couldn’t stop SVdP Anderson, Indiana from hosting their annual Friends of the Poor Walk last September. “This event is the centerpiece of our fundraising for the year,” explains Becky, the event organizer, “so we weren’t going to cancel. When we saw the weather forecast, our local high school allowed us to move into the gym.”

“We start working on the event in March. Everything is done by volunteers — 81 of us in total. It’s a fundraising walk and a family festival, a chance for the community to come together and support neighbors who are struggling.”

More than 250 people attended, and 175 took part in the Walk. “It was a fantastic day,” Becky continues. “We had activities for kids and adults, including bounce houses, carnival games, balloon artists, and free ice cream.” A gift basket auction, 50/50 raffle, and an overflowing concession stand increased their overall fundraising. “We raised over $48,000 that will support our rent and utility assistance programs,” Becky says.

SVdP Anderson, IN serves a community with a poverty rate double the state average. Many people come to their Council for help because there are not sufficient services in the areas where they live. “Most of what we raise goes towards rental assistance, so people don’t lose their housing. Several of the families we work with are so far behind in payments that they’re facing eviction. We also help people catch up on gas
and utility bills. We are only open three hours a day, two days a week, but our all-volunteer staff served 1,870 families over the last 12 months.”

“I AM PROUD OF HOW OUR COUNCIL SERVES THE COMMUNITY,” SAYS BECKY. “WITH THE HELP OF OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS, WE DISTRIBUTED $176,200 OF FINANCIAL AID, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, AND EMERGENCY FOOD TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED THIS YEAR.”

Thank you for helping our local Councils serve their communities well! Together we are Serving in Hope and bringing the love of Christ to those who need it most.

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In the Spotlight: Young Vincentians John Paul and Francis Brissette

In the Spotlight: Young Vincentians John Paul and Francis Brissette https://ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/John-Paul-Francis-Brissette-young-Vincentians-social-media-e1736366105467.png 500 500 SVDP USA SVDP USA //ssvpusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/svdp-usa-ssvp-int.png January 8, 2025 January 8, 2025

JOHN PAUL AND FRANCIS BRISSETTE GREW UP IN RHODE ISLAND WATCHING THEIR MOM WORK WITH HER LOCAL SVDP COUNCIL. Learning about Blessed Frédéric Ozanam was an inspiration for the brothers.

“Frédéric founded the Society of St. Vincent de Paul when he was just a student,” Francis says. “He and his friends ignored people who said young people couldn’t make a difference and they got to work serving the poor.” Motivated by Ozanam’s example, John Paul and Francis helped start “Necessities for Neighbors” through the SVdP Rhode Island Council. Youth volunteers fill bags with essential items like soap and shampoo, and a handwritten note of encouragement. These bags are distributed by Vincentians on their Home Visits to individuals and families in need.

“We saw how SVdP Vincentians throughout America share the same heart for service.”

But the brothers wanted to do more. “We had a unique set of skills to offer SVdP,” John Paul says. “We could help spread their message
more effectively on social media, especially to people of our generation.”

The brothers’ @Franchismo10 account was already well-established on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and their creative videos regularly garnered millions of views. “We partnered with SVdP USA to highlight their work on social media,” Francis explains. “We pretty much lived on a plane for a year and a half, visiting Councils around the country and telling their stories to an online audience.”

The brothers knew they could help SVdP, but they had no idea how much they would learn along the way. “We saw how SVdP Vincentians throughout America share the same heart for service,” John Paul says. “But communities are unique, and it was incredible to see each Council tailoring its activities to meet the specific needs of their neighbors.”

“In Arizona, we helped Vincentians hand out water, something our Conference in Rhode Island doesn’t do,” Francis continues. “But that was a pressing need for that community. In Baltimore, they offer culinary lessons to help people build skills for employment. We saw firsthand how SVdP Councils have the flexibility to do what is necessary for the people they serve.”

Though they’re relatively young, John Paul and Francis are long-time Vincentians — “It was our dream!”— and are working to connect
young people to the organization. John Paul was recently given the SVdP Youth Service award and is Vice Chair of his Conference.

“There is a misconception that today’s youth won’t get involved,” Francis says, “but our generation is passionate about developing creative solutions to meet the needs of those around us. People our age need to be invited to share their time and talents. We can’t write big donation checks, but we can carry boxes of supplies up three flights of stairs!”

“SVdP gave us a reason to serve,” John Paul says. “We saw the face of Christ in all the Vincentians we worked with, and we want to share that opportunity with our peers. Christ calls people of every age to put their faith into action by serving their neighbors in need.”

YOU CAN SEE THE BROTHERS’ VIDEOS ON INSTAGRAM, TIKTOK, AND FACEBOOK AT @SVDPUSA AND @SVDPRI.

A Midyear Meeting to Remember in St. Louis

Devastating Wildfires Heighten Importance of Homelessness Prevention in California

by David Garcia, Executive Director, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Los Angeles

SVDP USA Will Open Washington D.C. Office to Advocate for Measures to Prevent Homelessness

Remarks to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic Social Ministry Gathering

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

Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family

Home Visit Highlight: SVdP Delivers Hope for the Holidays to Long Island Family

Meet Michael Acaldo, CEO

From the Bayou to CEO: Meet Michael Acaldo

SVdP North Texas Spotlight: Providing Health and Financial Freedom

Providing Health and Financial Freedom in North Texas

01-09-25 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

5 Great Virtues to Center Our Lives On!

SVdP Supporters Walk for the Poor in Anderson, Indiana

In the Spotlight: Young Vincentians John Paul and Francis Brissette

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