Vincentian Community News
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"Our Lord has no use for our knowledge or our good works if he does not possess our heart; and even this heart he does not wish if we do not give it to him when he asks.”
–St. Vincent de Paul
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Congratulations to Vincentian Armando Perales for being recognized by the St. David's Foundation as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Armando serves as Treasurer and Emergency Assistance Coordinator for the St. Vincent de Paul Luling Conference. He is described as a "true community servant and mobilizer" for the work he does in the community by organizing vaccine clinics, community dinners during the holiday season, and assisting families in need. You can read the feature on Armando here.
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COVID-19 Stage 3 Risk Guidelines
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Austin-Travis County is in Stage 3 of the risk-based guidelines. According to Austin health officials, COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions have decreased. Vaccinated and unvaccinated people should take precaution at private indoor gatherings and outdoor gatherings. You are still urged to wear a mask and social distance.
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New SVDP Online Thrift Store!
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The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store has launched its new Online store. The new website will offer one of kind treasures that will only be available online! Visit svdptreasures.org and check out the unique treasures that are available now! Purchases made online will be picked up at the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store.
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
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The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is now open Wednesday - Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm. You have an extra day to explore and shop for great items at affordable prices.
We are taking every precaution to ensure your safety and to stop the spread of COVID-19. Everyone is required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing in the Thrift Store. Hand sanitizer is also available when you enter the store.
The Thrift Store is in need of volunteers to serve as greeters, cashiers, donation sorters, taggers, and to assist customers in various departments. Are you interested in volunteering? You can sign up by clicking on this link.
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You can make a difference by sharing your time and talents. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin has new volunteer opportunities available in the Thrift Store, Client Services, and Council Office. We now have a new and easy way for you to sign up. Visit the volunteer page on ssvdp.org/volunteer, complete the form, and submit it. You will be contacted by a Council staff member.
Ready to volunteer? Click on this link to sign up!
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In October, the Catholic Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month. We pray that during this Respect Life Month our resolve will be strengthened to cherish and protect the gift of every human life.
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30th Sunday of Ordinary Time
October 24, 2021
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Gospel Reading: (Mark 10: 46-52)
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples, Bartimaeus, a blind man, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.
Vincentian Reflection:
The dynamic between Bartimaeus and Jesus is a perfect description of what faith is: Bartimaeus heard Jesus, cried out to him, persisted in his prayer, came to Jesus when he called, and spoke boldly of his need. All these actions: hearing, crying out, coming, speaking describe our Christian discipleship. We must let our faith lead us to Jesus and then we must follow him. Without persistence in prayer it will be impossible for us to follow Jesus faithfully on the road of self–giving. The encounter with Jesus in prayer keeps our relationship with God healthy and strong. The prayer of petition reminds us that disciples can do nothing on their own without Jesus’ help. At times we are doing our faith by reaching out to those around us in need; at other times we are being our faith by taking time to let our God be present to us in prayer. (Living Liturgy, p.232)
Vincentian Meditation:
Our Lord wants us to persevere in prayer and not be discouraged because God seems slow in answering our prayers. Perhaps the reason we become discouraged in prayer is that we feel in a vague way that God is not taking us seriously. The truth is that it is not God who fails to take us seriously when we pray to Him, but rather we fail to take God seriously. Sometimes in our heart of hearts we pray without full confidence that He is going to give us what we ask. I wonder if God is slow in answering our prayers at times in order to perfect the confidence which He wishes us to have in Him who is our Father. Sometimes the reason of God’s delay in answering our prayers is that He wants to make us ready to accept what He desires to give us. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 142-3)
When have you found that sometimes God seems slow in answering your prayers?
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We will offer them up in prayer weekly.
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: We added a room to our pantry and our president who is a carpenter by trade with the help of other members was paid to build it. The total price of the project was lower than the cost of a hired contractor. Is this ok under the bylaws of SVdP?
A: It is okay for Conferences to pay the president or any other member to do a particular thing for a short term job as long as all members know and are in agreement with the terms. This could become a problem if it is happening consistently, and the Conference must be aware of any conflicts of interest. It can also be a problem if the president or other officers are paid on a consistent basis for doing regular jobs, as they would lose their eligibility to hold office. In this example the president is indeed a paid contractor. As such, good accounting and audit principles include soliciting bids for projects over certain cost estimates set by the board of directors. This transparency is important to demonstrate to the public and supporters that the Society’s leaders are not unduly compensated for any professional work provided to the Society.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: Agregamos una habitación a nuestra despensa y nuestro presidente, que es carpintero, con la ayuda de otros miembros, recibió un pago para construirla. El precio total del proyecto fue menor que el costo de un contratista contratado. ¿Está esto bien según los estatutos de SVdP?
R: Está bien que las Conferencias le paguen al presidente o cualquier otro miembro para que haga algo en particular por un trabajo a corto plazo, siempre que todos los miembros conozcan y estén de acuerdo con los términos. Esto podría convertirse en un problema si ocurre de manera constante, y la Conferencia debe ser consciente de cualquier conflicto de intereses. También puede ser un problema si al presidente u otros funcionarios se les paga de manera constante por realizar trabajos regulares, ya que perderían su elegibilidad para ocupar el cargo. En este ejemplo, el presidente es de hecho un contratista pagado. Como tal, los buenos principios de contabilidad y auditoría incluyen la solicitud de ofertas para proyectos por encima de ciertas estimaciones de costos establecidas por la junta directiva. Esta transparencia es importante para demostrar al público y a los partidarios que los líderes de la Sociedad no son compensados indebidamente por ningún trabajo profesional proporcionado a la Sociedad.
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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.
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Council Office:
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Client Services:
Tuesday - Friday
9:00am - 12:00pm
Food Pantry:
Saturday
9:00am - 12:00pm
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
Thursday - Saturday
10:00am - 5:00pm
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Contact Us:
Rick Bologna, Stores Director, rick.bologna@ssvdp.org
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*Deadline submission for the eNews is Wednesday at noon.
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