Vincentian Community News
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"The Word brings us close to God. Let us carry it with us always, in a place where we can remember to open it daily, so that amid all those words that ring in our ears, there may also be a few verses of the Word Of God that can touch our hearts."
- Pope Francis
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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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Mass of Remembrance will be rescheduled
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Due to the continued high number of COVID - 19 cases in the area, the Mass of Remembrance originally scheduled for Saturday, January 22, 2021 at 10:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Parish has been canceled.
While we are disappointed that we will not be able to gather together for prayer, this decision is being made in the best interest of the Vincentian community and their families.
We are grateful to Fr. Tom Reitmeyer and the St. Vincent de Paul Parish community for their continued support of the Society.
We hope to be able to reschedule the mass when gathering becomes safer as COVID numbers go down.
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Please join us on Jan. 22 as we pray for an end to abortion. We will pray the Rosary of Mercy and Healing at 9:20 a.m. followed by the Mass for Life at 10 a.m. This year, the rosary and Masses will be celebrated at:
- San José Catholic Church 2435 Oak Crest Ave., Austin - Celebrated by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez
- University Catholic Center at 2010 University Ave., Austin - Celebrated by Father James Misko, vicar general of the Diocese of Austin
After Mass join us for the Texas Rally for Life. Sign up here to register for rally updates. Join the Texas-Sized Diaper Drive! Let’s help Texas moms and babies by bringing a box of diapers (especially larger sizes), and together we’ll build a mountain of diapers that will be distributed to local pregnancy centers!
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
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The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store is open Wednesday - Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm. Come, explore, and shop for unique items throughout the thrift store.
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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3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
January 23, 2022
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Gospel: (Luke 4:14-21)
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Reflection:
We would guess that Jesus introduced a long, pregnant pause, before he said what the synagogue people could hardly expect: “Today, this Scripture is being fulfilled in your hearing.” We are still in the time when the scroll has been set aside, when all eyes turn to Jesus, and there is a pregnant pause. Now we—our own lives—fill the meaning of the pregnant pause. We can do so because, like Jesus, in our baptism we also have been anointed with the Spirit. And so, we are called to look for the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed among us. We don’t have to look very far! “Today this passage has been fulfilled” is now true only when we ourselves respond to those around us who need a nourishing, strengthening, joyful word. (Living Liturgy, p.46)
Vincentian Meditation:
In light of Vincent’s regular practice of taking the imitation of Jesus Christ as the model of behavior, the saint, in Jesus’ manner, chose the words of this Gospel: “He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,” as the motto of his life and ministry. Jesus modeled doing before teaching. Accordingly, Vincent noted that Jesus first integrated “fully into his life every type of virtue.” That was his preparation, after which our Lord, then went on to teach, by preaching the good news of salvation to poor people, and by passing on to his apostles and disciples what they needed to know to become guides for others. As followers of Vincent, we must imitate Christ the Lord, first…imitate his virtues and then we can go out in service to the poor. (Melito, St. Vincent -Windows on His Vision, p. 45)
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We will offer them up in prayer weekly.
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: Our local electricity utility demands a deposit of $300 for two years of a new resident in our town at one of our rental apartments. Because of the legal concerns, after two years, that deposit is sent back to the resident if they pay their bills during the two years (even if SVdP pays that initially). It is my contention that this is a deposit that should be returned to us as an SVdP Conference (unlike rents that we pay to a third party that never gets rebated). Some in our Conference feel that we should not ask for a return of these monies. What is the position of National?
A: Two things to keep in mind: first, the utility company may not keep track of a third party to whom the refund should be given. Second, when we give assistance to people, it is given as a gift – not a loan; so we should not look for a return. One of the things we have always promoted within the Society is that “once given, the gift belongs to the recipient.” They can do with it as they please. That goes for food, clothing, furniture, rent, utilities, gift cards, vouchers, etc.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: Nuestro servicio de luz local exige un depósito de $300 por dos años de un nuevo residente en nuestra ciudad en uno de los apartamentos. Debido a los asuntos legales, después de dos años, ese depósito se devuelve al residente si paga sus facturas durante los dos años (incluso si SVDP paga eso inicialmente). Mi argumento es que este es un depósito que debe ser devuelto a nosotros como una Conferencia SVDP (en contraste a los alquileres que pagamos a un tercero que nunca se reembolsa). Algunos en nuestra Conferencia sienten que no deberíamos pedir la devolución de estos dineros. ¿Cuál es la posición de Nacional?
R: Dos cosas a tener en cuenta: primero, la empresa de servicios públicos tal vez no realiza un seguimiento de un tercero a quien se le debe dar el reembolso. En segundo lugar, cuando brindamos asistencia a las personas, lo hacemos como un regalo, no como un préstamo; por lo que no debemos buscar un retorno. Una de las cosas que siempre hemos promovido dentro de la Sociedad es que “una vez dado, el regalo pertenece a quien lo recibe.” Pueden hacer con él lo que quieran. Eso se aplica a alimentos, ropa, muebles, alquiler, servicios públicos, tarjetas de regalo, cupones, etc.
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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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Quarterly Meeting
January 29, 2022
Virtual Meeting
9:00am - 11:00am
***
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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