Diocesan Council Newsletter

January 7, 2022

Vincentian Community News

"It is from your hands that Our Lord in the person of the sick seeks relief.”

- 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.

Mass of Remembrance

The Mass of Remembrance will be held Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 10:30am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. All Vincentians are invited to come together to remember Vincentians and family members of Vincentians who died in 2021. Father Tom Reitmeyer, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, will be the celebrant.

Please use this registration link to register to attend this Mass and to identify those you specifically want remembered at the Mass.

New Look at the SVdP Thrift Store

The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store reopened Wednesday with new renovated checkout counters and new cash registers. Renovations took place between Christmas and New Year's Day. The new look will enhance the customer's experience and make it easier for customers to check out. In addition to the new checkout counters, lights have been added to the jewelry display cases. Volunteers and staff were excited to see the new renovations Monday, prior to being treated to lunch at Maggiano's Little Italy at the Domain.

Volunteers and staff seeing the new checkout counters Monday.

Jewelry display cases are now lit up.

Stores Director, Rick Bologna, explains the new process of checking out customers.

Executive Director, Roz Gutierrez, speaking at the team appreciation luncheon at

Maggiano's Little Italy.

Stores Director, Rick Bologna, explains the new process of checking out customers.

Team appreciation luncheon at

Maggiano's Little Italy.

Stores Director, Rick Bologna, speaking at the team appreciation luncheon at

Maggiano's Little Italy.

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.

The Baptism of the Lord

January 9, 2022

Gospel Reading: (Luke 3:15-16; 21-22)

The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Vincentian Reflection:

As Jesus was baptized by John, so must we be baptized –not just in the waters of repentance but by the Holy Spirit and fire which calls us, too, to give ourselves to God. Thus receiving the Spirit in our own baptism manifests our identity as ones who are saved, renewed, justified and heirs of eternal life, that is, those who also share in God’s life. Being baptized by fire means that we share in Jesus’ mission. We come to an appreciation of all this when we, like Jesus, contemplate this mystery of baptism in prayer. As we appreciate more and more who we are and what we are to do, we gradually come to realize that we ourselves are God’s presence for another. (Living Liturgy, p.36)

Vincentian Meditation:

The fire of the Holy Spirit gives us the grace to be God’s presence for another: “The best thing to give…to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a mother, reverence; to your father, conduct that will make him proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all people, charity.” All that was precisely what Jesus Christ did. That, too, was what His Mother did. It was what St. Vincent de Paul and all God’s saints did. May we be strengthened to do likewise.

(McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.728)

What are the “best things” that the fire of the Holy Spirit calls you to give?

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: Is there anything in the Rule or Manual that would prevent an individual to serve as President of both his/her District Council and President of his/her individual Conference simultaneously? If so, could an individual hold different offices within the Council and Conference? i.e., Council President, Conference Treasurer?

A: It is not a problem from the Rule and Bylaws for a Council President to also carry the office of Conference President. Nonetheless, it is not recommended because of the responsibilities including voting that go with each position.

The following circumstances should be clearly addressed and determined by the Council before allowing one individual to serve in both elected roles:

When a Council President holds the position of Conference President as well, does he/she get two votes in the Council meeting – one as President of the Conference and one as President of the Council?

Who represents the Conference in the Council meeting?

These should be answered before he/she takes office.

Preguntas y Respuestas de la

Oficina Nacional

P: ¿Hay algo en la Regla o en el Manual que impida que una persona sirva como Presidente de su Consejo de Distrito y Presidente de su Conferencia individual simultáneamente? Si es así, ¿podría una persona ocupar diferentes cargos dentro del Consejo y la Conferencia? es decir, Presidente del Consejo y Tesorero de la Conferencia?

R: No es un problema de la Regla y los Estatutos que un Presidente del Consejo también desempeñe el cargo de Presidente de la Conferencia. No obstante, no se recomienda debido a las responsabilidades, incluida la votación, que acompañan a cada puesto.

Las siguientes circunstancias deben ser tratadas claramente y determinadas por el Consejo antes de permitir que una persona sirva en ambos papeles electos:

Cuando un Presidente del Consejo ocupa también el puesto de Presidente de la Conferencia, ¿obtiene dos votos en la reunión del Consejo? ¿uno de Presidente de la Conferencia y uno como Presidente del Consejo?

¿Quién representa a la Conferencia en la reunión del Consejo?

Estos deben ser respondidos antes de que él o ella asuma el cargo.

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.