Vincentian Community News
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“We should be faithful in little things, keep ourselves in the presence of God, and have a great desire to please him.”
-St. Louise de Marillac
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COVID-19 Stage 5 Risk Guidelines
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Austin-Travis County is in Stage 5 of the risk-based guidelines. According to Austin health officials, COVID-19 cases and hospital admissions have increased. Vaccinated and unvaccinated people should take precaution at private indoor gatherings and outdoor gatherings. You are urged to wear a mask and social distance.
Due to the surge in cases, all staff and volunteers at the Vincentian Family Center are required to wear masks at all times. Persons (customers) who cannot or will not wear a mask will not be allowed to enter the building for any reason. This also includes anyone in the client service area whether or not they are staff, volunteers or someone requesting assistance. The proper way to wear a mask is to cover both the mouth and nose with the mask. More information is below.
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Welcome St. Jerome Conference
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We are pleased to announce the formation of the new Conference, St. Jerome in Waco. With over 40 members, the Conference is excited to be a part of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and they are ready to serve their neighbors in need in the Waco area.
The group held their first formation meeting Wednesday, January 26 where interested members were led through a discernment process to choose a president. The members elected Bobby Jetalina as their Conference President. Other officers will be appointed at their next meeting on February 10.
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Formation Meeting at St. Jerome Parish in Waco on January 26, 2022.
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Formation Meeting at St. Jerome Parish in Waco on January 26, 2022.
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Formation Meeting at St. Jerome Parish in Waco on January 26, 2022.
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Bobby Jetalina, St. Jerome Conference President and Joleen Boyer, Extension Committee Chair.
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Fuzzy Slippers Hotline Training
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We need volunteers for the Fuzzy Slipper’s Hotline! This is a hotline intended to connect our Neighbors in Need to the Conference nearest to them when they contact the Council Office asking for assistance.
Fuzzy Slippers it easy, you can do it from the comfort of your home, and the commitment is only a few hours a month. You’ll be calling our Diocese-wide Helpline from your home and transcribing the information (name, address, phone number and needs request). You will return the call to the neighbor in need to give them the contact information for the Conference nearest to them. We need English and Spanish speakers.
The next training session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9 at 2:00pm. To register, click this link.
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Spiritual Advisor Formation and Training
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A Spiritual Advisor Formation and Training Webinar will be held next month for Spiritual Advisors, Associate Spiritual Advisors, or those thinking of becoming Spiritual Advisors. This three-part training and formation program will be held February 22, 23, and 24 at 7:00pm Central. Whether you are new or experienced, if you have never previously attended, please register and attend this program led by Tim Williams, National Formation Director, and James Davis, South Central Region Spiritual Advisor.
Over three evenings, you will learn about Vincentian Formation, the role of the Spiritual Advisor, tools, resources, and reflections you can use, and Vincentian Discernment and Consensus.
We also encourage attendance by Conference and Council Presidents, who have “a special responsibility for promoting Vincentian spirituality.”
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Registration for SVdP Midyear Meeting is now open!
Join us the for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's 2022 Midyear Business Meeting, March 16 - 19, 2022 at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri! The agenda is packed with Education, Spirituality, and informative information about the Society and helping those in need. Highlights include: Spiritual Retreat, Committee Meetings, Regional Meetings, and our Midyear Business Meeting. We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis!
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The next Ozanam Orientation is scheduled for Saturday, February 26 from 9:00am - 2:30pm at St. Jerome Catholic Church. It's located at 9820 Chapel Road, Waco, TX.
Ozanam Orientations are designed to set up our new Vincentians for success and re-energize those Vincentians who have already served. All new Vincentians are asked to attend an Ozanam Orientation within their first year in ministry; current Vincentians should attend an Ozanam refresher every 3-5 years.
To register, click on this link.
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
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The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store was closed Thursday and Friday due to inclement weather. The Thrift Store will reopen Saturday at 10:00am.
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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5th Sunday of Ordinary Time
February 6, 2022
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Gospel: (Luke 5:1-11)
After he had finished speaking, Jesus said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing…when Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him…Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
Reflection:
Jesus’ power manifested in the great catch of fish brings Peter to confess his sinfulness. But the story does not stop with the confession of unworthiness, but continues with Peter who then “left everything and followed him.” The appearance of God always reveals our own sinfulness, but God’s focus is elsewhere—on our call and our mission. God sees humanity as created to be good, as persons who can choose to respond to God’s call and fulfill the mission God gives. If we look for “large catches of fish” we will miss God’s message. The gospel invites us to look to the simple manifestations of holiness that indicate the presence of God, for example, in the generosity of so many volunteers, in the faithfulness of husbands and wives, in the unselfishness of parish workers, in the uncomplaining suffering of the sick, in the gracious wisdom of the elderly. The “ yes” response to our call is to imitate these good behaviors and by so doing we extend God’s reign. (Living Liturgy, p.54)
Vincentian Meditation:
The holiness of St. Vincent and of each one of us in the last analysis is a gift of God. The holiness of a saint is a sharing in the holiness of God Himself, and we recognize holiness when we see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in the life of a person. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.316)
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We will offer them up in prayer weekly.
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: One of our Vincentians has asked if our Conference can spend funds to improve the poor boxes in our parish church. We receive the contents of the boxes each week. They’ve gotten a little shabby, and our pastor has been working on improving the church’s environment with new pews, new stations, etc. Is this allowed?
A: Since the funds from the poor box are given to SVdP, the Conference may purchase replacements for the poor boxes and treat it as operating expenses. However, the Conference may not contribute funds directly to the parish to do so.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: Uno de nuestros Vicentinos ha preguntado si nuestra Conferencia puede gastar fondos para mejorar las cajas de limosnas en nuestra iglesia parroquial. Recibimos el contenido de las cajas cada semana. Se han deteriorado un poco y nuestro pastor ha estado mejorando el ambiente de la iglesia con nuevas bancas, nuevas estaciones, etc. ¿Está permitido?
R: Dado que los fondos de la caja se entregan a SVdP, la Conferencia puede comprar reemplazos para las cajas de limosnas y tratarlos como gastos operativos. Sin embargo, la Conferencia no puede contribuir fondos directamente a la parroquia para hacerlo.
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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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Donate your vehicle to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We make donating your car, truck, motorcycle, or boat easy. Call 1-800-317-SVDP (7837) or visit www.ssvdp.org/vehicle-donation. The process is free and easy!
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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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Fuzzy Slippers Training
February 9, 2022
Virtual Meeting
2:00pm
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Ozanam Orientation
February 26, 2022
St. Jerome Catholic Church
Waco, TX
9:00am - 2:30pm
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Mid-Year Meeting
March 16-19, 2022
St. Louis
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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
Wednesday - 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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