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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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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Teacher Appreciation Week
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The St. John the Evangelist Conference in Luling celebrated teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week! Vincentians presented gift cards to the teachers at Shanklin Elementary and Head Start Early Education Development Center last week.
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Head Start Early Education Development Center
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Head Start Early Education Development Center
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Shanklin Elementary School
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Investment Fraud & Avoiding Scams
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St. Austin Catholic Church is hosting two virtual investor education and fraud awareness presentations for seniors and their caregivers. The presentation will be given by two staff representatives of the Fort Worth Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. They will provide tips on how to avoid being a victim of financial scams. Learn more about this presentation and sign up at staustin.org/aging.
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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.
Everyone is still required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing. Hand sanitizer will also be available when you enter the store.
The Thrift Store is in need of volunteers to assist with many tasks including: sorting, organizing, and pricing. Are you interested in volunteering? You can sign up by clicking on this link.
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The National Council is excited to announce that they will be holding the 2021 National Assembly as a live event, with a hybrid component. More information will be coming soon, but please SAVE THE DATE: August 25- 29, 2021 in Houston, Texas.
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Effective Conference Meetings Webinar
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What makes effective Conference meetings? Balancing spiritual growth, friendship and service. Handling conflicts and making decisions.
You are invited to take part in the Effective Conference Meeting Webinar on May 18, 2021 at 7:00pm. The webinar will be presented in both English and Spanish. This is designed especially for Conference leaders, but all Vincentians are welcome to attend.
To register, click 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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Ascension of the Lord
May 16, 2021
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Gospel Reading: (Mark 16: 15-20)
Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature…These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.
Vincentian Reflection:
Jesus expects his disciples to walk in his footsteps. But Jesus always invites us to share in his ministry, never forces us. At the Ascension, Jesus commissioned his disciples to proclaim the gospel. At first this might seem an impossible commission: how can we expect to fill Jesus’ footsteps? On our own authority we cannot preach the gospel, we can fill Jesus’ footsteps only when we hear “the instructions given through the Spirit.” What an awesome honor it is to be disciples of Christ – by returning to his rightful place at the hand of God, Jesus entrusts his mission to us. (Living Liturgy, p.136)
Vincentian Meditation:
The motto of the Society states that: “No work of charity is foreign to the Society.” And so in the Manual we read: Accordingly, the possibilities for Vincentian action are almost without limit. Being poor does not always, or necessarily, consist of being short of material goods. Being poor can also mean being physically and mentally handicapped, sick, crippled, old, ugly, or illiterate. There are poor who are or are made to feel alone…immigrants, transients, orphans, the abandoned or rejected, and all those who find themselves among others who are indifferent or hostile. Being poor may mean wanting to cry when others are laughing; being physically or morally chained, as prisoners, shut-ins, alcoholics, drug addicts; being defenseless against attacks, insults or accusations; being an innocent victim of crime or quarrels. The more the Society grows, the more it will reach the lonely and troubled who have need for care and friendship. (US Manual, P.45-46)
How are we being called to carry the mission of Jesus in
new ways, meeting new needs or creating new works of charity?
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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.
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin will still require staff and volunteers to wear a face mask at the Vincentian Family Center. This policy will be evaluated weekly to determine if adjustments need to be made.
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National Gazette Questions and Answers
Q: At our last meeting the Conference approved and sent $500 to a 501c3 charity that pays for grave markers for the homeless and poor. None of our members are associated with this charity… although personally I feel it a very good cause and one our parish may have been interested in helping. In my reading of Statute 26 this was not a valid use of our Conference funds. Is this a legit use of SVdP Conference funds?
A: As you describe it, the answer is “no.” This would only be a legitimate use of SVdP funds if there was a specific person in need that this was identified for – someone such as a family member had requested this specifically for an individual and the Conference agreed to provide this. It does not work if you give the funds and then, after receipt, the charity gives you the name of someone for whom it was used.
Preguntas y Respuestas de la
Oficina Nacional
P: En nuestra última reunión, la Conferencia aprobó y envió $500 a una organización de caridad 501c3 que paga las lápidas sepulcrales para los desamparados y los pobres. Ninguno de nuestros miembros está asociado con esta caridad... aunque personalmente creo que es una muy buena causa y una que nuestra parroquia quisiera ayudar. Cuando leo Estatuto 26, este no fue un uso válido de los fondos de nuestra Conferencia. ¿Es este un uso legítimo de los fondos de la Conferencia SVdP?
R: Como lo describe, la respuesta es "no." Este solo sería un uso legítimo de los fondos del SVdP si hubiera una persona específica que lo necesitara para quien se identificara; alguien, como un miembro de la familia, lo había solicitado específicamente para un individuo y la Conferencia acordó proporcionarlo. No funciona si da los fondos y luego, después de recibirlos, la organización le da el nombre de alguien para quien se utilizó.
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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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