Vincentian Community News
|
|
"We must do what is most agreeable to God. Therefore, we must do what our Lord Jesus Christ did when preaching the Gospel. Let us go to the poor."
-Blessed Frederic Ozanama
|
|
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. So far, we have assisted over 300 people with over $140,000 in Direct Relief Assistance.
Individuals are required to call the phone number that corresponds with the first letter of their last name. So far, we have received over 600 calls and our four case managers and volunteers are working hard to assist each neighbor through the intake process.
|
|
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Update
|
|
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store will not open this Saturday, July 11, 2020 due to concerns about the rise in COVID-19 cases in Austin/Travis County. Roz Gutierrez, the Executive Director, will continue to monitor the situation and make a decision about opening the Thrift Store on Saturday, July 18, 2020 next week.
While the Thrift Store will not be open to the public for shopping, it will continue to operate in assisting Conferences with beds and vouchers for their neighbors in need. Please contact the Council office and arrange an appointment time with either Stacey Sherman (
[email protected]
) or Michael Tullius (
[email protected]
) before coming to the store with a voucher to ensure that we have the items you need and are available to open the store for you.
Volunteers are still allowed into the store and warehouse to continue to work and set up for reopening. If you wish to volunteer to work in the store, please contact Michael Tullius or click on the volunteer link in the volunteer article below.
When coming to the VFC, please wear a face covering and practice social distancing.
|
|
COVID-19 cases have increased across Texas and 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.
|
|
Thrift Store Volunteers Needed!
|
|
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is in need of volunteers to assist with many tasks including: sorters, organizers, and pricers. More details are below!
|
|
Interested in volunteering?
You can sign up by clicking on this
link
.
|
|
Effective Servant Leadership:
"Five Goals of a Conference President"
|
|
The Five Goals of a Conference President webinar will take place Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 6:00pm. The webinar is presented by the Leadership Task Force and it's designed for all Conference Presidents, new or experienced, as well as members who may be considering becoming Conference Presidents.
With references to guidelines and publications, such as the Conference President Handbook, this presentation will help you prepare to be a more effective Servant Leader, focusing on the Five Goals of a Conference President:
- Formation
- Work for your Conference as a servant leader
- Your Team
- Your Spiritual Advisor
- Your Members
You’ll have opportunities to interact and ask questions during this live session!
To register for this event, click
here
.
|
|
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
|
|
Gospel: (Matthew 13: 1-23)
Jesus said: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came up and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and chocked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or
thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Vincentian Reflection:
If we see ourselves as the sower, the parable takes us in the direction of learning to know God and having union with God. We ourselves are the ones who spread the word of good news. If we see ourselves as the seed, it reminds us that we sow God’s word wherever we are, by word and example. If we see ourselves as the soil, we are directed to examine the cares and distractions of our lives to see if they stand in the way of open eyes, open ears and open hearts.
This is our call to discipleship! God is extravagant with the seed, and he is doing everything to prepare the soil so that the word can take root. All we need to do is “see with our eyes, hear with our ears and understand with our hearts.
(Living Liturgy, p.196)
As disciples who are “Sower, Seed and Soil”, how do we have hearts that love,
eyes that see and ears that hear the cries of the poor?
|
|
National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: I know that religious are not able to be SVdP members (except as spiritual advisors). However, someone mentioned to me that retired priests can be members. So my question is: Can a retired pastor be a member and/or officer of the Conference after retirement?
A: First of all, “religious”" are allowed to be active members. Nuns and professed religious brothers may be Active Members including holding officer positions. The prohibition in The Rule refers to the “ordained,” meaning bishops, priests, and deacons. The prohibition does not prevent them from going on home visits or doing the other things Active Members do. The “ordained” cannot be officers or signors on the Conference/Council accounts. A retired priest is still an “ordained” priest and a retired deacon is still an “ordained” deacon. Active or retired, they are prohibited from being officers or signing checks. Also, they are not allowed to vote.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P:
Sé que los “religiosos” no pueden ser miembros de SVdP (excepto como Consejeros Espirituales). Sin embargo, alguien me mencionó que los sacerdotes jubilados pueden ser miembros. Entonces mi pregunta es: ¿Puede un pastor jubilado ser miembro y/o oficial de la Conferencia después de la jubilación?
R:
En primer lugar, los “religiosos” pueden ser miembros activos. Las monjas y los hermanos religiosos profesos pueden ser miembros activos, incluidos los cargos de oficiales. La prohibición en La Regla se refiere a los “ordenados,” es decir, obispos, sacerdotes y diáconos. La prohibición no les impide realizar visitas domiciliarias o hacer otras cosas que hacen los miembros activos. Los “ordenados” no pueden ser oficiales o firmantes en las cuentas de la Conferencia/Consejo. Un sacerdote jubilado sigue siendo un sacerdote “ordenado” y un diácono jubilado sigue siendo un diácono “ordenado.” Activos o jubilados, es prohibido que sirven como oficiales o firman cheques. Además, no pueden votar.
|
|
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 - 3:00pm
Client Services:
Tuesday - Friday
9:00am - 12:00pm
Food Pantry:
Saturday
9:00am - 12:00pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|