The Southwest Texas
VINCENTIAN VOICE
A monthly newsletter for all members of the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Texas Council
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A Message from Your Servant Leader... |
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First, I wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving and a fulfilling Advent Season. These words may seem empty to many of you considering your current life’s unsettling state. Our personal situations and our world seems to be headed for troubling worldwide political, economic, and health events around the coronavirus. Even Sheila and I and our family members are fearful of what is coming. Fear has become our secret and quiet enemy…. Quoting President Roosevelt in 1933 “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror that paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." So let use Thanksgiving as just not a day eating and enjoying family but truly a day to be thankful for being alive and gifted to advance helping those in need.
Use Advent as a time to move from our modern-day obsession to think only of ourselves and entitlement to do “My Thing – ‘MEism” to “WEism.” Spend time in prayer and reflection during Advent to see Jesus’ birth as calling humanity to return to God as one loving family. A great opportunity for all Society leaders to bring us closer together to realize we can only help our needy brothers and sisters if we are committed to doing so as a Vincentian community at both the Conference and Society level in Southwest Texas. This rededication to God’s most loved – those in poverty, will help us live out the words of St Theresa of Calcutta (Mother Theresa) a true Vincentian from the heart:
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
LOVE THEM ANYWAY.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
SUCCEED ANYWAY.
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow
DO GOOD ANYWAY.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.
What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
BUILD ANYWAY.
People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.
Go forth and "Keep Smiling"-Frank
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SPECIAL MEETING
Council President Frank Kiolbassa
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Archbishop Gustavo-Siller
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Frank Kiolbaasa, our Council President, met with the Archbishop last Friday. Accompanying him were Shirley Toscana, our Council Vice President, Fr. Kevin Fausz, CM, our Council Spiritual Advisor, and our Executive Director, Valerie Finley.
At least annually the Council President is required to meet with the Diocesan Bishop to present a report on activities and plans for the Society. This is the same requirements for each Conference President to meet with parish Pastor.
The Archbishop was very gracious and interested in what we are doing and our plans for the coming year. He affirmed Frank’s appointment of Fr. Kevin as our Council Spiritual Advisor. Again, a requirement of each Council President. He had serval questions and comments. He is very supportive of our works and agreed to support us in the many activities, especially in our relationships with Pastors.
Each District President has a copy of the agenda and hopefully will share it with each Conference. The agenda we presented will be explained in more detail over the next several months.
In closing the Archbishop gave us his blessing and encouragement for all Vincentians to continue our work.
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Leadership Convocation 2020 |
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Servant Leaders in the Southwest Texas Council gathered at St Mary Magdalen Parish to celebrate being together in a socially distanced - face to face event. The joy of seeing fellow leaders was truly a blessing. Father Kevin Fausz, CM, our Council Spiritual Advisor, presented an inspiring talk calling us to renew our Spiritual Charism in our Southwest Texas Council. Sister Consuelo Tovar, DOC, our Council Vice President for the Voice of the Voiceless, talked about the need to become advocates for our brothers and sisters in need. She reminded everyone advocacy for justice is equal to our responsibility for compassionate charity.
Everyone present had a chance to “chit-chat” and ask questions about these presentations. Everyone also heard brief reports about our 150th Celebration next year, upcoming improvements in our financial practices and fundraising, and finally an update on the new formation course for new Conference Presidents beginning in January 2021. Finally Frank Kiolbassa, our Council President, called our members to devote this Council year to renewing our holiness and hope. Everyone left with a sense to renew our Vincentian lifestyle for those we served.
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Christ the King Conference Events |
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CALLING ALL ELVES
This year instead of toys for Christmas Gifts “Santa” is giving out shoes to those in need. Christ the King Conference will be distributing shoes for children 15 and under and they are looking for individuals, families, groups or companies who want to sponsor a child or a family for this event.
There will be a “Shoe Tree” available in the church during December, but if you want to get a head start please contact Cristo Rey of Hope office at 210-955-9571 or Christina Gomez 210-300-6505.
Help us to make Christmas 2020 a holiday season of Happiness and Charity.
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BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUCCESS
Even though Christ the King was not able to have their “pachanga” for their Back-to-School event this year, they did distribute school supplies to 216 kiddos this year. They were excited to receive some really cool
face-masks as part of their school supply kits. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this possible.
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UP AND COMING EVENTS
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MEALS
Please let us know if you would like to sponsor a family in need this year. Christ the King's goal is to reach 175 families.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
If you would like to sponsor a family for a Holiday Food Basket please let Christ the King know.
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Our Lady of Guadalupe Helotes Conference & the Successful Pumpkin Patch Project! |
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This week, Pastor Jim Sweet of the Helotes Hills United Methodist Church presented to Joseph Beach, President of Saint Vincent de Paul at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Helotes - Helotes House of Neighborly Service, a check for $1,708.49 from their Pumpkin Patch Project.
Pastor Sweet also delivered 169 pounds of non-perishable food. This church is one of 8 participating churches which makes up the Helotes House of Neighborly Service.
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IMPORTANT: New Council Office Location
We live in a world of constant change, which provides us opportunities for flexibility and for growth. We are excited to share about a new temporary location for the Council office. The owners of 2815 W Southcross will be doing some extensive inspections of the building starting this week.
Due to the nature of the work and the hours required, they have asked us to temporarily move out of the Southcross location. Staff currently at Southcross will be moved to Holy Redeemer, 230 Vargas Alley (corner of Nevada & Vargas) starting Monday, October 5. Thank you Father Kevin for opening your doors for us, so quickly and for being so welcoming! We will have yard signs out this week to identify where we are at.
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CEAP Assistance Announcement
CEAP Assistance will stop accepting applications for this year at the end of November. Please have all requests submitted to the Family & Community Assistance office no later than Monday, November 23rd.
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IMPORTANT ACCOUNTING ANNOUNCEMENT
Six Month Reports have been sent out, please keep an eye out for them, and review and sign once received. Once Six Month reports have been signed and sent back, annual reports will be sent out with the due date.
Thanks, SVdP Accounting Department.
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HOW TO SUBMIT CONFERENCE PHOTOS AND STORIES
If you would like to share photos of what your Conference is doing OR you would like us to send a photographer to your Conference to capture the work you are doing in the community, reach out to Sophia at [email protected].
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All Conferences of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Southwest Texas Council are listed in SACRD. Please use SACRD to find help and opportunities for our brothers and sisters in need, when you need it and where you need it. SACRD is a great tool to use if you’d like to know the hours of operations, phone or address of a specific conference so you can get in contact with them. |
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Remembering Our Departed Brother and Sister Vincentians
Our Council Program
Since 2011 our Council has organized activities to recognize our deceased Vincentians.
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Charity Tracker Intake Form
A new Spanish Intake form is now on the SVDP website
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COVID-19 RESOURCES
In an effort to keep everyone safe and informed,
You can find this information and more on our page.
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Southwest Texas Council is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2021. Ben Cardenas and Mary Jane met with all the conferences last week to discuss future plans on the anniversary. More information to come soon! |
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A CELEBRATION OF CONTINUED FAITH AND SERVICE TO BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN NEED, A TRIBUTE TO PAST VINCENTIANS, AND A STRENGTHEN RESOLVE TO FUTURE DEMANDS OF THE SOCIETY. |
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CAR DONATION PROGRAM!
Every vehicle donation helps the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
feed, house, and clothe individuals in need.
We accept most running and non-running cars, trucks, trailers,
boats, RV's, motorcycles, campers, off road vehicles, heavy equipment
and most other motorized vehicles.
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Our Mission Statement
"A network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need."
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