Vincentian Community News |
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"Since Christ willed to be born poor.. he made himself the servant of the poor and shared their poverty... He went so far as to say that he would consider every deed this either helps or harms the poor as done for who strengthens me."
-St. Vincent de Paul
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Gospel Reading: (Mark 1:1-8)
As it is written in Isaiah, the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins…This is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Vincentian Reflection:
John knew the Advent secret: He focused his whole life on the coming of Jesus. He realized that his all-consuming vocation was to prepare the way of the Lord. Our own vocation is very similar. Saint Vincent tells us that the person of Jesus must be absolutely central in our lives, as it was for following Christ. We seek to share in his love and reverence for the Father and his compassionate and effective love for the poor. With him we trust in God’s providence, which rules over all. For Vincentians, as for John the Baptist, there is nothing else but Jesus.
(Maloney, Seasons in Spirituality, p. 47)
Vincentian Meditation:
John the Baptist’s life makes it very clear that the following of Christ involves a demanding asceticism. He knew how to focus attention not on himself but on the Lord whom he served. He knew humility, and the ground for enormous freedom that humility gives. The humble recognize, with Vincent, that “all good which is done by them comes from God.” Power, prestigious positions, the praise of others, wealth-all these mean little to the humble. The humble recognize their own gifts and their own limitations. Saint Vincent described humility as a missionary virtue that was utterly necessary in the service of the poor, saying: “Let us work hard at acquiring virtue and principally humility, yes humility. Let us ask God constantly that he be pleased to give us this virtue” (Maloney, Seasons in Spirituality, p.45-46)
How do you see the virtue of humility alive in your Conference?
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The annual Word on Fire Advent Reflections will soon be available on the SVdP website.
During Advent, new content from Bishop Robert Barron will be updated daily. The reflections will be located in the Daily Readings section under the Resources tab.
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#IGiveCatholic on #GivingTuesday |
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Special thank you to all who made a donation to our #iGiveCatholic campaign and to those who supported us with prayer. We exceeded our goal which will help us in our mission to help our neighbors in need. |
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RENT 2.0 Community Outreach |
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The City of Austin's Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Program is available for eligible tenants in the city of Austin. Neighbors must apply for the program online at AustinTexas.gov/RENT.
Neighbors who wish to apply are welcome to use the computer lab at the Vincentian Family Center during Client Services hours Tuesday - Friday from 9:00am - 12:00pm. During this time, help will be available for those who need assistance with the application process.
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store |
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The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is open three days a week; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00am - 4:00pm. With new donations coming in weekly, you never know what treasures you will find.
For the health and safety of everyone in the store, shoppers are required to wear a face covering that covers the mouth and nose. Our staff and volunteers are also required to wear face coverings. Shoppers are also asked to practice social distancing while enjoying their shopping experience.
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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 4. You are reminded to continue wearing your masks and practice social distancing to slow the spread of the virus.
For the Thanksgiving holidays, 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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Vincent de Paul: Charity's Saint |
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In 2010 to celebrate the 350th anniversaries of the deaths of Saint Vincent de Paul (September 27, 1660) and Saint Louise de Marillac (March 15, 1660) the Vincentian Studies Institute of DePaul University undertook the project of creating the first full length-documentary about Saint Vincent and Saint Louise. "Vincent de Paul: Charity's Saint," is the impressive result of these efforts. |
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: What is the importance of sustainability when it comes to helping our neighbors in need? Should sustainability be questioned or sidelined during this period of financial uncertainty?
A: Although sustainability is what we hope to achieve with those we serve, it is not the goal of the Society and not questioned. It is our role to love those in need in the best way possible. Sometimes we help people now because it is the right thing to do, even if it means they will come back to us next week.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: ¿Cuál es la importancia de la sostenibilidad cuando se trata de ayudar a nuestros vecinos con necesidades? ¿Debería cuestionarse o dejarse de lado la sostenibilidad durante este período de incertidumbre financiera?
R: Aunque la sostenibilidad es lo que esperamos lograr con aquellos a quienes servimos, no es el objetivo de la Sociedad y no se cuestiona. Nuestro papel es amar a la gente con necesidades de la mejor manera posible. A veces ayudamos a las personas ahora porque es lo correcto, incluso si eso significa que volverán a nosotros la semana que viene.
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You can make an impact while you shop for friends and loved ones. Simply shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/74-2763690 and AmazonSmile will donate to The Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Diocesan Council of Austin, at no cost to you. |
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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
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Contact Us:
Rick Bologna, Stores Director, rick.bologna@ssvdp.org
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