1-26-2023 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

1-26-2023 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders

1-26-2023 A Letter From Our Servant Leaders 900 900 SVDP USA

My Dear Vincentian Friends:

Thank you for the trust and faith you placed in me by electing me your next National Council President. I am humbled and honored (and honestly, maybe just a little bit scared) by this great honor. I know that I have big shoes to fill following my good friend, Ralph Middlecamp, as well as all the National Presidents that have served the National Council since its founding in 1845. I pledge to you that I will do my best to serve you and our Society to the best of my ability.

I ran for President because I wanted to help strengthen, grow, and prepare the Society for the future so that all who seek a journey of faith and service can find fulfillment in our Vincentian Family. I need your help to accomplish that. As I begin the transition into my new role, I would like to hear from you. What do you think are the most important and pressing issues we face as we move forward? What are the things we should be doing that we are not, doing differently than we are doing now, or not doing at all? What would help you in your growth in holiness and faith?

In over 25 years of service to the Society at all levels I have met many people. But I haven’t met everyone, and I don’t know everyone’s talents, skills, and desires. So, I’d also like to know how you’d like to help. Let me know if you’d be interested in becoming involved in the Society in a broader or larger role. We need people to serve on committees and task forces, to help with formation and spirituality, to support new efforts in technology and communications, and we need to identity new and emerging leaders to take us into the future.

Blessed Frederic told  us: “Charity must never look to the past, but always to the future, because the number of its past works is still very small and the present and future miseries that it must alleviate are infinite.” We are that future; YOU are that future. So, to put it simply, we need YOU. Become engaged and get involved. This is your Society, and it will be what you help make it. Together we can grow and improve, and continue to be that ‘Network of Charity’ that Frederic Ozanam dreamed of.

Please drop me a note to jberry@svdpusa.org and let me know your thoughts.

I look forward to working with you all and visiting with you over the next six years. I hope to be ‘out and about’ as much as possible so I can hear from you and see the incredible work that I know is being done across the country.

Peace and God bless,

John

6 Comments
  • Many blessings on your new journey and vocation as the servant leader of our Society. Will pray for you everyday to our Lord and the intercession to our Blesseds and Saints…
    God Bless

  • John, Thank you for your openness and we are her to support you in whatever endeavors you pursue with our SVdP society.

    God Bless you always,

    Victor Vera

  • John, Thank you for your openness and we are here to support you in whatever endeavors you pursue with our SVdP society.

    God Bless you always,

    Victor Vera

  • A big congratulations on your new role! My prayers are with you. I will continue to be part of and help improve/grow our service to the incarcerated with SVDP Prison Ministry. God Bless!

  • Congratulations John and sincere wishes for the best of luck in this new role heading our national organization. I look forward to meeting and working with you.

    As a fairly new member of the SVDPLI family and a fellow Long Islander, I am enthused and excited about the work we do here to help people. The stories of support, generosity and the differences we make are truly inspiring. As the person seeking financial support and advancing our message and constituent base, I utilize these stories of hope and help to engage and motivate others to action. It will be a great year for us as we celebrate our 75th anniversary, using that milestone to discuss over 7 decades of selfless work to help others and change lives. God bless and Godspeed!

  • This one

    Congratulations John Berry on your election! When we first met, I said what you said, to paraphrase, In all these years of service I have met many people., but I haven’t met you! We chatted briefly and then the inevitable time came as all who know me, the selfie.I

    Like Ralph, I ‘ll be rotating off my NCM designation September 30, but I can promise you continued service in the Archdiocese of Washington with our neighbors in need materially and us all spiritually! And at least six more selfies as we meet at Mid-year, the National Assembly and perhaps your visit to our fair shores of DC, the Maryland counties of Montgomery, Prince George and those comprising Southern Maryland Counties of Calvert, Charles & St Mary’s where we hosted Ralph and Renato my first NCM year six years ago! What a network of friends assembled during those meetings.

    Best Wishes,
    Tommye Grant
    svdpadccwash@gmail.com
    https://www.facebook.com/SVdPDC?mibextid=LQQJ4d

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