Diocesan Council Newsletter

April 15, 2022

Vincentian Community News

“Each of our days is marked with the protection of Mary, who is exceedingly anxious to be our mother, when we desire to be her children.”

- St. Vincent de Paul

Good Friday

Today, we celebrate Good Friday of the Lord's Passion. As we mark this day on which Jesus was crucified, pray the Stations of the Cross to reflect on Christ's Passion.

Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name. (Phil 2:8-9)

Serving in Hope

Join us on Wednesday, May 11 at noon for our Serving in Hope Luncheon! The event will be held at St. William Catholic Church in the Evangelization Center. This is our largest fundraiser of the year! Participants will enjoy a complimentary meal while learning about the mission and work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Funds raised will help our programs that serve our neighbors in need.

You can help make this a success! We need table captains, volunteers, and for you to spread the word. The deadline to RSVP is April 27, 2022. For more information, contact the Director of Development and Marketing, Kanobia Russell-Blackmon at kanobia@ssvdp.org.

Happy Easter!

On behalf of the Diocesan Council of Austin, we wish you a Happy and Blessed Easter!

General Assembly

The 2022 General Assembly will be held on Saturday, May 21 at St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Austin from 9:00am - 2:00pm. The cost is $8.00 which covers your breakfast tacos and box lunch. National Vincentian Formation Director Tim Williams will be our guest speaker. Registration is open now. Just click here.

Austin Diaper Bank

Thanks to our partnership with the Austin Diaper Bank, we distribute diapers to families at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry on Saturdays. Members from the Austin Diaper Bank joined us a few weeks ago on Food Pantry day at the Vincentian Family Center and passed out extra diapers. They also collected surveys for their Diaper Economic Impact Study.

Ozanam Orientation

Save the Date! The next Ozanam Orientation is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 from 9:00am - 2:30pm. More details will be released soon.

Ozanam Orientations are designed to set up our new Vincentians for success and re-energize those Vincentians who have already served. All new Vincentians are asked to attend an Ozanam Orientation within their first year in ministry; current Vincentians should attend an Ozanam refresher every 3-5 years.

COVID-19 Community Level: Low

The City of Austin and Travis County COVID-19's community levels are currently low. There are new risk-based guidelines which includes three community levels of risk: low, medium and high.

Recommendations for people who are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines:

Low: Precautions optional when gathering, dining and shopping.
Medium: Precautions optional when gathering, dining and shopping. Mask when social distancing is not possible.
High: Use precautions when gathering, dining and shopping.

Recommendations for people who are at risk:

Low: Precautions optional when gathering, dining and shopping.
Medium: Use precautions when gathering, dining and shopping.
High: Use precautions when gathering, dining and shopping.

Precautions included wearing a mask, washing your hands, and practicing social distancing.

https://www.austintexas.gov/page/covid-19-risk-based-guidelines

The policy in the SVdP Thrift Store and the Council Offices is now "Wearing a mask is optional."

National Webinars

In Fréderic Ozanam’s original vision for the Society, he expressed a desire that Vincentians use their meetings as an opportunity to serve neighbors in need and personal spiritual growth. When Vincentians gather together at traditional meetings and innovative webinars, they can share their talents and resources in service of our neighbors in need.

Please check out these great opportunities for the Fred Talks - great 4 - 5 minute videos that can be used for reflection at your Conference meetings!

SVDP National Fred Talks

St. Vincent de Paul Thrift 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 .

Holy Week Hours

Good Friday

Council Office Closed

SVdP Thrift Store Closed

Client Services Open

Holy Saturday

SVdP Thrift Store Open

Client Services Open

Easter Sunday

April 17, 2022

Gospel: (John 20:1-9)

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb…When Simon Peter went into the tomb and he saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.

Reflection:

Even on this day when the gospel announces the risen Lord, we feel the contradictions that the resurrection mystery arouses—seeing and believing on the one hand, misunderstanding and confusion on the other. This mystery defies all human understanding. The Easter stories tells us that the resurrection isn’t something we understand, but believe and live. The challenge really lies in seeing and believing the resurrection comes through our own lives of self-sacrifice that bring new life to others. (Living Liturgy, p.108)

Vincentian Meditation:

On Easter Sunday Jesus rose gloriously from the tomb and in doing so He has given us, who believe in Him, an assurance that we, too, will, by His power, rise from the dead. There are people who say that there will be no resurrection, that there is nothing after death. When next you hear this, think of springtime. During the long hard winter, you wonder “Will spring ever come this year?” The ground was frozen hard and there was not a sign of life in the fields or on the trees. But now everything is changing. Flowers are appearing, the wheat is growing in the fields and leaves are beginning to appear on the trees. No human power can keep back springtime. Since the day Jesus Christ rose from the dead, the first signs of an eternal springtime have begun to appear. Each of us has met Christians who, despite great suffering that cannot be explained, have continued to believe that death is not the end. These people are signs for us that Jesus Christ has really risen. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 220)

Who are the “Easter” people you have known?

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: Are there any general guidelines on interviewing our friends in need? Is there a guide for interviewers on Do’s or questions not to ask?

A: Guidance for Home Visits and interviews can be found in two new books on the website: Vincentian Life: Conference and Vincentian Life: Member. These files may be found on the National Council’s website Leadership tab under the category of Basics About Conferences. Click here.

Preguntas y Respuestas de la

Oficina Nacional

P: ¿Existen pautas generales para entrevistar a nuestros amigos con necesidades? ¿Existe una guía para los entrevistadores sobre lo que se debe hacer o las preguntas que no se deben hacer?

R: Se puede encontrar orientación para visitas domiciliarias y entrevistas en dos nuevos libros en el sitio web: Vida Vicentina: Conferencia y Vida Vicentina: Miembro. Estos archivos se pueden encontrar en el Portal de Extensión del sitio web del Consejo Nacional en la categoría de Capacitación de Oficiales de Conferencias. Haga clic aquí: https://members.ssvpusa.org/leadership/.

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.