St. Vincent de Paul Orlando: Extra Points

August 22, 2025

From the Desk of the Diocesan Council President

Someone once told me they had over 300 friends.

“Wow, how do you keep up with them all,” I asked. “On Facebook of course”, was the response.

So I said, “They’re not really friends in the true sense, you really don’t know them as a person, you don’t know that much about them, their family, their history. You’ve probably never met some of them. You only know what they post on Facebook, how can they be friends?”

Social media has now taken the place of the family and true friendship. Now it’s all about how many followers you have, how many clicks you can get.

What is a friend? All my life I have been very picky about who I call a friend, a true friend. My first true friend was a classmate in the first grade named Bobby. Bobby was a big kid with red hair and we were close, almost inseparable. We were much alike, a little undisciplined, fun loving, a little bit of a trouble maker. Bobby’s dad was in the military and they moved away and I still think of Bobby now and then.

I had a lot of friends in grade school, high school, and college, but I found that some could not be counted on when the chips were down, so they were no longer friends. And, sadly, a lot of the people I’ve called friends are no longer here.

What is a true Friend? A true friend is someone who will stick by you and support you no matter what. A true friend is someone who believes in you and encourages you to go on, when it seems hopeless. A true friend is someone who asks for very little, but offers so much more.

True friends might lay down their life for you and hope that you would do the same for them. True friends will love you no matter how difficult you might make it for them. True friends can always be trusted. I married a true friend a long time ago, and another I met later in life, my wife Donna, and Jesus Christ.  

I was in my forties when Jesus became a true friend. I knew Him before, but I really never embraced him as a friend. Father Tony, from my parish in New Jersey, introduced me to the real Jesus, the Jesus I had not met before and so I had another true friend. 

As Vincentians we are asked to not only provide financial assistance to our neighbors, but to offer the spiritual encouragement they sometimes long for. If they don’t know Jesus or have lost Him as a friend, we encourage them to embrace Him by showing them compassion and love as Jesus teaches us.

Let us remember that spiritual help is as important as financial help, perhaps more so. Don’t be afraid to introduce your friend, Jesus, to those who seek Him. 

Gary Bishop

President

Diocesan Council of Orlando

gary@svdporlando.org

A Song to Share: Courtesy of a fellow Vincentian

I have a song you might like to hear and share with other Vincentians. The song title is 'Lead Me to Jesus, O Mother Mary Dear.'

The telling line from the song is asking Mary to show us the Face of Jesus, which for Vincentians is in the poor.

The song is posted on SoundCloud and is available for listening, free of charge, through streaming.

Click here.

I wrote the lyrics last fall, and Emma Bennet sang the song. I am sharing the song at our August Conference meeting on Thursday night, the vigil of the Feast of the Queenship of Mary, in conjunction with module 2.2 of Serving With Hope, on evangelization. That's how Mary evangelizes us, by showing us the face of Jesus.

I used the AI engine of Midjourney.com to create an image of St. Vincent with Mary and the baby Jesus. I've attached a PDF of the image, song lyrics, and a QR code to scan to hear the song,

Feel free to distribute this PDF to whomever may like it.

Thanks for all you do,

Dave

News from the Central South District Council

Click here for a PDF of the flier.

SAVE THE DATES: Officer Trainings

The Diocesan Council of Orlando has already started planning for Officer Training sessions via Zoom during September.

Please save these dates:

Treasurer's Training on Thursday, September 11

Secretary's Training on Tuesday, September 16

President's/Vice President's Training on Tuesday, September 23

Spiritual Advisor's Training on Tuesday, September 30

Two sessions for each Training are scheduled: 1 PM or 7 PM via Zoom.

Click here for the PDF of the flier.

Tell Us!

Do you have news of an upcoming event your Conference is having? Would you like to share a "Best Practice" or example of how your Conference is lifting people out of poverty? 

E-mail news and photos to: trace@svdporlando.org

In the News

DeLand considering whether to allow construction of tiny home communities

The city of DeLand could soon open the door to tiny homes as a way to provide more housing options and possibly more affordable prices to residents, city officials said.

Click here to read more.

St. Vincent de Paul: Daily Prayer

You'll find the Daily Prayers on Facebook by clicking here.

What's new in St. Vincent de Paul Orlando's eBay Store?

Michael Kors White Leather Double Pouch Shoulder Bag

Click here to read more.

We're Hiring!

Job Title: Clerical Assistant

Location: St. Vincent de Paul Orlando – Administrative Office at 770 S. Orange Blossom Trail in Apopka 32703

Reports To: Executive Director

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt | Part-Time

Position Summary:

The Clerical Assistant/Secretary provides vital administrative support to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the St. Vincent de Paul Orlando office. This position is responsible for general office tasks, scheduling, correspondence, and record-keeping. The ideal candidate is organized, professional, detail-oriented, and passionate about supporting the mission of helping neighbors in need.

Key Responsibilities:

• Greet visitors and answer incoming calls in a courteous and professional manner
• Perform general clerical duties including data entry, filing, scanning, and photocopying
• Draft and proofread letters, memos, emails, and reports
• Schedule meetings, appointments, and maintain calendars for leadership staff
• Assist with the preparation of reports, mailings, and donor communications
• Maintain and update electronic and paper files in accordance with organizational procedures
• Process incoming and outgoing mail and deliveries
• Track inventory and order office supplies as needed
• Support event logistics and meeting coordination as assigned
• Handle confidential information with integrity and discretion
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of daily operations

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s degree preferred
• Minimum 2 years of clerical, administrative, or secretarial experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to multitask and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Professional demeanor and a positive, team-oriented attitude
• Commitment to the mission and values of St. Vincent de Paul Orlando

Working Conditions:

• Typical office environment with occasional lifting (up to 20 lbs)
• May require occasional evenings or weekends for events or special projects

To Apply:

Submit your resume and cover letter to svdporlando770@gmail.com

Click here for a PDF.

Real Estate Donation Program

More information:

Your property has a purpose, and so does our mission! Houses, plots of land, or commercial spaces – every contribution helps us fulfill our goals. Be a part of something meaningful by donating your property to St. Vincent de Paul Orlando. Call 844.277.HOME (4663) to learn more.

Please click here for more information.

St. Vincent de Paul Orlando

770 S. Orange Blossom Trail Apopka, FL 32703

407.880.3126 | SVDPorlando.org