Diocesan Council Newsletter

January 28, 2022

Vincentian Community News

“Our Lord has no use for our knowledge or our good works if He does not possess our heart; and even this heart He does not wish if we do not give it to Him when He asks.”

-St. Vincent de Paul

COVID-19 Stage 5 Risk Guidelines

Austin-Travis County is in Stage 5 of the risk-based guidelines. According to Austin health officials, COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions have increased. Vaccinated and unvaccinated people should take precaution at private indoor gatherings and outdoor gatherings. You are urged to wear a mask and social distance.

For more information visit austintexas.gov/COVID19.

Due to the surge in cases, all staff and volunteers at the Vincentian Family Center are required to wear masks at all times. Persons (customers) who cannot or will not wear a mask will not be allowed to enter the building for any reason. This also includes anyone in the client service area whether or not they are staff, volunteers or someone requesting assistance. The proper way to wear a mask is to cover both the mouth and nose with the mask. More information is below.

Fuzzy Slipper Hotline

We need volunteers for the Fuzzy Slipper’s Hotline! This is a hotline intended to connect our Neighbors in Need to the Conference nearest to them when they contact the Council Office asking for assistance.

Fuzzy Slippers it easy, you can do it from the comfort of your home, and the commitment is only a few hours a month. You’ll be calling our Diocese-wide Helpline from your home and transcribing the information (name, address, phone number and needs request). You will return the call to the neighbor in need to give them the contact information for the Conference nearest to them. We need English and Spanish speakers.

Interested in joining Fuzzy Slippers? Contact Barb Schaffer for more information at : richardbarbschafer@gmail.com.

Spiritual Advisor Formation and Training

A Spiritual Advisor Formation and Training Webinar will be held next month for Spiritual Advisors, Associate Spiritual Advisors, or those thinking of becoming Spiritual Advisors. This three-part training and formation program will be held February 22, 23, and 24 at 7:00pm Central. Whether you are new or experienced, if you have never previously attended, please register and attend this program led by Tim Williams, National Formation Director, and James Davis, South Central Region Spiritual Advisor.

Over three evenings, you will learn about Vincentian Formation, the role of the Spiritual Advisor, tools, resources, and reflections you can use, and Vincentian Discernment and Consensus.

We also encourage attendance by Conference and Council Presidents, who have “a special responsibility for promoting Vincentian spirituality.”

SVdP MidYear Meeting

Registration for SVdP Midyear Meeting is now open!

Join us the for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's 2022 Midyear Business Meeting, March 16 - 19, 2022 at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri! The agenda is packed with Education, Spirituality, and informative information about the Society and helping those in need. Highlights include: Spiritual Retreat, Committee Meetings, Regional Meetings, and our Midyear Business Meeting. We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis!

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store

The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is open Wednesday - Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm. Come, explore, and shop for unique items throughout the thrift store.

We are taking every precaution to ensure your safety and to stop the spread of COVID-19. Everyone is required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing in the Thrift Store. Hand sanitizer is also available when you enter the store.

The Thrift Store is in need of volunteers to serve as greeters, cashiers, donation sorters, taggers, and to assist customers in various departments. Are you interested in volunteering? You can sign up by clicking on this link .

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

January 30, 2022

Gospel: (Luke 4:21-30)

Jesus began speaking in the synagogue…and all were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph? He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician heal yourself.’ And say ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’” And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.” When the people heard all that he was saying, they were filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, to hurl him down headlong. But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

Reflection:

As the crowds doubted who Jesus was because of his simple origins, so will others doubt who we are if we courageously live the gospel. No matter what simple origins we might have, our living the gospel is what must shape our everyday choices. This means, for example, that if the chatter around the coffee machine at work grows uncharitable or coarse, we have the courage to walk away. If prejudice exists among our friends and acquaintances, we have the courage to extol the dignity of the minority. We are called to place gospel values before any other values and to be willing to put our lives on the line for them. (Living Liturgy, p.50)

Vincentian Meditation:

St. Vincent was also from “simple origins” but he also had a striking belief in the power of the gospel. He told us that, “Each one must strive, above all else, to ground himself in this truth: the teaching of Christ can never deceive, while that of the world is always false, since Christ himself declares that the latter is like a house built on sand, whereas he compares his own to a building founded upon a solid rock.” For this reason we must always make claim to act according to the maxims of Christ, never according to those of the world. (Maloney, Go! On the Missionary Spirituality of St. Vincent de Paul, p. 150)

How does your living of the gospel shape your everyday choices?

Prayer Requests

Do you have a prayer request? Send us your prayers at prayerrequest@ssvdp.org.

We will offer them up in prayer weekly.

National Gazette Questions and Answers

Q: We have a Conference president approaching the end of her second term, preparing a succession plan for the next election. No current member of this active Conference seems willing to step up to succeed her. If that does not change, what should happen with the Conference?

A: There are two choices; either elect someone from within or close the Conference. It is up to the Conference members to step forward and provide leadership for their Conference. A District Council president can temporarily appoint someone to be Conference president if no president is nominated before the current president term ends; but an election has to take place as soon as possible and within a reasonable time. The current president should NOT stay in office by either appointment or re-election.

Preguntas y Respuestas de la

Oficina Nacional

P: Tenemos a una presidenta de la Conferencia acercándose al final de su segundo mandato, preparando un plan de sucesión para las próximas elecciones. Ningún miembro actual de esta Conferencia activa parece dispuesto a dar un paso al frente para sucederle. Si eso no cambia, ¿qué debería pasar con la Conferencia?

R: Hay dos opciones; elegir a alguien de dentro o cerrar la Conferencia. Depende de los miembros de la Conferencia dar un paso adelante y proporcionar liderazgo para su Conferencia. Un presidente del Consejo de Distrito puede designar temporalmente a alguien para que sea presidente de la Conferencia si no se nombra a ningún presidente antes de que finalice el mandato del presidente actual; pero la elección tiene que pasar lo más pronto posible y dentro de un tiempo razonable. El presidente actual NO debe permanecer en el cargo ni por nombramiento ni por reelección.

Volunteer Opportunities

You can make a difference by sharing your time and talents. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin has new volunteer opportunities available in the Thrift Store, Client Services, and Council Office. We now have a new and easy way for you to sign up. Visit the volunteer page on ssvdp.org/volunteer, complete the form, and submit it. You will be contacted by a Council staff member.

Ready to volunteer? Click on this link to sign up!

Connect with us:

Donate your vehicle to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We make donating your car, truck, motorcycle, or boat easy. Call 1-800-317-SVDP (7837) or visit www.ssvdp.org/vehicle-donation. The process is free and easy!

Partner Programs

An easy and free way to support the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is to join our partner programs. Sign up for one or both of the programs, and our partner agencies will donate a portion of their proceeds from your purchases to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. You can find more information by clicking this link.