July 3, 2026 Weekly Newsletter | | |
On behalf of SVdP Chicago, we would like to thank all who participated in our USA 250 Basket Raffle and Split the Pot fundraiser. We would also like to congratulate our two winners:
USA 250 Celebration Basket Winner: Marge Lawlor, SVdP St. Benedict Conference.
Split the Pot: Michael Minnis from Tinley Park. Michael won $370 and has graciously donated it back to SVdP. Thank you Michael for your support and generosity!
If you want to watch the facebook live feed of the winners being drawn, click HERE.
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UPCOMING FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES
(Click on Appropriate Flyer Below for More Information)
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Conference Guidelines
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Thursday, July 16, 2026
Monday, July 20, 2026
(All sessions are identical)
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Ozanam Orientation
(In-Person Workshop)
St. Frances of Rome
July 18, 2026
| We must have a minimum of 15 attendees or we will have to cancel. Please RSVP as soon as possible. | | |
Recruiting New Members
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
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Ozanam Orientation
Saturday, August 1, 2026 (Pt. 1)
Saturday, August 2, 2026 (Pt. 2)
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Recruiting & Retaining Members
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
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Recruiting New Members
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Monday, August 17, 2026
Thursday, August 20, 2026
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Home Visitation
Saturday, August 15, 2026
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Mark Your Calendars
Annual Memorial Mass and Awards Ceremony
Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 3:00 PM
St. Damian
5250 W. 155th Street - Oak Forest, IL
Our Annual Memorial Mass and Awards Ceremony is just over three months away, and we are already looking forward to gathering for what promises to be a meaningful and memorable afternoon together.
If you would like to nominate someone for an award, submit the name of a loved one to be remembered during the Memorial Mass, or RSVP for the event, please click the appropriate link below.
If you have any questions, please contact Elvia at elvia@svdpchicago.org or
(773) 779-6700, ext. 107.
Please note that all Award Nominations and In Remembrance submissions must be received no later than Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
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Invite Jesus to Your Conference or Council Meeting
Wouldn’t it be great if Jesus could be physically present with us in our Conference or Council meeting? Think about it. We pray to Him, we ask Him for His guidance. We know that He is divinely present in all we do. But what would it mean to us to have Him physically present as well. It is possible.
In years past, the recommendation for all Conference and Council meetings was to light a candle at the beginning of the meeting and snuff it at the end. The meaning was that our whole meeting was a prayer we offered to God. Fire regulations have limited this process today. However, we can have Jesus present with us. It can be done electronically.
Through technology, this blessing is available to all Vincentians. We can bring Him into our meeting at any time of the day or night. It is not simply having a picture in front of us. It is viewing a live presentation of the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Marytown in Libertyville, IL has a live stream presentation of the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. This is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Since it is a live presentation, it is as if you are actually present there in the Marytown Chapel; and vice versa, it is as if Jesus is coming to you live from the Marytown Chapel.
Here is the simple process for this to take place. Have your Spiritual Advisor (or one of the other members) use their computer, I-pad, or smart phone to make the connection. Of course, depending on how long the meeting is to take place, you should have your equipment plugged in rather than drain the battery. Simply click on the link below and Jesus will be there with you for as long as you want, a few minutes or a few hours.
https://kolbeshrine.org/chapel-live-stream
Take advantage of this opportunity to spend some valuable time with our Lord.
On June 27, 2026, Our Lord was present in the Blessed Sacrament
at the ADC Board Meeting and will be present in the future.
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Where Love Becomes Flesh: A Vincentian Reflection on the Works of Mercy
Our FamVin formation team created a Vincentian reflection on the works of mercy to help deepen our understanding and commitment to them as members of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Mercy as the Heartbeat of the Gospel
Mercy is the radiant core of the Gospel. In the Scriptures, we find a God who abounds in compassion, who hears the cry of the poor, who heals the brokenhearted, and who invites His followers to do likewise. Jesus, in the parable of the Last Judgment (Matthew 25), leaves no room for ambiguity: what we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to Him.
The Church has traditionally summarized the corporal and spiritual responses to human suffering in what are called the Works of Mercy. These fourteen actions—seven corporal and seven spiritual—have been lived and promoted by saints and communities throughout the centuries. They are not optional, rather they are constitutive elements of Christian discipleship. St. Vincent de Paul, the great apostle of charity, did not merely encourage acts of mercy—he organized them, systematized them, and consecrated his life to them.
6. Visit the Imprisoned, or ransom the captive
Prisoners are often forgotten. Vincentians challenge us to go where others fear, to recognize the human person behind the bars. Jesus was a prisoner too. To visit the imprisoned is to affirm that no one is beyond redemption.
Food for thought:
- Do I judge those who are incarcerated?
- Can I advocate for restorative justice?
- Am I willing to accompany those the world condemns?
Prayer
Liberator of the Captive,
Break the chains of shame and despair.
Let your mercy enter every prison cell.
Make me a witness of hope,
a companion on the path to freedom.
Amen.
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Archdiocesan Council of Chicago Vincentians, Employees, and Volunteers,
HAPPY 250th BIRTHDAY AMERICA!
Milestone birthdays seem to be a little extra special when celebrated. Remember the Bicentennial? All the hoopla, picnics and patriotic parades topped by over-the-top fireworks shows. It was quite a celebration in the small town where I grew up. The memories of 1976 still make me smile. Especially when I get a $2 bill in change and remember my aunt, a bank teller, giving each of us a crisp newly introduced $2 bill as part of the festivities.
Recently, I was reminded of another special birthday celebration. I was going through some papers during the 4-day power outage last month’s storms caused and came across the list of “You’re So Old” jokes I created for my dad’s 60th birthday. Now, while I was growing up birthdays were celebrated simply. Every year my birthday gift was going fishing with my father and brother because Trout season opened on my birthday in New York. My dad would tell me the story of my birth and mom would cook up whatever the 3 “fishermen” caught for dinner. Very simple. Very memorable. Filled with love.
So, why was the 60th birthday for dad a special occasion? Being the youngest of 11 children and orphaned by age 7, turning 60 meant he was now a family “elder” to hand out wisdom. Also, at the age of 36, dad had a massive heart attack, died and was brought back several times that evening, and had major open-heart surgery to remove a giant aneurysm from his heart all before being determined permanently disabled by his doctors. Reaching 60 years old was something that needed a HUGE celebration. The plan: Every day for 60 days prior to his birthday I would mail a birthday card containing $1 for coffee and a newspaper, and a “You’re So Old” joke. A few of my favorites were: “You’re so old, Moses was still in diapers when you were born.” And “You’re so old, your first pet was a dinosaur.”
2 years later, after dad passed from complications of a heart transplant, we found the 60 cards lined up in order in his drawer. The simple act of sending 60 birthday cards meant the world to my dad. Finding out how much it meant still means the world to me.
As Vincentians, we don’t always get to witness how much the love we give our neighbors means to them. However, we can share with our fellow Vincentians how we grow spiritually from our encounters with our neighbors. We can celebrate our milestones with each other simply, making memories that stem from love. Life and friendship should be celebrated. They are both gifts from God.
As you all celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S.A., please be safe, make those special memories for the children of today to look back on at our country’s tricentennial, and enjoy this one last “You’re so old joke” that I sent to my dad.
(For the U.S.A.): “You’re so old, I can’t think of any more you’re so old jokes.”
Dana
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Christmas in July Means the 2nd Annual Magic of Christmas Is Just Around the Corner!
Dear Vincentians,
As we celebrate Christmas in July at our Orland Park and Libertyville Thrift Stores, we are also beginning preparations for one of our most heartwarming programs of the year, our 2nd Annual Magic of Christmas.
We are asking Conferences to begin thinking about Friends in Need whose families may benefit from participating in Santa’s Toy Workshop. Please start gathering your lists of families so you are ready when the Google Form is shared next week. The form will allow Conferences to submit each family’s information, which will help us prepare and mail invitations for families to shop at Santa’s Toy Workshop at no cost to them.
Collecting this information will also help us better understand the ages of the children we will be serving so we can ensure we have enough toys available. Our Santa’s Toy Workshops will be held during the first two weeks of November.
If you would like to get involved or have any questions, please email me at teresa@svdpchicago.org or call me at (773) 779-6700, ext. 108.
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Old St. Patrick's: Near West Side Community Care Night
The SVdP Conference at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago held their first Near West Community Care Night, which provided food, showers, hygiene items, health resources, and compassionate support to those in need. With over 50 volunteers, this turned out to be a very successful event.
To read the full article, click here: Caring for the Community
To watch the highlights, click here: SVDP Conference at Old St. Patrick’s – Near West Community Care Night
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Annual Memorial Mass & Awards Ceremony
Sunday, September 27 | 3:00 PM
St. Damian's Parish
5250 W. 155th Street, Oak Forest, IL
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Spirit of Love Fall Benefit
Sunday, October 18 | 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
115 Bourbon Street
3559 W. 115th Street, Merrionette Park, IL
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St. Mary
Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser
When: Monday, August 3
Time: 10:30am Check-in
For more information, visit the Conference Facebook Page: St. Mary’s SVdP Conference – Facebook
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Holidays and Holy Days
July 2026
04 - Independence Day
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Bundle Weekends: July 2026
11-12: St. Paul VI/Mater Cristi Parish, 2431 S. 10th Avenue, North Riverside
11-12: St. Joseph Parish, 4801 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL
18-19: Santa Maria del Popolo, 116 N. Lake Street, Mundelein, IL
25-26: St. Alphonsus, 1429 W. Wellington Avenue, Chicago, IL
30-Aug 2: St. Mary of Vernon, 236 US Hwy 45, Indian Creek, IL
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Do You Know Someone Who Wants to Donate and Needs a Pick-Up ... ReSupply is There!
If you or someone you know wants to donate, please share with them our partner, ReSupply. They can call (773) 779-6700, ext. 116 or visit our website at www.svdpchicago.org and click on the truck at the bottom of the page.
Whether it's a whole house or a handful of boxes/bags, ReSupply will pick-up and deliver to one of our stores.
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How Can I Find Contact Information for a Fellow Vincentian?
Are you in need of contact information for a fellow Vincentian with SVdP Chicago but don’t know where to look?
Visit National’s portal at https://www.svdpmembers.com/login.
If you have any problem logging in, reach out to Elvia at elvia@svdpchicago.org or (773) 779-6700, x107, for assistance.
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Mission Statement
To witness God's love by building a better tomorrow for those in need through
person-to-person works of charity and helping people journey out of poverty.
Vision Statement
A network of charity that creates spiritual growth for Vincentians and a
more just world for people in need.
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