Vincentian Community News
|
|
"Le us love God, but let it be with the work of our hands and the sweat of our brows."
-St. Vincent de Paul
|
|
25th Sunday of Ordinary Time
|
|
Gospel Reading: (Matthew 20: 1-16)
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard…. When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and ending with the first.’ When those who had started about five o’clock came, each received the usual daily wage. So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more, but each of them also got the usual wage. And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and heat.’ He said to them, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you. Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? …What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Vincentian Reflection:
We all put off to the eleventh hour some piece of work that we have to do with respect to God or each other: prayer, forgiveness, charity, justice, etc.) If this parable teaches us something about how great God is and how generous, then we are called to this same greatness and generosity. Wouldn’t nations be different if debts could be forgiven and those who have were generous to those who have not? Wouldn’t families be different if hurtful behavior ceased and was forgiven generously? Wouldn’t individuals be different if we measured another only by his or her goodness? The landowner says to his grumbling laborers, “Are you envious because I am generous?” God’s generosity with us goes far beyond any measurement by human standards.
(Living Liturgy, p. 240)
How have you experienced the "motherly and fatherly love" of God?
|
|
COVID-19 RISE Funding Program
|
|
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's RISE Funding Program is underway! The funds are to provide immediate services to Austin/Travis County residents impacted by COVID-19.
Individuals are required to call the phone number that corresponds with the first letter of their last name. Our case managers and volunteers are working hard to assist each neighbor through the intake process.
|
|
Introduction for New Member
|
|
The Introduction for New Member meeting will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.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.
Please use the link below to register. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to the meeting.
|
|
National Assembly Sessions Now Available
|
|
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s first ever National Assembly was a huge success, attended by more than 1,700 Vincentians!
All sessions were recorded, so if you missed any, the IT Team is working diligently to process those recordings.
Here are the first recordings:
More recordings will be released soon.
|
|
2020 Vincentian Annual Gathering
|
|
2019 Vincentian Family Gathering
Holy Cross Parish
|
|
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Annual Vincentian Family Gathering will take place Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 6pm at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin. Not only are we celebrating the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul, but we are also celebrating 175 years of the Society in the United States.
The principal celebrant and homilist for the Mass will be Bishop Joe Vasquez. Following the Mass, we will install Janie Alonzo as the new president of the Diocesan Council Board of Directors. In addition, we will have our annual Commitment Ceremony.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only board members, their spouses and the Council staff are allowed to attend. However, the Mass will be livestream from the Cathedral. You can view the Mass either on the Catheral's website or facebook page. The link will go live at least two minutes before the Mass starts.
We hope you will make plans to join us for this special event.
|
|
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
|
|
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is now 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.
|
|
Become a Thrift Store Volunteer!
|
|
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.
|
|
Interested in volunteering?
You can sign up by clicking on this link.
|
|
During this COVID-19 pandemic, health, state, and local officials are urging people to take the necessary steps to stay safe. To slow the spread of the virus, wear your face covering and practice social distancing.
|
|
September 19, 2020
New Member Orientation
* * *
September 30, 2020
Vincentian Family Gathering Mass
175th Anniversary Celebration
St. Mary Cathedral (Livestream)
|
|
National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: Some of our Conference members give their personal phone numbers by not blocking their numbers when making calls. As a result, our friends in need call them for advice, etc. The Conference members do not always report the calls received or the advice given. Our guidelines say that our friends in need should not have our personal phone numbers. Also, we decided that messages could not be left on the SVdP phone. We can only be reached on Mondays 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Is this practice okay? What, if any, are the ramifications of this practice? What do you think of this practice?
A: The National Council does not encourage nor endorse the practice of members giving out their personal phone number. Phone numbers can be abused, and those whom we serve should only call a designated SVdP contact number for assistance. The consequence of the practice you indicate is that our friends in need have nowhere to turn to, if the Conference can only be reached at the hours indicated. The recommendation is to have a separate phone line where messages can be left and checked more frequently by members in order to serve our friends in need.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: Algunos de los miembros de nuestra Conferencia dan sus números de teléfono personales al no bloquearlos cuando hacen llamadas. Pues, nuestros amigos con necesidades los llaman para pedirles consejo, etc. Los miembros de la Conferencia no siempre informan las llamadas recibidas o los consejos dados. Nuestras pautas dicen que nuestros amigos con necesidades no deben tener nuestros números de teléfono personales. Además, decidimos que no se podían dejar mensajes en el teléfono SVDP. Solo se nos puede contactar los lunes de 9:00 am a 11:00 am. ¿Está bien esta práctica? ¿Cuáles, si las hay, son las ramificaciones de esta práctica? ¿Qué opinas de esta práctica?
R: El Consejo Nacional no fomenta ni respalda la práctica de que los miembros proporcionen su número de teléfono personal. Se puede abusar de los números, y aquellos a quienes servimos solo deben llamar a un número de contacto designado de SVdP para obtener ayuda. La consecuencia de la práctica que indica es que nuestros amigos con necesidades no tienen a dónde acudir, si la Conferencia sólo puede ser contactada a las horas indicadas. La recomendación es tener una línea telefónica separada donde los miembros puedan revisar los mensajes con más frecuencia para atender a nuestros amigos con necesidades.
|
|
Call 1.888.317.SVDP
visit www.ssvdp.org
|
|
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.
|
|
Council Office:
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Client Services:
Tuesday - Friday
9:00am - 12:00pm
Food Pantry:
Saturday
9:00am - 12:00pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|