Conference News and Notes
for Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Sent to all Vincentians & Staff
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Vincentian Reflection for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 28, 2022
Gospel: (Luke 14:1,7-14) Jesus said to them, “When you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Then he said to the host who had invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters, or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Reflection: Humility is recognizing that by God’s choosing us we are raised up to share in divine riches and bestowed with the great dignity of sharing in God’s life. If this is how God relates to us, then this is how the disciple relates to others. As God has bestowed dignity on us, so do we shower others with dignity. If we wish God to invite us to the divine banquet, then we also extend ourselves to all others regardless of social, economic, religious, or cultural status. Before disciples can be hosts to the poor and disadvantaged they must humbly recognize themselves as those who have received a place of honor at God’s banquet table. Humility is recognizing that we are gifted, enriched, and nourished by God so that we can then reach out to others in the same way. (Living Liturgy, p.200)
Vincentian Meditation: “St. Vincent asks his followers to be humble, loving servants of the poor. We know that he gave great importance to humility in all that we do for the poor. He did so because that was his conviction and the fruit of his own meditation on the manner of life lived by Jesus. St. Vincent was also convinced that it was all-important that the poor would feel at ease in our presence. What we do for the poor must come, not only from a loving but also from a humble heart. In a very striking sentence at the end of one of his conferences, St. Vincent shares the conviction that however charitable we may be, if we are not humble, we do not have real charity.” (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 560)
How do we live our core value of humility in the spirit of St. Vincent?
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Your Formation and Training Opportunities & Tips |
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Poverty Simulation on Wednesday, 9/7, 6-8pm, at our Ozanam Center in the Liz Carter Center (LCC), 1125 Bank St: Whether you are a new Vincentian or have been involved for many years, this Poverty Simulation will challenge what you know about poverty and the experiences of our neighbors in need - it is harder to get by than you might think. Join us for an interactive experience and discussion on the lived realities of our neighbors! Please register here , as signups have begun to fill. Your registration needed by Thursday, 9/1.
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Ozanam Orientation – A two-part Ozanam Orientation will be hosted on consecutive Wednesday evenings, 9/14 & 9/21, 5:30-8:30pm, at Our Lady of the Visitation. Designed for new members and those who would like a refresher, we will explore what it means to be a Vincentian member of this Society. Participants must take part in both sections to complete our Society's requirement. This is also a great way to invite prospective members to know more about who we are. To Register for this Ozanam Orientation, please sign up here .
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For a full outline of Vincentian formational opportunities, with registration links, please see our Formation Newsletter for August and September sent out on Friday, 7/29.
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Your Conferences Officers Training Workshop & Forum
is Now Just Over 2 Weeks Away
All current & incoming Conference Officers (Presidents, Vice-Presidents, Treasurers, & Secretaries) are invited and highly encouraged to participate in this annual workshop. Expand your servant leadership toolkit while sharing insight and connection with your peers.
When & where: Sat, 9/10, 9am-noon, in our Neyer Outreach Center (NOC).
Your rsvp is requested asap so we can properly prepare accommodations; registration closes Wed, 9/7. Please register here .
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Our annual Fall Fellowship Mass and Reception will be celebrated on Sunday, 9/25, 9am-noon, @ St. Ursula Academy. The price is a mere $10 to offset our costs.
Know of someone that models the Vincentian Life to you and/or others? We encourage nominations for our annual Fires of Faith, Ozanam, & Top Hat awards! Nomination forms, criteria, and lists of recent honorees are found by clicking on this link: member support and forms , then enter: “member” when prompted for a password. Click on Fall Fellowship Awards Nominations Forms in the list of resources to download a viewable & printable copy. Nominations will be accepted for consideration until this coming Wed, 8/31 - one week from today.
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Welcoming and Fulfilling New Members Workshop Well Received
This past weekend we hosted our newest workshop on welcoming and fulfilling new Conference members with a packed gathering of Vincentians @ St James the Greater, focused upon fostering that bond of unity between our Conference members so we may work together in bringing the Vincentian spirit to our community and neighbors, one person at a time. Whether you are a seasoned Vincentian or brand new, sharing the gift of Vincentian life is a beautiful moment, allowing others to see the true dignity of the human person with the eyes of Christ.
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Reading & Book Resources for our Neighbors
You likely have cherished memories of being read to...and then finding joy in reading for yourself.
Please note the following 3 resources which can be shared with our neighbors:
First, Dolly Parton has championed the Ohio Imagination Library, a public offering which will send a book each month, free of charge, to children ages 5 & under, regardless of the family's income. Parents & guardians can use this link to learn more and register a child for this wonderful program: https://ohioimaginationlibrary.org/ .
Second, we maintain and constantly replenish a supply of books to appeal to readers of all ages in the lobby of our Neyer Outreach Center (NOC). These books can be accessed anytime our NOC is open, 6 days per week. We encourage anyone who finds a book they would enjoy to take it with them...and then bring it back or "pay it forward" by passing the book along when they are finished with it.
Third, our SVDP Thrift Stores have a ready supply of used books available for purchase at extremely reasonable prices.
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Hope to Dream
St. Vincent de Paul is again partnering with Morris Home Furniture and WCPO to provide beds to kids in need in Cincinnati. Hope to Dream (formerly Day to Dream) will be hosted this Saturday, 8/27, at the Reds Youth Academy (2026 E Seymour Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45237). In celebration of their 75th anniversary as a company, Morris has committed to provide 75 beds this year.
Thank you to all who submitted families to participate; our program is now full. Every Vincentian who submitted a request should have received a confirmation email. Please make sure you call the selected families and remind them about Saturday’s event. Any questions, please contact Erin at enowak@svdpcincinnati.org.
Thanks for your help in connecting children in Cincinnati with brand new beds - a good night's sleep is blessed preparation for a great tomorrow!
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Welcome Room Volunteers Needed
Are you looking for an additional way to live out your Vincentian calling? Do you have one morning or afternoon a week to share? Our Neyer Outreach Center (NOC) is actively looking for more Welcome Room Volunteers any day of the week to serve our neighbors.
Welcome Rooms are intended to replicate the Home Visit experience – Volunteers meet with neighbors, assess assistance needs, and offer to pray with our neighbors.
It’s a great opportunity for couples, friends, or anyone who wants to get better with CMS!
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Voice of the Poor Request
All of us can, as we reflect on a recent home visit, think of a classic example of a neighbor who is suffering from the lack of Affordable Housing. For example, one of our neighbors adopted her deceased sister’s three children to join her own three children. She was forced to move because of an out-of-state corporation who purchased her property and several others in her neighborhood. Our neighbor now finds herself paying $1,200 in rent rather than the $550 that she had been paying. This means she is paying 67% of her monthly income for rent.
The Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio is asking our Governor and General Assembly to target $308 million of the $5.6 billion in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to build more affordable housing. Ohio has a shortage of 254,545 rental homes for extremely low-income renters. The Voice of the Poor wants to raise our voice to advocate for our neighbors, and you have the first-hand knowledge we need.
Please take a few minutes and share your neighbor’s story with us:
- Have you seen rents increase substantially in the last couple of years?
- Have you dealt with specific rental companies or managers that never seem to give their renters a break?
- Has one of your neighbors experienced an especially unjust situation?
Be as specific as possible without naming neighbors. Help us put forth a compelling call to action now.
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Archdiocese of Cincinnati Beacons of Light Initiative
Yes, Beacons of Light went "live" on 7/1. We're nearly 2 months "in". New pastors have arrived and are engaged.
You can learn more about Beacons as our Archdiocese continues to post fresh content at BeaconsAOC.org , including the Pathway Platform created to guide our journey.
News from 1 of our Families of Parishes: The Zlatic family hosted a backyard social yesterday evening for members of the Nativity (Pleasant Ridge), Holy Trinity (Norwood), Church of the Resurrection (Bond Hill), St Saviour (Rossmoyne), & St John the Evangelist (Deer Park) Conferences. Yes, this Family brings together 5 active Conferences. It was a beautiful evening nurturing friendships, old & new!
Similar opportunities to enrich your Vincentian experience abound in all 24 Families of Parishes which now comprise our Cincinnati District Council.
Does your Conference or Family of Parishes have news to share?
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CMS Tips, Tricks, & Transformations
Great progress news:
- Our Cathedral/St Francis Xavier joint Conference & our St Jude Conference implemented CMS in July
- St Saviour Conference implemented CMS this month
- St Antoninus, St Dominic, & St Teresa of Avila Conferences target September to implement CMS
- Our Lady of Lourdes, St Mary (Hyde Park), St John the Baptist (Harrison), St Boniface, & St Clement Conferences are also in our active pipeline
John Wessel, our Resource Analyst, is creating new ways to harvest & present the data you are capturing in CMS, when he's not engaging current & soon-to-be users. Want a taste? Use this link: member support and forms ; password, if prompted: member ; then scroll the resources list to click on CMS Statistics - Conferences, and explore.
John has created a series of over 30 easily viewed and absorbed videos that are available to you 24/7 on our CMS Support Page,
Password, if you are prompted: member .
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Labor Day - Monday, 9/5/2022
Yes, our summer is waning...and another school year has arrived. Prayers for health, peace, & normalcy for all involved.
Please note SVDP's provisions for the upcoming Labor Day weekend:
- Our NOC will be welcoming and serving our neighbors on Sat, 9/3; closed for the holiday on Mon, 9/5 (along with our Liz carter Center); and re-open Tues, 9/6, @ 8am
- Our thrift stores will be welcoming shoppers throughout this holiday weekend, including Mon, 9/5, on normal operating hours. Thank you, Thrift Stores Team!
Footballs are already flying. Good luck Bengals, Bearcats, Buckeyes, and whichever high school(s) you favor.
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More Resources for our Conferences and Neighbors
Conference Assistance Fund (CAF)
We, together, have extended $660,232 in total FY2022 CAF assistance for the 10 months ended 7/31/2022, including $79,224 to 185 households in July.
August robust activity to-date:
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You've submitted 172 fresh applications
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We've approved 162 applications; 2 have been withdrawn; 1 was declined; & 1 was transferred for ERA consideration
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We currently have 41 applications in progress toward approval
Please take note of our high volume of CAF applications. We have again this month been granted additional funding to extend $80,000 in assistance. While our CAF exists to be extended to your/our neighbors, please also seize opportunities to help our neighbors experiencing need to access governmental programs for which they may qualify and other publicly- and privately-funded assistance resources. This is particularly relevant for neighbors navigating chronic budgetary shortfalls. Examples include SNAP, SSDI, and the PRC program administered by Hamilton County Job and Family Services ("JFS").
We offer thanks to those Conferences & their donors who have recently twinned through CAF. We also appreciate the direct twinning activity between Conferences with surplus funds and those experiencing more need than the funding they organically attract. If your Conference is currently blessed with funds exceeding 2-3 months of your normal operating outflow, please know that we have fellow Conferences in search of funds to invest in lifting neighbors right now. We invite your Conference to discern if twinning is your best available act of faithful stewardship.
Thanks to our volunteers who are processing applications so promptly, and to Olivia & Alec.
CAF Spreadsheet Reminder:
Publicly-Funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERA1)
We are now extending ERA assistance - working in conjunction with Community Action Agency (CAA) who has been extending assistance through this program for months. Our Council will be extending this assistance to selected, eligible Hamilton County residents until 9/30/2022. This deeply-funded program can provide substantial rent & utilities assistance for neighbors who have been directly or indirectly impacted by COVID. Your Conference & you have the opportunity to identify neighbors who are eligible prospective recipients and actively participate in the process leading to assistance extended. This program does have mandated specs and significant documentation requirements.
Over 30 Vincentians participated in our Resource Spotlight - ERA1 for Conferences - via Zoom on Thurs, 7/7. For those who could not join us - and for ongoing reference for all - we have posted links to the recording of this Zoom session, the embedded PowerPoint presentation, and other relevant documents to our member support and forms page of our website. Just enter: member when prompted for a password, then look for Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) and click on the resource you desire. You can also reach out to Olivia Scheper & Alec Jewell of our Conferences Support team for further clarity. Finally, please reach out to Olivia if you are interested in volunteering to help process applications.
Our Conferences' ERA1 activity to-date: 9 applications submitted, processed, & approved; 11 more applications have been accepted and are currently in-process; and another 5 prospective applications are in various stages of collaboration between our Vincentians and neighbors. Please note that we must close acceptance of ERA1 applications on Wed, 9/14, to allow time for processing before 9/30, and we cannot guaranty that any submitted application will be processed to approval and assistance extended before this 9/30 cut-off.
Rahe Beds Fund & Program
Thank you, everyone, for using the new bed online request form to submit your August Bed Requests. All requests submitted by 8/5 have been processed and are in the mail or ready for pick-up. Please send any questions or feedback about the new form to rahebedfund@svdpcincinnati.org . The great news about this online form is that we can continue to make small, functional improvements without having to release a new version. Our goal is to make this process as user-friendly as possible and enable us to process requests quickly so we can get the vouchers in the hands of neighbors.
We’re unable to extend any additional vouchers in August, but we look forward to again accepting six requests per Conference in September, which can be submitted 9/1-9/5.
If your Conference is considering purchasing beds to extend as assistance, you can get info, including current pricing, or purchase by contacting Dave Chidlow, Stores Retail Resource Manager, at dchidlow@svdpcincinnati.org or 513.853.1002. Your purchased beds will be picked up at our CHRC within our Liz Carter Center. Please be aware that our beds cost and resale pricing have risen significantly.
We still have pack ‘n’ plays available for neighbors with children too young for beds (under age two). These do not count against the limit of two Rahe beds per household per lifetime. If you have a neighbor who is in need of a pack ‘n’ play, please contact Erin at rahebedfund@svdpcincinnati.org . We will provide the neighbor with a voucher that can be redeemed at our CHRC.
Do you have questions about our Rahe Beds Fund & Program?
You can find the most updated Bed Fund Conference Guide in the Members section of the SVDP website, which includes some updates to the way beds assistance should be entered in CMS.
The link to our online request form can be found here .
Metro Bus Passes (Everybody Rides Metro)
Your Conference has access to Metro bus passes to be extended to neighbors for use for any of 3 defined purposes:
- Commute to/from new employment
- Commute to/from our Bank St services hub or other community social services
- Commute to/from medical appointments
Please understand that these passes are sourced through the Everybody Rides Metro program and our Council is required to comply with the above-referenced usages and submit reports of passes distributed. Please also understand that your Conference will need to record bus passes extended in CMS for the neighbors receiving this assistance. Our Bus Pass Guidelines sheet for Conferences is available to you on the Members Support page of our website https://www.svdpcincinnati.org/conferences-members/member-support/
or use this link to go directly to this document
If your Conference wants to learn more about this program or request passes, please contact Alec Jewell, Conferences Manager, at ajewell@svdpcincinnati.org or 513.345.4983.
Our Charitable Pharmacy is Still Providing COVID Vaccinations
The CDC has recently released new guidance on boosters for those most susceptible to severe COVID complications. We have the Pfizer vaccine. Want more info? Our Charitable Pharmacy staff is available to answer any questions. You can contact Dr. Rusty Curington at rcurington@svdpcincinnati.org and a Pharmacy team member will respond.
Our Re-Entry Program
Our Re-Entry Program Manager, Dion Crockett, is eager to work with you to assist neighbors you are serving who have been affected by the criminal justice system. If you would like to host Dion at a Conference meeting, get together with him in another way, or discuss a particular situation, Dion can be reached at 513.562.8851 or dcrockett@svdpcincinnati.org .
Cooking Improv with La Soupe
Our partner La Soupe teams with our Catino Choice Pantry to present monthly Cooking Improv demonstrations in the Teaching Kitchen at our NOC. Instructors from La Soupe and volunteers engage participants on basic cooking principles and how to use what you have to create delicious, nutritious meals. All recipes are based off ingredients found daily in our Catino Choice Pantry. The demonstrations are on the first Wednesday of every month, 11am-1pm. Neighbors are encouraged to sample the delicious dishes and discuss preparation and ingredients with our staff, volunteers, and resident La Soupe instructor Chef Mona!
The next event is Wednesday, September 7. No pre-registration is required.
Feel free to share this information with your neighbors, or if you’re interested in getting involved in our Teaching Kitchen programming, please reach out to Demi Schoenherr at dschoenherr@svdpcincinnati.org for more information.
Haircuts from the Heart have Returned to our NOC
Bad hair day? Not here.
Haircuts from the Heart, courtesy of Franciscan Ministries, has restarted their free haircut program. Stylist Margarita will be in our NOC on the first and second Monday of each month, 9am-noon, cutting hair in a room on the 2nd floor. Monday, 9/12, is the next date she will be here (as the NOC is closed on Mon, 9/5, for Labor Day). Neighbors are accepted on a walk-in basis, and should sign in at our NOC reception desk upon arrival.
Education Center Within Our Neyer Outreach Center
Our NOC Education Center is available for neighbors to use during our operating hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm, and Saturday, 8am - noon.
Christ Church Plumb Line
Olivia Scheper, Conferences Support Coordinator, is our central contact point-person. Plumb Line only accepts assistance referrals from this single SVDP point-person.
As a reminder, Plumb Line can assist with $400 of past due rent for neighbors who are currently working.
All referrals to Plumb Line should be sent to:
Olivia Scheper
Phone: 513.345.4986, ext 239
Please understand and have faith: Plumb Line only communicates with the landlord and the neighbor after our referral is made. Therefore, once we have submitted your neighbor referral to Plumb Line, no news is good news. Christ Church will only communicate with us when they are unable to assist a neighbor or there are difficulties with a case. We should not contact Christ Church for status reports on a referral.
Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW)
GCWW's Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) Program provides funds for assistance for eligible tenants residing in the City of Cincinnati. There are eligibility stipulations. Tenants must qualify by completing an online application at assistance.mygcww.org .
Renters can also call 513.591.7700 to receive assistance from the call center to complete an application. There is also a flexible payment plan through the PromisePay Portal. GCWW customers can visit GCWW.promise-pay.com for details about the program and how to enroll. Renters not residing in Cincinnati city limits but living in Hamilton County can visit https://erap.hcjfs.org/ for utility assistance. If you need additional materials or information, please contact GCWW at GCWWCares@gcww.cincinnati-oh.gov .
Duke Energy
The combination of high temperatures and elevated fuel prices will impact summer bills.
Duke Energy recently implemented a new billing and payment system - and had suspended disconnections for nonpayment as they fine-tuned this new system. They have resumed standard billing and credit policies, including disconnections for non-payment.
Duke encourages us to follow our standard steps for processing pledges on customer accounts. For questions on accounts or pledges for neighbors requesting utility assistance, please contact Duke Energy's Centralized Agency Team at 800.241.3194. Advocates are currently available Monday through Friday, 7:30am - 5:30pm.
Duke also encourages us to direct customers to their summer bills page and to these helpful fact sheets to find programs, tips and tools. Should a customer not meet their qualifications for assistance, please refer them to Duke's customer care organization at 800.544.6900 where they may find assistance through a flexible installment plan.
Additional info on public assistance resources can be found at energyhelp.ohio.gov .
State of Ohio Program for Struggling Homeowners
Save the Dream Ohio helps eligible Ohio homeowners facing foreclosure and/or who cannot afford to pay their mortgage payments, utility payments or other related housing costs as a result of economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of Ohio was awarded $280 million from the U.S. Department of Treasury through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for the program. Click here for more information:
City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County COVID Assistance
Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation (CEIF) Vision Clinic in our Neyer Outreach Center
The Vision Clinic operates by appointment on certain Thursdays as designated by CEIF. Our Vision Clinic is open tomorrow (8/25), 8:30am - 3pm. Looking out to September - for those who are farsighted - our clinic will be open these same hours on 9/1, 9/15, & 9/29; open morning only on 9/8 & 9/22. A limited number of walk-in exams can also be accommodated. To schedule an appointment, or to inquire for additional info, please call 513.207.6140.
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Call to Prayer
O God, through Christ, the merciful Servant,
give us a loving and humble heart.
O God, through Christ, the humble Servant,
give us a loving and humble heart.
O God, through Christ, the loving Servant,
give us a loving and humble heart.
Amen.
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