A Special Message from John Foppe
"Being with Christ"
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Click the image below to play the video |
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Are COVID, race-relations, violence, or the election making you feel anxious, restless or powerless?
I recorded this video message about our Vincentian call to holiness during moments like this of helplessness.
Clearly, our country needs prayers, and we have the time to sit with God during this pandemic.
In the coming weeks, I will share ideas and reflections on contemplative prayer, how it works in my life, and how we can use this time to grow in great union with Christ.
John Foppe.
Executive Director
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Archdiocesan Council of St. Louis
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Program Reminders, Updates and Resources |
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When requesting financial assistance from the Council Office for a Neighbor in Need:
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Please complete a Council Program Form. Click here for the updated form.
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Email the Form and all necessary paperwork to [email protected]
- For certain requests such as Housing and Bridges, the Council Office can provide up to 50% of the funds needed. If your Conference cannot afford the other 50%, please contact your District leadership for help.
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Make certain to complete the entire form! Please include your signature, and please remember to note that you received verbal consent from your Neighbor in Need.
- Please note that it is taking several extra days to process requests due to high volume.
Important Reminders
Utilities:
Utility disconnects are occurring. Help your Neighbors if you can.
Rent/Mortgage Assistance:
Many counties are issuing evictions, others will start soon. Several Conferences are reporting a significant increase in requests for rent and mortgage assistance: some for our Neighbors who have struggled financially for a long time, and others for Neighbors who have experienced a financial hardship due to the pandemic. In both situations, we want to do what we can to keep folks housed! These are our Neighbors. Some Neighbors may need more help than your Conference has traditionally provided.
Jesus reminds us in the Gospel of Matthew: Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. Let us seek the face of Christ in those we serve and do what we can to help.
Your District and the Council Office are available to help your Conference with rent or mortgage for Neighbors in Need.
COVID-19 Resources
Many local agencies have received Coronavirus funding to help clients with rent and utilities. We've heard that some of the agencies are backlogged with applications and their processing time may be prohibitive to our Neighbors. Make referrals when appropriate, but also be willing to help when possible. Remember, it is better for everyone (especially children) to have a safe, stable place to live.
Nonprofits that may be helpful when there is a financial hardship related to COVID-19 include:
United Way
Catholic Charities
Community Action Agencies
Urban League
Salvation Army
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Updated SVdP Food Pantries List |
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Click the button below for an updated list of all SVdP STL Food Pantries.
This list is also available on our COVID-19 Resources page on the website (password: Vincent)
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Friends of the Poor Walk 2020 |
Even though the Friends of the Poor Walk has gone from physical to virtual, there are still things you can do to raise Walk funds for your Conference
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The actual day of the Walk is not where most funds are raised. The funds are raised in the weeks leading up to the Walk when Vincentians ask for support from their families, friends, parishioners, and local businesses. That doesn’t change because there is no physical Walk. You just need to explain to the donors that the Walk is virtual this year.
- Many Conferences are reporting donations are very good, not in spite of the pandemic, but because of it. People are being very generous in this difficult time. Conferences looking to raise Walk funds, shouldn’t hesitate to ask the people/businesses they would have asked if the physical Walk was still scheduled.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Steve Rupp with any questions at 314-881-6018 or [email protected]
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Wednesday Rosary for our Country
Join fellow Vincentians and Council Office staff members in praying the rosary every Wednesday night over Zoom at 8 pm. Click the link below 8 pm on Wednesdays to join.
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Meeting ID:
989 8066 7271
Passcode: vincent
or dial in: (312) 626-6799 (Toll)
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Don't Miss the ServWare Train! |
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Join our growing ServWare community! We now have over 45 Conferences (from all Districts) using ServWare. We regularly hear from Conferences how ServWare has helped them become more effective in serving their Neighbors. Is it time for your Conference to make the move to ServWare?
For your convenience each District now has a ServWare Liaison to help familiarize you with the benefits of using ServWare and help you get started. To find out more about ServWare, contact your District liaison (see below) or Tom Matoushek at [email protected] or 314-881-6025.
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How the Voice of the Poor is Working to be a Positive Force for Racial Justice |
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Our legislative priorities are focused on changes that are needed to help those living in poverty. These priorities explicitly impact communities of color.
As we know there is a disproportionate number of people of color impacted by lack of affordable housing and healthcare. As we also know, communities of color are exploited by predatory lenders.
Among other reasons, there is a higher number of blacks incarcerated which makes it hard for some families to remain intact. In addition to following legislation there is more the VOP can do.
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Interested in joining or learning more about the Voice of the Poor Committee?
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ONE Donation Bin available
First Conference to notify Steve will get the Bin.
- Great way to generate a monthly check for your Conference
- Great way to help your parishioners and community contribute to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Raises awareness of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Helps our SVDP Thrift Stores
- SVDP Thrift Stores help our neighbors in need, the community and our mission
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We Serve You!
In the next week, we’ll be sending each of you the annual Vincentian Services survey. Please complete it and send it back as soon as possible.
The mission of the Council Office is to serve our Vincentians, and we do that best when we know your needs and experiences. Please share your thoughts with us!
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Tidbits from Elizabeth Barbieri... |
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Fellow Vincentians,
I am reading a very good book that was recommended to me: Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by John Kotter.
The subject matter is “change" and how we approach it, like challenging resistance and continuing to navigate forward with new ideas to better your Conference.
I think you, Vincentian Leaders, will enjoy this book and take from the penguins a powerful framework for influencing your own Conference.
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Upcoming Trainings and Events |
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Ozanam Orientations
Sat., September 26, 2020
Virtual Orientation over Zoom
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
NEW DATE: Sat., October 24, 2020:
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Sacred Heart-Crystal City, 555 Bailey Rd., Crystal City, MO 63109
Sat., January 30, 2021:
9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Immaculate Conception-Dardenne Prairie, 7701 Highway N, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368
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Home Visit Trainings and Formation Events
Home Visit Training 101
Tues., September 15, 2020
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Virtual Training over Zoom
Building Rapport with Neighbors
Fri., September 18, 2020
Virtual Event over Zoom
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
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From Fr. Jim Cormack and John Heithaus... |
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Why Do We Serve?
Why do Vincentians serve?
Please know that I know this is a question with multiple answers that are valid and helpful, so I don’t pose it as a “pop quiz” but rather as something to think about often.
Why do we serve? I suspect the first answer given usually has to do with compassion. We see need and we want to help. We are grounded in the wisdom of recognizing the presence of Christ in every person, but most powerfully, the suffering Christ in our Neighbors in Need. So, our compassion is grounded in faith and in vision. In serving, we learn that doing the good helps us to know it, and it leaves us feeling good, as well.
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WHO HAVE YOU INVITED?
How many times in the past 6 months have you sat around with friends – socially distanced and appropriately masked, of course – and talked about “when things get back to normal”? One of those “normals” is the ability to be with others, to touch, to comfort someone – not just with an elbow tap but with a real hug.
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Maybe one of the hidden blessings of this pandemic has been the recognition among our fellow Catholics of how connected we are meant to be, and how important taking care of each other is to our souls. Many of our Catholics are hungry – now’s the time to invite them to join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
John Heithaus
Director of Member Services
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Help for Your Conference!
Parish Bulletin Toolkit
October - December 2020
In it, you’ll find
- SVdP National Bulletin Announcement Suggestions
- Bulletin Announcement Suggestions catered to SVdP St. Louis
- Bulletin Graphic Suggestions
- Social Media Suggestions
- Pictures for social media suggestions.
None of these are a requirement and can always be altered to fit your Conference’s needs. To download a picture or document, simply double click on it and then click the arrow in the top right corner to download to your computer.
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Virtual National Assembly Begins TOMORROW! |
This year's National Assembly will be September 3 - 5 and completely online! Don't miss virtual workshops like
- Spiritual Retreat "Turn Everything to Love - A Vincentian Reflection"
- Formation - "Vincentian Discernment: Promoting Creativity and Consensus"
- Diversity/VOP - "Open Wide Our Vincentian Hearts - Advocacy for Single Mother Led Families"
- Youth & Young Adults: "Sharing in Hope & Charity"
and speeches from National President Ralph Middlecamp and Bishop Donald J. Hying.
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175th Anniversary Founding Member: Fr. Ambrose Heim |
#svdpstl175 Father Ambrose Heim was the Society's first Spiritual Director at the Old Cathedral Conference.
He was so devoted to the mission of the Society that he was known around St. Louis as "the Priest of the Poor." Father Heim was personally appointed by Archbishop Kenrick to be Spritual Advisor because of his service to the poor.
Read more about Father Heim in our newest blog post!
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Our Assistant Director of Stores, Mike Goering was quoted in a recent Post-Dispatch article!
Read about the recent boom in secondhand shopping and then check out SVdP Thrift Stores.
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Please Pray For
Sandy Cuneo
St. Joseph Clayton
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Louis | [svdpstlouis.org]
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