Vincentian Community News
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"There are many ways of providing charity. The assistance of money or assistance of
in-kind that we give to the poor will not last long. We must aspire to a more complete and longer lasting benefit: study their abilities, their level of instruction and try to get them work to help them out of their difficulties."
-Blessed Rosalie Rendu
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Feast of Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC
Sunday, February 7, 2021
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(Learn more about Blessed Rosalie Rendu, DC here.)
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Gospel Reading: (John 15: 9-17)
Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Live on in my love. You will live in my love if you keep my commandments, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and live in his love. All this I tell you that my joy may be yours and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love another as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Vincentian Reflection:
On April 23, 1833, Frederic Ozanam’s twentieth birthday, six students met in the office of their mentor Emmanuael Bailly, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was born. They resolved to respond to Christ’s call by dedicating themselves to the poor after the example of St. Vincent de Paul. They asked Sister Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity, for the names and addresses of several families in need. Sr. Rosalie was known as “The Mother of the Poor” in the Mouffetard Quarter of Paris. She taught Frederic much about the poor and how to minister to them with love and respect. The first members of the Society were determined not only to bring bread, but, above all, friendship to the poor.
(US Manual of the SVDP, p.179)
Vincentian Meditation:
Sr. Rosalie Rendu told Frederic and the first members of the Society: “Always remember, that if our childhood has been one of constant want, perhaps, we too, would have given away to envy and hatred, as I must admit have many of the poor we serve. Be kind and love, for love is your first gift to the poor. They will appreciate your kindness and your love more than all else you can bring to them. If you wish to be loved, you must love, and if you have nothing to give, give yourself.” (Sr. Rosalie Rendu)
How do Vincentians live the spirit of Frederic and Sr. Rosalie, by bringing love and friendship to the poor?
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National Marriage Week
February 7-14, 2021
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National Marriage Week is February 7-14! This is a wonderful opportunity to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family.
Prayer for Married Couples
Almighty and eternal God,
You blessed the union of married couples so that they might reflect the union of Christ with his Church: look with kindness on them.
Renew their marriage covenant, increase your love in them, and strengthen their bond of peace so that, with their children, they may always rejoice in the gift of your blessing.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
-foryourmarriage.org
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Helping Others Allows us to Encounter, Welcome Christ
By F. DeKarlos Blackmon
Director of Life, Charity, and Justice for the Diocese of Austin
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A couple of years ago, I participated in an Ozanam orientation which provided significant insight into the history, spirituality, organization and activities of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. While I have never considered any major fears, biases or judgments about my work among the poor, I recognize the natural human inclination for some is to feel troubled about the injustice that gives rise to the hardship and the suffering of the poor and marginalized.
Amidst the current coronavirus pandemic, I am aggrieved at the circumstances of so many families throughout Central Texas who are enduring the effects of unemployment, stay-at-home orders and remote learning due to in-person schooling being restricted. The lack of adequate childcare resources further impacts the ability of parents to work and provide sustenance for their families. Read more...
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Black History Month Series
Presented by the SVdP African American Task Force
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Father Tolton: How Persistence Propelled Him
to Priesthood
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“Since the Bible says we ALL were made in the image and likeness of God, “Why isn’t my likeness accepted by others?” “Why aren’t there clergy that look like me?” “Am I inferior?”
These are some of the questions with which many Christian people of color wrestle.
I do not know if Augustus Tolton asked these questions, but I do know he did not allow others’ lack of appreciation for his race to prevent him from being faithful to his master’s call. Thankfully, rejection by society does not mean rejection by God.
Father Tolton came from a lineage of African Americans who had been enslaved. His grandparents Augustus and Maltida Chisley were enslaved by a Catholic family, the Mannings. When the Mannings purchased people as slaves, they had them baptized and instructed as Catholics. Read more.....
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The National Council Office has announced that the 2021 Midyear Business Meeting will be held virtually March 3 - 6, 2021. This is out of an abundance of caution for everyone's health.
This year’s agenda will include a Spiritual Retreat, Workshops, Board of Directors and Business Meetings, Disaster Services Training, as well as a special event presentation and Virtual Vendor Showcase.
The annual Midyear Meeting is a Governance and training event designed for National Council Members (the Presidents of the Diocesan Council or “top” District Council per Diocese), Executive Directors and other current or prospective Council leaders. However the Midyear, especially a virtual one, is open to all interested Vincentians!
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Aren’t We All “Flat-earthers”?
By John Freund, CM, Systemic Change
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First some Wikipedia facts about “flat-earthers.”
Many today believe that European scholars and educated people during the Middle Ages believed the Earth to be flat rather than spherical. However, there is clear documentation that the idea of a spherical Earth comes from the ancient Greeks (5th century BC).
There does seem to be a delightful irony that we who think we are not “flat- earthers” still believe that spherical earth is a modern insight. So, who are you calling a “flat-earther”?
In a sense we all are flat-earthers. Most of us cannot see beyond the boundaries of our experience. At any given point in our lives, we have trouble imagining something we have never experienced. Read more..
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Catholic Social Ministry Gathering
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The 2021 Catholic Social Ministry Gathering will take place virtually February 6 -9, 2021. This year's them is "Make Justice Your Aim: Rebuilding Together." Participants will pray, learn, and advocate together on the disparities revealed by COVID-19 and new models of justice and solidarity.
For more information about registration and to see this year's agenda, click here.
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Save the Date! The New Member Orientation meeting will take place on Saturday, February 27, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the present need to isolate and social distance, it is not possible to hold our regular Ozanam Orientation sessions.
The National Office has provided us with a presentation that can be used for new members until we can all meet together again in Ozanam Orientation. This is an alternative (not a replacement for) Ozanam Orientation. New Members are still expected to attend Ozanam Orientation whenever in-person meetings resume. Until then, this will satisfy the need for new Conference members to attend Ozanam Orientation before going on home visits.
The registration link will be available next week.
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
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The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is open Thursday - Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm. You are invited to come and shop for great items at great prices. You never know what treasures you will find as you explore the store.
We are taking every precaution to ensure your safety. Everyone is required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Hand sanitizer is also available when you enter the store. The Thrift Store is sprayed with disinfected spray weekly.
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Become a Thrift Store Volunteer!
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You can make a difference in the community by volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store. The Thrift Store is in need of volunteers to assist with many tasks including: sorters, organizers, and pricers. To keep everyone safe and healthy, volunteers are required to wear masks and practice social distancing.
It easy to sign up! Just click on the link below.
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Interested in volunteering?
You can sign up by clicking on this link.
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COVID-19 cases are spiking across the U.S. and Central Texas. Health officials have moved Austin-Travis County into stage 5. You are reminded to continue wearing your masks and practice social distancing to slow the spread of the virus.
Health officials are asking everyone to avoid high-risk activities and to be cautious with all medium-risk activities to help prevent the spread of virus. You can read the COVID-19 Holiday Safety Guidance here.
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: Is there some guidance about saying that a financial review by another Conference is all that is required, not by an expensive audit firm?
A: For Conferences with no stores or special works, the informal Conference audit using the Conference Audit Manual and Worksheets can be used. It is found in Governance-in-a-Box under Additional Resources.
For Diocesan Councils, District Councils and Conferences with Stores and or other special works, a formal audit is the specification. A simple, informal audit for these structures has not been established. These are too complex. If you are receiving grant funds, the funder usually requires a formal audit. Determine this before applying for funds so that the audit costs can be included in the total program/project costs.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: ¿Existe alguna guía que diga que una revisión financiera por otra Conferencia es todo requerido, no una firma de auditoría costosa?
R: : Para conferencias sin Tiendas o trabajos especiales, se puede utilizar la auditoría informal en el Manual de Auditoría de Conferencias. Se encuentra el manual y los formularios en el sitio de web, Recursos Adicionales, Gobierno-en-una-Caja.
Para los Consejos Diocesanos, los Consejos de Distrito y las Conferencias con Tiendas u otros trabajos especiales, la especificación es una auditoría formal. NO se ha establecido una auditoría informal simple para estas estructuras. Son demasiado complejos. Si recibe fondos de una subvención, el financiador generalmente requiere una auditoría formal. Determine esto antes de solicitar fondos para que los costos de auditoría se puedan incluir en los costos totales del programa/proyecto
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Call 1.888.317.SVDP
visit www.ssvdp.org
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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.
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Council Office:
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Client Services:
Tuesday - Friday
9:00am - 12:00pm
Food Pantry:
Saturday
9:00am - 12:00pm
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
Thursday - Saturday
10:00am - 5:00pm
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