Vincentian Community News |
|
"Since God has entrusted to you the care of the family, he will impart to you the requisite qualities for the proper discharge of that duty. Let him act and do not be disturbed when things go against your wishes. Be particularly on your guard not to give pain to anyone but be a consolation to all."
–St. Vincent de Paul
|
|
Estrella and her husband, who take care of their granddaughter, are struggling financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Estrella's job moved overseas and her husband's income is minimal. Now Estrella is dealing with arthritis in her knees which is preventing her from working. She called the St. John Neumann Conference for help with their City of Austin utility bill. Vincentians listened to her story and prayed for her and her family. The Conference pledged an amount toward her utility bill and provided her H-E-B cards.
"Vincentians are sincerely concerned with the deeper needs and the spiritual well-being of those they help, always observing a profound respect for their conscience and the faith they believe in, listening and understanding with their hearts, beyond both words and appearances." (Rule 1.11)
Thanks to the St. John Neumann Conference for sharing this story. If your Conference would like to share a story, send it to Kanobia Blackmon, the Director of Development and Marketing, at kanobia@ssvdp.org.
|
|
The St. Vincent de Paul Luling Conference held its first Sack Lunch Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021. The Conference hosted the event for the youth and senior citizens at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. |
|
Spiritual Advisers Training and Retreat |
|
Diocesan Council Spiritual Advisor Deacon Robert Martinez, Associate Spiritual Advisor Kevin Sheehan, and Regional Spiritual Advisor James Davis will host a virtual Spiritual Advisers training and retreat on Saturday, June 26, 2021. The event is from 9:00am - 3:00pm. This will be a day of reflection, fellowship, and learning for all Spiritual Advisors. Click this link to register.
|
|
City of Austin RENT Assistance Program |
|
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is partnering with the City of Austin and the Housing Authority to assist eligible Austin residents, impacted by COVID-19, with applying for rental assistance through the Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) Assistance Program. The RENT Application Portal is now open and will remain open through December 2021 or until funds are spent.
Applicants are welcome to use our computer lab at the Vincentian Family Center
Tuesday - Friday from 9:00am - 12:00pm. Mondays are by appointment only. Email info@ssvdp.org. We will assist applicants with creating an account, completing the online application, and uploading the required documents.
|
|
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store |
|
The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is open Thursday - Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm. You are invited to come, explore, and shop for great items at affordable prices. We receive new donations weekly, so you never know what treasures you will find.
Per the CDC guidelines, masks are optional for fully vaccinated people. However, we still encourage guests, volunteers, and staff to practice social distancing. Hand sanitizer will still be 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.
|
|
New Volunteer Opportunities |
|
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!
|
|
Registration is now open for the 2021 National Assembly! The event will be held August 25-28 in Houston, Texas. Here's a glance of the schedule:
-
Tuesday, August 24 – 3:00 p.m. Registration Opens for Early Arrivals & Exhibitor Set-up
-
Wednesday, August 25 – Disaster Preparedness Workshop, National Stores & Executive Director Meetings, Exhibitor Showcase Open, and Welcome Reception
-
Thursday, August 26 – Workshops, Exhibits Open, National Committee Meetings, Presidential Welcome & Keynote Address, and Host City Event
-
Friday, August 27 – Spiritual Retreat, Workshops, Regional Meetings, Exhibits Open Until 3:00 p.m.
-
Saturday, August 28 – General Session Presentation, National Business Meeting, Workshops, Vigil Mass, and Closing Dinner Banquet
For more information about the Assembly and to register, click here.
|
|
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 27, 2021
|
|
Gospel Reading: (Mark 5: 21- 43)
When Jesus had crossed back to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in the boat, a large crowd gathered around him and he stayed close to the lake. One of the officials of the synagogue, a man named Jairus, came near. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and made this earnest appeal: “My little daughter is critically ill. Please come and lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live.” Jesus took the child’s father and mother and his own companions and entered the room where the child lay. Taking her hand he said to her, “Talitha, koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up.” The girl, a child of twelve, stood up immediately and began to walk around. At this the family’s astonishment was complete. He enjoined them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.
Vincentian Reflection:
Just as Jairus overcame his fears in order to encounter Jesus and receive life, so we must surrender our own wills in order to encounter Jesus and receive life. Living the paschal mystery is none other than our daily dying to self—overcoming our fears and reaching out to Jesus in humility—in all the little, practical ways that fill our daily routines. Paschal mystery dying is as simple as smiling at the children even when we’re bone tired or taking an hour out of our day to visit the sick. When we surrender in humility to his goodness and power, Jesus offers us life and in this we encounter the Lord of life. (Living Liturgy, p.164)
Vincentian Meditation:
If St. Vincent de Paul was able to do so much for the poor of his day, it was because with his mind and heart he had come to know something of the length and breadth, the height and depth of the love of God that is in the heart of Jesus. As children of God, we must constantly be convincing ourselves in prayer of the excessive love with which God has reached out and is still reaching out to us each day and each moment of the day. If we are not convinced that God loves us as we are, even with our frailties, it will be very difficult for us to show the love of God to the poor. It is the work of humble prayer to come to know oneself as a person who is loved by God. It is the work of humble prayer to share that experience with the poor and to convince them that God cares for them.
(McCullen, Deep Down Things, p292)
How have you come to know that you are loved by God?
|
|
We will offer them up in prayer weekly.
|
|
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing. However, people are required to follow federal, state, local rules and regulations, including local businesses and workplace guidance. If you have not been vaccinated, you are encouraged to do so.
|
|
National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: Can a member of two Conferences have voting rights in both Conferences? Should his/her membership be counted twice on the annual reports?
A: Yes, the Rule says an active member has one vote in a Conference. An active member of two separate Conferences are eligible to vote in each of the Conferences of which they serve as a member. The member should also be counted on each Conference annual report.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: ¿Puede un miembro de dos conferencias tener derecho a voto en ambas Conferencias? ¿Debería contarse su membresía dos veces en los informes anuales?
R: Sí, la Regla dice que un miembro activo tiene un voto en una Conferencia. Un miembro activo de dos Conferencias separadas es elegible para votar en cada una de las Conferencias de las que sirve como miembro. El miembro también debe contarse en cada informe anual de la Conferencia.
|
|
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.
|
|
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
|
|
Contact Us:
Rick Bologna, Stores Director, rick.bologna@ssvdp.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
