Vincentian Community News
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"Free your mind of anything that troubles you; God will take care of it"
–St. Vincent de Paul
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The next Ozanam Orientation is scheduled for Saturday, August 21st at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Dripping Springs. It will be held in the Dymphna Center. To ensure the safety of the participants and presenters, we are limiting the number of people to 40 to allow for social distancing.
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.
The Ozanam Orientation is from 9:00am - 2:30pm. Check-in starts at 8:30am. Registration is open now. Just click on this link.
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SVdP Luling Conference Events
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The St. Vincent de Paul Luling Conference will host two events at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church next month.
The Conference will hold a Personal Hygiene Pack Day on August 7, 2021 for junior high and high school students. Conference members also plan to distribute a limited number of diapers for infants as well.
On August 14, 2020, the Luling Conference will host a New Pair of Shoes Distribution Day for Luling ISD students. There will be a limited amount of shoes, so students will have to register with the Conference. For more information, email Armando Perales at armandoperales1@yahoo.com.
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Save the Date! Friends of the Poor Walk
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The Diocesan Council and the St. Albert the Great Conference are hosting the 2021 Friends of the Poor Walk on Saturday, September 25 at 11am at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church. This annual event raises awareness of the challenges faced by our neighbors in need. It is also a fundraising opportunity for Conferences to raise funds to further their mission to provide financial assistance, food assistance, and other basic essentials to those in underserved communities.
Conferences are encouraged to participate and create a team to walk on September 25 in person or virtually. When walkers register to walk, they can designate their funds to the Conference of their choice. To register click on this link.
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2021 Virtual Serving in Hope
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We are excited to announce that the 2021 Serving in Hope fundraising event will take place on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 6pm. This will be a virtual event. Serving in Hope is an opportunity for people in the community to learn more about the works of the Society and to raise funds to support our mission. Stay tuned for more details!!
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City of Austin RENT Assistance Program
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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.
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Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases, Austin-Travis County is now in Stage 4. To help stop the spread, all visitors, staff, volunteers, and neighbors are required to wear a mask in the Vincentian Family Center. This includes those who are fully vaccinated.
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We have exciting news to share! The St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store will soon launch its new Online store. The new website will offer one of kind treasures that will only be available online! More details about a launch date are coming soon!!
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St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
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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.
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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New Volunteer Opportunities
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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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Register now for the 2021 National Assembly! The event will be held August 25-28 in Houston, Texas. The keynote speakers are Dr. Jaime Waters, Bishop Donald Hying, and Father Dennis Holtschneider. Early registration ended Thursday, July 15. The registration fee is now $425.
Here's a glance of the schedule:
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Tuesday, August 24 – 3:00 p.m. Registration Opens for Early Arrivals & Exhibitor Set-up
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Wednesday, August 25 – Disaster Preparedness Workshop, National Stores & Executive Director Meetings, Exhibitor Showcase Open, and Welcome Reception
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Thursday, August 26 – Workshops, Exhibits Open, National Committee Meetings, Presidential Welcome & Keynote Address, and Host City Event
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Friday, August 27 – Spiritual Retreat, Workshops, Regional Meetings, Exhibits Open Until 3:00 p.m.
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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.
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Council Dinner at the National Assembly
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Are you attending the SSVDP National Assembly in Houston?
During the Assembly, we will have time for dinner together as a Council on Friday, August 27, 2021 at 7:00 pm. All Conference members and their guests are welcome to attend! Please be sure to register so we know how large a room we will need to accommodate our party. Each person will be responsible to pay for their meal and beverages.
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Mark your calendar! A special edition of Our Faith in Action: Today's Society of St. Vincent de Paul, will air on EWTN on August 6, 2021 at 4:30 Central. You'll see how Vincentians in Florida, New Mexico, and Texas adapted their operations to support our neighbors in need through new and creative methods. Watch the trailer for a sneak peek!
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18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 1, 2021
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Gospel Reading: (John 6: 24-35)
Jesus said “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” … “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Vincentian Reflection:
If Jesus is the bread from heaven given for us and we are the body of Christ, then we must conclude that we ourselves are to be bread from heaven that fosters eternal life for others. Jesus gives himself as bread from heaven. We give ourselves to others, as bread from heaven, when we confirm our belief by means of the everyday actions we do. Treating another as the body of Christ is believing. Taking time to be in touch with our spiritual needs is believing. Reaching out in compassion to others is believing. Self-giving is believing. (Living Liturgy, p.182)
Vincentian Meditation:
In your ministry, as St. Vincent says, first do and then teach. As a follower of Christ, a servant of the poor, you will touch the hearts of God’s people especially when you give vibrant witness:
- through the language of works, performing the works of justice and mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, helping to find the cause of their hunger and thirst and the ways of alleviating them;
- through the language of words, announcing with deep conviction the Lord’s presence, his love, his offer of forgiveness and acceptance to all;
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through the language of relationships, being with the poor, working with them, forming a community that shows the Lord’s love for all. (Maloney, He Hears the Cry of the Poor, p165)
How do we give ourselves to others as bread from heaven …in works, words and relationships?
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We will offer them up in prayer weekly.
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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.
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: What is the suggested number of members of a Conference? Where is it recommended, in the Rule or Bylaws?
A: There is no known document at the National Council suggesting the ideal number of active or associate members. The absolute minimum number of members needed in a Conference is four, which are the officers; or five members if a spiritual advisor is appointed.
A minimum of six or seven members is recommended to have an effective Conference. The maximum number depends on the number of activities and what the Conference wants to accomplish in terms of the needs of the community that is being served.
In the U.S. on average there are 22.9 active and associate members combined per Conference. It is ultimately up to Conference members to decide the number that allows its services and assistance to most helpful and effective to those served.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: ¿Cuál es el número sugerido por miembros de una Conferencia? ¿Dónde se recomienda, en la Regla o en los Estatutos?
R: No hay ningún documento conocido en el Consejo Nacional que sugiera el número ideal de miembros activos o asociados. El número mínimo absoluto de miembros necesarios en una conferencia es cuatro, que son los oficiales; o cinco miembros si se nombra un consejero espiritual.
Se recomienda un mínimo de seis o siete miembros para tener una Conferencia eficaz. El número máximo depende del número de actividades y de lo que la Conferencia quiere lograr en términos de las necesidades de la comunidad a la que se sirve. En los EE. UU., en promedio, hay 22.9 miembros activos y asociados combinados por Conferencia. Depende últimamente de los miembros de la Conferencia decidir el número que permite que sus servicios y asistencia sean más útiles y efectivos para los atendidos.
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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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