Rent and Utility Assistance Programs
Due to COVID-19
The state of Missouri and several counties within the state received funding from the US Department of Treasury for emergency rental and utility assistance for those experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Use the links below to review eligibility guidelines and learn how Neighbors in your area can apply for assistance.
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Rapid Rehousing Pilot Program
Our Rapid Rehousing Pilot Program began on January 11, 2021.
Vincentians in St. Louis City and County have referred 10 Neighbors to the pilot program. Of these, 3 have been rehoused and 2 have successfully remained in their current homes. Four are looking for housing with the help of St. Patrick Center or are in screening. One was determined to not be a good fit for the program. Stay tuned for more information as we move forward!
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American Rescue Plan Act Summary |
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In March 2021 Congress passed, and President Biden signed, a nearly $1.9 trillion aid package to help people, communities, and organizations affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The bill represents one of the largest infusions of assistance to Neighbors in Need and communities in the history of the country, and also included support for the business operations of Conferences and Councils. The summary at the link below focuses on the provisions of the bill most important to the Society and provides access to further information and resources.
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FEMA to Provide COVID-19 Funeral Assistance
FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses made after January 20, 2020. On Monday April 12, 2021 FEMA will begin accepting applications through their call center. Assistance is limited to $9,000 per funeral.
Who is eligible?
- The death must have occurred in the United States.
- Death certificate must indicate that the death was COVID-19 related.
- Applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.
- The person that died does not have to be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen, non-citizen national or qualified alien.
How to Apply?
Call the Assistance Line Number: 844-684-6333, TTY:800-462-7585, Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 8 PM Central Time. Have documentation ready! For more information, visit COVID-19 Funeral Assistance | FEMA.gov
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Protect yourself!
The Disaster Committee encourages Vincentians to sign up for emergency alerts related to weather, criminal activity, and traffic in your area through www.nixle.com.
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Flossie Henderson makes an impact on the community by volunteering regularly
Watch a video and read the following article about Vincentian Flossie Henderson and the work she's doing with St. Vincent de Paul.
Article by Margie Ellisor at Fox2now
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Flossie Henderson makes an impact on the community by...
ST. LOUIS - Flossie Henderson is a career educator who now works as legal secretary, but when you mention her charity work, that's when she really lights up. "The need in our community I feel that keeps me going is seeing how despite everything...
Read more
fox2now.com
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Handy-dandy: Malta Mobile Ministry fills a big need
Malta Mobile Ministry volunteers provide much-needed cargo service.
Article by Joseph Kenny at St. Louis Review
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Handy-dandy: Malta Mobile Ministry fills a big need
Malta Mobile Ministry volunteers provide much-needed cargo service for agencies
Read more
www.archstl.org
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Society of St. Vincent de Paul
strengthens outreach to pregnant women
through Pregnancy Care Program
Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s Pregnancy Care Program ensures that pregnant women are provided immediate care
Article by Jennifer Brinker at St. Louis Review
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Society of St. Vincent de Paul strengthens outreach to...
Nicole and Dakota Roper experienced new life and nearly death within the first month of 2021. Nicole Roper was nine months pregnant when she tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 9. She was admitted to the hospital 10 days later and delivered...
Read more
www.archstl.org
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Many of you saw the St. Louis Review piece on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Pregnancy Care Program (featured above). It was a poignant story of love, faith and friendship. And it highlighted the Pregnancy Care Program. You may say, “I’ve heard of that program, but what exactly is it?” For 188 years, Vincentians have been helping Neighbors in need—some of those Neighbors are moms experiencing unexpected pregnancies. It’s what Vincentians do. The Pregnancy Care Program helped ensure none of these Moms coming to us fell through the cracks. In 2020, eighty-seven Mothers were helped. Twenty-seven of those Moms were abortion-minded. With help from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, twenty five of those Moms chose life for their child. Praise God!
We are in the process of formalizing the program and will be sending out invitations to all Vincentians to attend a Zoom meeting explaining the program and what you and your Conference can do to help Mothers experiencing unexpected pregnancies. Please plan to attend one of the training sessions that will be held in late May. Stay tuned! Thanks for all that you do and God bless!
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Wednesday, June 9, 2021 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Be ready for the hot summer by reserving fans now for your Neighbors in Need.
Conferences can pick up 15 fans at $3 each.
We will have enough fans for the first 36 Conferences that reply. Don’t wait!
Contact Steve Rupp at [email protected] or 314-881-6018. Fans can be paid for at pick up.
MORE EXCITING NEWS!
Fans will be available for pick up on the parking lot at your Cool Valley Thrift Outlet and Processing Center! (1225 S. Florissant Rd., Cool Valley, MO 63121)
We are very excited to invite you to not only pick up your fans, but take a tour of your 55,000 square foot facility that is serving all 10 SVDP Thrift Stores. It is VERY impressive!
Tours will be at 1:30, 2:00 and 2:30 PM. There will also be refreshments and fellowship in your Center’s new meeting rooms!
AND, you don’t even have to be picking up fans to take a tour and enjoy the fellowship and refreshments. Just come on by!
SEE YOU ON JUNE 9TH!
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Welcome John Fitzpatrick, Director of Development! |
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We are very pleased to announce that John Fitzpatrick (yes, we know, another John F) will join SVdP St. Louis as Director of Development on Monday, March 22.
John Fitzpatrick has spent his professional career in fundraising. Upon graduation from St. John’s University in Queens, NY, he joined one of the oldest and largest fundraising companies in America—Community Counselling Service (now known as CCS Fundraising).
John was also the founding director for the Sisters of Mercy at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center (now known as Mercy St. Louis). His most recent position was as the Provincial Assistant for Advancement for the Jesuits USA Central and Southern Province.
Originally from Long Island, NY, John now lives in west county St. Louis with his wife, Melanie and son Timothy who also lives and works in St. Louis.
Please join us in welcoming John Fitzpatrick to our team.
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Jim Sigillito to Begin New Role
in St. Louis Archdiocese
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Jim Sigillito, our St. Louis Archdiocesan Council Manager of Growth and Revitalization, has decided to return to service in parish ministry effective mid-April. Jim has taken a position as Parish Administrator for Assumption-Mattese Catholic Church. With thanksgiving for Jim’s service to Vincentians on behalf of the Council we pray for Jim as he transitions back to parish ministry and administration. The SVdP St. Louis Council Office is seeking to fill this role. |
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April Vincentian Superstars |
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Honoring and celebrating your Vincentian call to serve those in need.
Thank you to all Vincentians!
Promoting recognition of our volunteers and creating a feeling of unity with other Districts promotes “fellowship” with each other. We are not one District, we are many and that is wonderful.
Every month we will have “11 Stars” giving an “extra thank you” to our fellow Vincentians.
11 Star Vincentians for the Month of April, 2021
• Southwest - Pat Berry – Annunciation in Webster Groves, Mo.
• Southeast - Steve Bleckler – St. Genevieve – St. Genevieve, Mo.
• Festus -Diane Stoverink, Sacred Heart, Crystal City, Mo.
• Gravois – Bill Sommer – St. Justin Martyr – St. Louis, Mo.
• West - Carolyn Hanneken – S. James/St. Mary’s - Catawissa, Mo.
• South Central - Paul Oliver -St. Clement of Rome – Des Peres, Mo.
• North - Marty Bligh - Holy Name of Jesus – St. Louis, Mo.
• Mid Central-Gwendolyn Chambers - St. Teresa Bridget -St. Louis, Mo.
• South - Barbie Swarli – St. Andrews – St. Louis, Mo.
• North Central - Mel Housman - St. Ann – Normandy, Mo.
• Northwest - Louise Blattel – St Theodore – Flint Hill, Mo.
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In late February, a man was dropped off at the National Council Office in a taxi. He had been in the hospital for three days, and the cab driver brought him to the National Council Office instead of the SVdP homeless drop-in center in East St. Louis. The man had no shoes and was dressed in flimsy, disposable hospital scrubs.
He had no transportation, no clothes, and he could barely talk or stand on his feet.
While the National Council staff went to get him food, Ryan Carney called Craig Korte at the Creve Coeur Thrift Store to ask if he could spare a pair of shoes, a shirt, and pants. Craig responded immediately and filled a large bag with 3 pairs of shoes and several pairs of pants and shirts.
The man’s face lit up when he saw the clothes. He took each item out, inspected and folded it, and bragged how good he would look in his new clothes.
The difference this act of kindness made was indescribable. It helped bring him to his senses, and soon after, he was communicating more clearly. SVdP was able to reconnect him with his case worker and get him to the shelter.
A big thanks to Craig, his team, and the staff at the National Council Office for this wonderful display of Vincentian service to those in need.
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Dear Vincentians,
I wore dress socks this week. That’s unusual. For most of the last year I have dressed as a ragamuffin, preferring gym clothes to anything else. This made doing laundry really easy. If I needed to look professional, I put on a black shirt over whatever I was wearing and slipped in a white collar without changing from gym shorts to slacks. Who knew? I have used fewer razor blades over this last year too. Zoom covers a multitude of sins. The reason for the dress socks? I had a meeting—in person!
As I write this, we are at the end of the week during which we marked one year of living with the COVID-19 virus. I have been mildly amused by reports of how many of us expect this virus should now be over because a year is long enough. Hmmm. . . .I don’t think it works that way. Rather than trying to impose my will on this thing over which I have no control, I keep asking myself what I am learning thanks to this year that has been like no other.
This is what Vincentians do: live life and reflect on it. We express thanks for our experiences and commit to improving—to being open to the grace that will help. We can grow in holiness even when we can’t do things that were normal. Someday we won’t put on masks and we will sing full-throated in crowded churches. Until then, let’s prayerfully reflect and commit.
Fr. Mark Pranaitis, C.M.
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The Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity and Social Friendship is an inspiring and beautiful reflection on the need to change ourselves so that we can connect more intimately with our fellow human beings. The Encyclical is particularly appropriate as a guide for Vincentians as we seek common ground in our conferences and with the neighbors we wish to help.
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You Don't Want to Miss Our
8th Annual Golf Tournament!
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Join us at the Florissant Golf Club for what promises to be a great day on the links, enjoy an early round with 18-holes of golf & lots of familiar faces. Space is limited, we ONLY HAVE SPACE FOR 36 TEAMS - MAX. We want the golf to move along at an enjoyable pace and make sure to get all the teams back to the Clubhouse for food and drinks, prizes and awards.
Here are the details
Four-person Scramble:
Registration & Individual Breakfast
Bloody Mary Bar - 8:00a.m – 8:45a.m
Shotgun start: 9:00am
$105.00 per golfer includes:
o Green Fee's Golf Cart, beer on & off the course
o Mulligans, Skins game entry and Greenie's
o Breakfast Grab n Go Items & Bloody Mary's
o Food Included
o Participation Gift for each golfer
o Prize Money & Awards to winners
To register or for more information contact
Pat @ 314.372.1780
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* * * Make Checks Payable to SVDP - North District * * *
Mail to: SVDP * Attn: Pat Bettis
1807 Kilmory Dr. * Florissant, MO 63031
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Home Visit
101
Weds., April 14, 2021
2:30-4:30pm
To be held virtually via Zoom.
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Ozanam Orientation: May
Tues., May 4, 2021
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To be held virtually via Zoom.
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2021
Spring Assembly
Sat., April 24, 2021
9:00 a.m. - noon
To be held virtually via Zoom.
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We are very excited to invite YOU to the 2021 Spring Assembly!
You probably remember the great success of our 2019 Spring Assembly at St. Louis University High School with 500 of your best Vincentian friends. With COVID, we can’t do an in-person event in 2021. But the good news is with Zoom you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your living room. Everybody will be there!
You may also remember a BIG question from 2019 was, “How do I get my children, grandchildren, or anyone else back to the Church?” We are blessed to be able to address this vital question through our Keynote Speaker, Curtis Martin, Founder and CEO of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). Curtis will address this through the perspective of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul being founded by a group of….College Students! Curtis will also highlight the Society of St. Vincent de Paul being a beautiful road back to the Church for anyone seeking a closer relationship with Christ, or just looking for a volunteer opportunity. He will also be available to interact with our Vincentians. Here’s a link to a video and more information on Curtis: https://www.focus.org/about/leadership/curtis-martin
Stay tuned for more information on the dynamic presentations and interactive events at the Spring Assembly. And don’t forget to register right away. We’ll “See” you on April 24th! Register here: [Here is the registration link: https://conta.cc/38Ly6RK]
Steve Rupp,
Manager of Growth and Revitalization
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Happy Volunteer Month - A Letter to Our Volunteers |
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To all our volunteers:
In a year of the unexpected, of challenges and need, you stepped in. You offered neighbors in need warmth, friendliness and consistency when the world was uncertain.
Whether at our stores or out in our communities, you gave generously of your time, talent and treasure. Even behind a mask, you were the friendly, welcoming face of Christ during a season of hopelessness.
We all had to adapt during 2020, including in how we served our neighbors in need.
This April, this Volunteer Month, we thank you for your perseverance and your fearless spirits, serving your brothers and sisters even in the middle of the unknown.
We are incredibly proud and deeply grateful for the transformative work you do in our communities.
Thank you,
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John Foppe
Executive Director
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Church Bulletin Announcements: April - June |
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Click below to get church bulletin announcement suggestions for April - June 2021. Please work with your Parish's bulletin creator/coordinator to submit the copy. Placement in your Parish bulletin will help get visibility and support for your SVdP Conference. Of course, you can always customize these to meet your specific Conference needs. |
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At SVdP Thrift Stores: Mattress Sale! |
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Monthly Mass - Invitation |
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Dear Vincentians,
If you haven’t been able to attend our Vincentian monthly mass - you are missing a beautiful mass and sermon by our new Spiritual Advisor. March 18th was our last one and we had Vincentians from Kirkwood and several conferences throughout the Archdiocese. All Vincentians are invited so that includes the Daughters of Charity and DePaul USA. Our next mass is April 15th.
Try to come, not only is St. Vincent’s a beautiful Vincentian church with profound history but this is an opportunity for Vincentians to have a special mass and a chance to visit with each other (masked and 6 feet away, of course).
Elizabeth M. Barbieri | Board of Directors President
Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Archdiocesan Council of St. Louis
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Gary Volk, President of the Vincentian Conference in Chesterfield, talks about the great features and benefits of ServWare in the above video.
To contact Gary Volk, ServWare Steering Committee:
To contact Tom Matoushek, ServWare Facilitator:
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Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus. It is the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph declared as patron of the universal church, obedient to the will of God in the acceptance of Mary’s pregnancy.
Pope Francis says, “St. Joseph was called by God to serve the person and mission of Jesus directly through the exercise of his fatherhood and that, in this way, he cooperated in the fullness of time in the great mystery of salvation and is truly a minister of salvation." He is "an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble."
St. Joseph, who often goes unnoticed, “reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation," he said.
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Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted his only Son;
in you Mary placed her trust;
with you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
show yourself a father
and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,
and defend us from every evil. Amen.
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Reminder... Rosary Tonight! |
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Join us --
SVdP St. Louis
Rosary Wednesday
8 p.m. tonight!
via Zoom.
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Meeting ID: 989 8066 7271 Passcode: vincent
or dial in: (312) 626-6799
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Please Pray for The Sick:
Ted Salvia
Holy Infant
Tim and Daniel Massey
Council Office
Judi Webb
Council Office
Bruce and Linda Gallion
Our Lady Queen of Peace
Please Pray for The Deceased:
Ken Sudholt
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Shirley Loy
Holy Name of Jesus
or (314) 881-6018
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Louis | [svdpstlouis.org]
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