A Call For Vincentian Prayer! |
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There is perhaps no one among us at this time who is not facing a challenging time in our life - Maybe yours is caused by the pandemic, racial disparity, the election, politics, unemployment, family issues, loneliness, etc..
Whatever challenges you are facing in life – know that God is an all-loving God who eagerly awaits our union with him. And so, as I have, I encourage all of us to turn to our loving Father in prayer.
I invite you to use this social downtime and with less Vincentian activity to focus more deeply in prayer and engage in reading resources to enrich your faith.
Next week, you will receive an email from me with details about how we can rest on our Vincentian pillars of spirituality, friendship and service, emphasizing especially on our pillars of spirituality and friendship. I will send an invitation to participate in a weekly SVdP St. Louis Rosary via Zoom, along with prayer and reading resources.
Your brother in Christ,
John Foppe
Executive Director
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Free Medications Through Rx Outreach |
Rx Outreach is offering free medication. This is just an outside resource for those who may need it and is not replacing SVdP's medication program. Click the flyer for a full image or visit the website for a full list of available medications. To enroll, scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Enroll in Rx Outreach." |
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Ozanam Orientations
Tuesday, August 18, 2020, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Virtual Orientation over Zoom
NEW DATE: Saturday, October 24, 2020,
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Sacred Heart Crystal City, 555 Bailey Rd.,
Crystal City, MO 63109
Saturday, January 20, 2021, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Immaculate Conception-Dardenne Prairie,
7701 Highway N,
Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368
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Home Visit Trainings
Home Visit Training 101
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Virtual Training Over Zoom
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Formation Events
Building Rapport with Neighbors
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Virtual Event over Zoom
The Importance of Intact Families
Tuesday, August 25, 2020 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Virtual Event over Zoom
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Please register on the SVdP events page (password: Vincent) if you plan on attending any events. Each session is limited to 50 Vincentians. Participants are required to connect through both video and audio. For questions or more information, please contact Andrew Kassebaum at [email protected] or (314) 881-6008.
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Tidbits from Elizabeth Barbieri |
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I thought I’d share a bit of SVdP history with you today.
The Mullanphy Traveler's Aid began in 1851 when Bryan Mullanphy, one of our SVdP founders of the First US Conference, as well as a former mayor of St. Louis and philanthropist, gave $500,000 (worth $16,525,449 today) to the City of St. Louis to assist "bona fide travelers heading west." It is said to be “the oldest, non-sectarian social welfare movement in the United States.” The Traveler’s Aid that Bryan Mullanphy created was imitated throughout the country.
In May, 2018, Mullanphy Travelers Aid closed in St. Louis. Thank you Vincentian Bryan Mullanphy for what you did for the destitute and the poor struggling to start a new life and build a home somewhere in our country for almost 200 years.
Elizabeth M. Barbieri
Board President
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SVdP National
Virtual Assembly
September 2 - 5, 2020
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From SVdP National: "Out of an abundance of caution around the impact of COVID-19, we've shifted our 2020 National Assembly to a free, virtual gathering, making it our most accessible ever. We're bringing together Vincentians from across the country for an unforgettable event and ensuring that you get the most out of every moment."
Highlights
- A dynamic keynote address from Bishop Donald Hying
- A moving spiritual retreat with SVdP President Ralph Middlecamp, Sister Kieran Kneaves, and Tim Williams
- Sessions on diversity, leadership, formation, and more
- A livestream Mass
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An Update Regarding Friends of the Poor Walk/Run 2020 |
In order to ensure the safety of all participants, the Council Office is directing that all Friends of the Poor Walks be held virtually this year.
SVdP National is offering virtual resources at fopwalk.org. Under "Coordinator Toolbox," there is a new section titled "Virtual Walk Toolbox" with all the materials you need for a virtual walk.
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Walkers can still register and fundraise online and can walk wherever they choose on the day of the event. So a walker could choose to walk in their neighborhood, a local park, or even on a treadmill in their own home. Also, walkers can take selfies and promote the event on social media with hashtags, to still be part of the “group” of walkers participating virtually that day. |
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From the Voice of the Poor Committee |
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Strategies for Increasing Affordable Housing Amid the COVID-19 Economic Crisis |
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"Support Incentives for Affordable Housing" is one of our legislative priorities. There is a lack of affordable housing nationwide (in every state).
The Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies 2019 State of the Nation’s Housing Report shows:
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Nearly 38 million households nationwide — 31.5% of all households — are paying more than 30% of their incomes on housing, which equates to 20.5 million renters and 17.3 million homeowners.
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More than 18 million households — 1 in 6 — are paying more than half of their income on housing and are considered severely cost-burdened. The largest share of these households includes 9.5 million renters earning less than $30,000 per year and 5.4 million homeowners earning less than $30,000.
The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated the need for affordable housing. Following is a link that explores strategies, both present and future, that can help reduce the number of households that lack access to good-quality affordable housing.
The crisis has drawn attention to the inequalities in America. Now is the time to address these. As the article states ‘Don’t let a crisis go to waste’.
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Dr. Moses Linton was the first president of the SVdP St. Louis Society. Dr. Linton was a respected professor at St. Louis University Medical School. He was great friends with Father De Smet and together they created the Linton Scrapbook. Read more about Dr. Linton in our latest blog post. |
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Judi Webb has taken over as our Office Administrator/ Receptionist! Judi comes to us with 25 years of experience for the State of Missouri: five years with the Dept. of Corrections and 20 years as a Senior Office Support Assistant with the Dept. of Health and Senior Services.
Judi enjoys helping families of children with special healthcare needs. She has four biological children, two stepchildren, ten grandchildren (plus one on the way) and one great-grandchild.
Judi loves to spend time with her family and travel. Her favorite trip she's ever taken was a month-long expedition to France, Greece, Italy and Spain.
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Get On Board the ServWare Bus! |
Conferences are signing up and Tom Matoushek or your District ServWare Coordinator will come to help your Conference learn about and use the ServWare Software Program. It's exciting! - connecting with your fellow Conference members for communication and keeping an efficient list of your Neighbors in Need. Hurry on board. Call Tom Matoushek to get your ticket.
Office Number: (314) 881-6025
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Updated Store Hours
Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday, 9 am - 8 pm
Sunday, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Dellwood Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday, 9 am - 6 pm
Sunday, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Donation Hours:
Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm
Ballwin Donation Hours:
Monday - Saturday, 10 am - 2 pm
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I have a young friend who was raised in Texas and worked in Minneapolis for a few years. While living in the Twin Cities, she took a weekend trip to a very small town in North Dakota to help plan a friend’s wedding. One evening they went to a local restaurant to eat and, as they walked in, several young men were walking out. A brief conversation ensued, and two years later, she and Andy (one of the young men) were married. They have 4 beautiful children, and are a wonderful, holy Catholic couple, very involved in their Parish in Texas.
My friend says to me all the time, “I can’t explain how that happened except that God had it all planned! When I’m struggling in some area of my life, I think about how Andy and I met, and I find such joy in knowing that God is taking care of me every single moment.”
Let’s be honest. Most of us are struggling right now in some way – from loneliness, anxiety, fear, uncertainty about the future, inability to be with our grandkids or our friends. And if we focus just on our woes today, it’s hard to recognize God’s graciousness in our lives. But if we look back over our lives, we can see His Hand in so many ways – and that awareness can give us confidence that God is truly at work right here, right now!
Consider this:
The fruit of awareness is gratitude!
The fruit of gratitude is trust!
The fruit of trust is peace!
The fruit of peace is joy!
Let’s take a few moments to be aware of God’s gifts in our lives – and from there, we’ll find joy!
John Heithaus
Director of Member Services
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Please pray for
Fr. John Magogna
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Louis | [svdpstlouis.org]
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