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Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha
September 2024 Newsletter
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Supporting our neighbors in need with spirituality, friendship and service; providing emergency food, clothing, material and financial / homeless prevention assistance, since 1868 | |
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FOOD PANTRY | PARISH CONFERENCE OUTREACH | HOMELESS MINISTRIES | THRIFT STORES | |
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IN THIS ISSUE:
A message from our Executive Director
Vincentian Spotlight – Chris Beeler
SSVP Winter Coat Drive & Giveaway(s)
SSVP Feast Day Mass & Get-Together – YOU are invited!
Brand New SSVP Conference – Meet Assumption Guadalupe!
Volunteers Get Their Hands Dirty to Support the Society
Find Your New Favorites - SSVP Thrift Stores
Baked Goods as a Way to Volunteer
AOH Golf Tournament Follow-Up
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A Message from our Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa
“Christ, who asks to be served in the poor, speaks to the heart of the one who places himself at their service.”
-Pope St. John Paul II
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Dear SSVP Omaha Friends,
“No work of charity is foreign to the Society.” This simple idea – found early on in the “Rule” of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – is one that I’ve been thinking about quite a bit lately.
As is the case with all Society of St. Vincent de Paul councils across the world, SSVP Omaha provides “works of charity” that are defined by us and chosen by us. Neither the International nor the national offices of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul dictate which ministries our (or any) SSVP council should be engaged in. However, there are two requirements that MUST be true of all special works of charity provided by the Society, which are:
These works necessarily have to include any form of help that alleviates suffering or deprivation and promotes human dignity and personal integrity AND they must serve anyone in need, regardless of creed, ethnic or social background, health, gender, or political opinions.
Ever since volunteers for the Society began alleviating the suffering of poor families, way back in 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has maintained that each local SSVP council must determine, for itself, which works of charity they will be engaged in. And, for over 150 years, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha has been working in and among the poorest families in our very own community. In doing so, through thoughtful prayer and guided by the Holy Spirit, the Society has been discovering – and uncovering – the suffering of the poorest in our very own community and employing works of charity that alleviate this suffering.
Currently, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha provides the following works of charity, serving many of the poorest of our community:
- Providing monetary, “homeless prevention” assistance to low-income individuals and families, from all across Omaha, who are experiencing a financial crisis and who have been informed they will soon be evicted. SSVP Omaha steps in, paying down some or all of these neighbors’ past-due rent or mortgage bills, allowing them to remain in their homes;
- Providing monetary assistance to other, similarly poor individuals and families who are in a financial crisis and who have received a utility shut-off notice. SSVP Omaha steps in, paying off these past-due utility bills, and thus preventing neighbors from having their gas, water, or electricity turned off;
- Providing one of the largest food pantries in the Omaha area, allowing neighbors in need to choose food items – free of charge – to feed themselves and their families;
- Providing free prepared meals, clothing, and personal care items to Omaha’s homeless population, primarily in and around the downtown area;
- Providing free prepared meals and household supplies to very poor elderly women and men living in “low-income, senior” apartments, located on the eastern edge of the city;
- Providing low-cost “thrift stores” around Omaha, allowing families with lower incomes to be able to afford quality used clothing, household and other items that they would be unable to afford to purchase new at other retail stores;
- Providing relief and recovery services to neighbors in need, following major natural disasters in the Omaha area, such as tornados and floods, among others.
These are the works of charity that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha has defined as being the most impactful ways we can provide assistance to our Omaha-area neighbors in need. Other SSVP communities from around the country and around the world have chosen THEIR OWN works of charity – ones that they have deemed to be the best ways to serve the poor of their specific communities.
Having just returned from the Society’s National Assembly – the annual meeting of Vincentians from across the United States, recently held in Phoenix – I had the opportunity to learn more about the amazing works of charity that other SSVP councils are engaged in in their service of poor and struggling neighbors. These include special works like prison ministry, sheltering the homeless, legal immigration services, senior and hospital accompaniment, health and dental care, legal assistance and scholarships, to name just a few. It is an understatement to share with you how inspiring it was to hear more about these remarkable works of charity from all around the country.
Let me leave you with one final thought….In my mind, the works of charity that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides to people in need are the kinds of ministries that Jesus would recognize as His own – and approve of. Our volunteers, staff, and supportive donors simply comprise the earthly arms, ears, and especially the heart of our Lord, here on earth. Together, we all continue to alleviate the suffering of the same kinds of struggling people that Jesus served over 2,000 years ago.
God bless you for your sustained generosity to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. Most assuredly, our Lord recognizes your compassionate support of our charitable works and the people we serve as His own – and which He approves of.
As always, please know that you are in my daily prayers of gratitude.
In His Name,
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Jill Lynch-Sosa
Executive Director
P.S. Will you PLEASE consider making a charitable gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha today? Donations are especially down this year, while we see more and more families in need seeking our assistance. We would TRULY appreciate your generosity at this time. You can make your much-needed gift through our secure website, HERE.
P.P.S. Check out St. Vincent de Paul Omaha's program impact through our most recent annual report, HERE.
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Chris Beeler is a lot of things. He is a Vincentian with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha, President of the SSVP Conference at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church and an SSVP Omaha District Council board member. Chris is a husband to Cathy, a father of two adult kids (Seth and Megan), a convert to Catholicism, a person of devout faith, an inspirer of others, a friend of the poor, and a very nice person.
Chris Beeler is also someone who learned this past January that he has advanced, incurable, small cell, Stage 4 lung cancer.
For this “Vincentian Spotlight," we recently met up with Chris to learn more about his personal story and his love for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We also had the opportunity to hear from a good number of people who know and serve with Chris at St. Frances Cabrini. These nice folks, who clearly and absolutely LOVE Chris Beeler, shared a multitude of reflections regarding how Chris approaches his life, his faith, and his friendships, as well as how he treats others, which most certainly includes individuals and families in need.
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As background …. Chris and Cathy Beeler came to St. Frances Cabrini in 2015, after having been parishioners at another Omaha-area Catholic church, where Chris and Cathy first became involved with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. With nothing more than a self-admitted “soft heart” for people who are in need, Chris reflects on what he’d learned about the Church and the Society. States Chris: “During my conversion to Catholicism, I knew that I wanted a lot from my faith, which included turning my own will over to God, and to be of service to others. That’s what piqued my interest in exploring opportunities with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul."
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“When I first thought of volunteering with SSVP, I thought I’d be stacking green beans in a warehouse. Since then, I’ve realized what a gift of grace from God that the Society would become for me. I have gotten so much more from this ministry than I have ever put in."
While Chris never did end up stacking green beans, he has come to value one of the most important and essential aspects of Vincentian service – going on home visits to neighbors who request assistance. Emphasizing this point, Chris shares: “There is so much more you can see that the neighbor might not share on a phone request … like a baby that could use diapers, or a young child with a tattered coat, or a mom that really needs a food pantry to feed her family."
Chris freely talks about his faith, and how it has been deepened and strengthened by going on home visits with SSVP. Shares Chris: “To be able to pray with someone in deep need, and with a loving ear and heart, to hold their hand and assure them that Jesus loves them and that it was God who nudged them to reach out to the Society. Yes, our ministry is to help these families during what may be the most challenging time in their lives, but more importantly, it’s to let them know that someone cares for them and that whatever we do is not a gift from St. Frances Cabrini or from St. Vincent de Paul – it is truly a gift from God. God gave us the resources, and we just pass them on. Even if life, at that time, is stressful for our neighbor, one minute of prayer and thanksgiving is so calming – for all of us.”
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At St. Frances Cabrini, Chris and many others have been slowly building up their SSVP Conference. “We started with around $5,000 total, at Cabrini," remembers Chris, “and in the past number of years we have assisted our neighbors in need with almost a half million dollars in financial assistance. That speaks volumes to the loving, giving community that St. Frances Cabrini is."
In addition to being the President of St. Frances Cabrini’s St. Vincent de Paul Conference and an SSVP District board member, Chris is involved with a number of the parish’s faith-sharing groups. Chris is also an EMHC (Extraordinary Ministry of Holy Communion) and is active in St. Frances Cabrini’s “Love Does Prayer Ministry” – a St. Frances Cabrini group whose members pray for special intentions of parishioners.
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Chris is quick to share how much more he’s been given than he’s received, and how much his faith has grown, through his service to, and interactions with neighbors that he’s had the opportunity to assist. One particular story stands out for Chris: “I went on a home visit to a young Hispanic mom who had really little kids. Her husband had been injured after falling off a roof and, ultimately, deported. This young woman had gotten behind on her finances and owed several thousand dollars in utility bills. Her life was really just crumbling around her, although her faith was unwavering. Through an interpreter, this woman told me, `I have strong feet; I have a strong heart; I have a strong head; and I have a strong, strong God. I’ll be fine.’ This woman had no money and little kids in the apartment who needed food and clothes. And, yet she had such strong faith. Now, if THAT doesn’t make your own faith stronger, nothing will."
St. Frances Cabrini’s Pastor, Father Damien Zuerlein, shares his thoughts on Chris Beeler, in his role with their parish’s SSVP Conference: “Chris has done an outstanding job of developing the conference, keeping everyone focused on what matters, and truly caring for the poor who come to our door in need. I have heard countless stories from those we have helped and from other team members about how much they have been touched by Chris’ ability to make Jesus’ love real."
This past January, Chris was struggling with what had become a chronic breathing problem. “I’d get winded easily,” shares Chris, “and I thought maybe I had a lung infection of some sort, so I made an appointment with my doctor. After a few tests, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. We tried Immune Therapy, but that didn’t work. The doctors said that, without chemotherapy, I’d be dead very soon – but with chemo, I could live up to a year.”
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Chris has been on a chemotherapy regimen, receiving treatments every three weeks. “Unfortunately, the side effects aren’t great,” shares Chris. “I get tired out very easily, and have no immune system, so I’m prone to getting infections.” Just a few days prior to sitting down with Chris for this article, he had been released from a local hospital, following a 3-day stay in the intensive care unit. “I had pneumonia,” shares Chris. “But, that’s just the nature of this illness and the chemo."
Chris shares a few final thoughts on his work with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, his cancer and his faith. “The thing that neighbors in need really want is to know that someone cares about them, and that they are loved … by us and by God. That message of love is just as important – or even more important – than whatever assistance we can offer them. It’s a message I’ve tried to convey to our neighbors during home visits, and one that I’ve shared with our conference members."
“What’s been helping me deal with and face my health issues? Well, I have a very supportive family and many friends who care about me. I also have a strong faith, knowing that Jesus is with me, by my side, as I walk through all of this. Am I scared? Sure, I am. But I like to remind myself that Jesus also experienced fear in the Garden of Gethsemane, as he was facing his own death. I take solace in that, and in knowing that I, too, am loved by God.”
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Unbeknownst to Chris Beeler – in preparing for this September Newsletter’s “Vincentian Spotlight," our Society’s staff reached out to St. Frances Cabrini’s ministerial team and fellow volunteer Vincentians, asking for their written reflections on Chris, his faith, his service to neighbors and his leadership of the conference. We expected to receive a couple of responses and incorporate some of their feedback into the above article. What we received back, however, was more than could possibly fit into such an article, although we still wanted to allow newsletter readers – and Chris, himself – to see how well-loved and inspiring Chris is for them.
Please feel free to read these reflections on our website, HERE.
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St. Basil the Great said it best:
“The coat unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it.”
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2024 marks the 20th year that the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha is hosting our Winter Coat Drive & Giveaway, to benefit some of the poorest members of our Omaha community. And, we need YOUR help to make this milestone community event successful!
Guided by co-chairs, SSVP Council President, Kevin Grode and Executive Director, Jill Lynch-Sosa, a working group of volunteers has been meeting regularly, in anticipation of our TWO winter coat “giveaway” events.
The first coat giveaway will occur from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Saturday, October 5th at Centro Pastoral Tepeyak, 5301 South 36th Street. The second giveaway will take place from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm on Saturday, October 19th at the Omaha Home for Boys, 4343 North 52nd Street.
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We expect to help several thousand people – children and adults – by giving them a new or gently used winter coat, along with related winter weather items, such as hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens. As you might imagine, this endeavor is incredibly important for our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet, including wondering how they can afford to purchase a warm winter coat for their children or themselves.
We are currently in the process of getting the word out about the coat drive and giveaways to churches, schools, businesses, and other organizations to either help provide coats and winter weather accessories…or to share information with neighbors in need who may wish to attend the event.
For the 2024 Coat Drive, we would love to reach our goal of providing up to 5,000 coats to children and adults around Omaha.
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WILL YOU HELP?
Please consider donating new or gently used coats – or new winter accessories – at any of our four thrift stores around town. When dropping off donations, just mark these items as “Coat Drive."
You can also donate directly to the Society HERE. Any funds donated through this link will be used to buy coats for the drive. If you are a Knight of Columbus, click HERE to order coats through the Knights “Coats for Kids” website!
Let’s work together to keep children warm as they head out for school on the upcoming cold winter days!
Complete information regarding the Winter Coat & Accessories Drive and Giveaways can be found on our website, HERE. If you have any questions about the coat drive or giveaways, please contact Kevin Grode at councilpresident@ssvpomaha.org.
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You are cordially invited to attend mass and a reception – here at our Holy Family Center at 1715 Izard Street – celebrating the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul. Of course, the 24th is a few days prior to the actual feast day, although we are coinciding this mass and reception with our SSVP Omaha’s conference presidents’ annual meeting.
Schedule for Tuesday, September 24th:
5:00 pm – Conference Presidents’ Annual Meeting
6:00 pm – Mass celebrating the Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul
6:45 pm – Reception with refreshments for all attendees
Prayers/Special Intentions
We would also like to ask if you have any prayers/special intentions that you’d like offered at the mass. If you do, please feel free to email these prayers/special intentions to the Society’s Development Director, Tim Sully, HERE – and we will ensure that they’re included during the Prayers of Petition (anonymously, of course, regardless of whether you’re able to attend).
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH!
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Until very recently, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha has consisted of our District Office – here at our Holy Family Center at 1715 Izard Street – and our 31 SSVP “conferences” around the Omaha Archdiocese. These conferences are made up of volunteer Vincentians who provide outreach and assistance to neighbors in need who live in their parish’s geographical “footprint." Conversely, there have been areas (and parishes) in and around Omaha without St. Vincent de Paul representation. Over the course of this past year, we have been working diligently in reaching out to and meeting with the Hispanic Catholic community in one of these under-represented areas – South Omaha.
The results of these efforts have been rewarding, as we helped bring two South Omaha parish communities together to form the 32nd Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha conference – Assumption/Guadalupe.
Representatives from this newest SSVP Omaha conference will be in attendance at our upcoming St. Vincent de Paul Omaha Feast Day mass and reception (details, directly above). Please consider attending this mass and reception and help personally welcome the new Vincentians of Assumption/Guadalupe!
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Recently, "Cinnamon Stix" volunteers Rick, Daniel, and Steve Cinnamon (where the group gets its name) worked hard to re-stripe our pantry's parking lot. The group scraped off any debris and damage off the lot, before carefully repainting the lines. While they were there, Steve also helped upkeep some of the pantry garden beds the group had made a few years ago.
So who are the "Cinnamon Stix?" Well, the "Cinnamon Stix" is a volunteer group of parishioners from St. Stephen the Martyr. These men are dedicated to using their skills and expertise to help their community with repairs and any projects that may benefit from their assistance. While much of their work is for the parishioners of St. Stephen the Martyr, they often lend their hands wherever they can help! They have replaced sinks, added handrails to Holy Family's outdoor staircases, and most recently, volunteered over 100 hours to fix damage caused by the July 31st storm.
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Employees from Motorola held their quarterly regional meeting in Omaha a couple of weeks ago, which included volunteer service at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. In just a couple of hours, these nice folks were able to dig out terribly uneven sidewalk bricks along our property, in anticipation of re-laying them to create a smooth path.
Nicole Kingston from Motorola sums up their company’s motivation: “Motorola appreciates the opportunity to give back to great organizations in our community that provide important services to people in need. It was our absolute pleasure to volunteer at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.”
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Duke Pousson Takes on Pantry Garden Weeds | |
At the end of August, Duke Pousson came by our SSVP Omaha food pantry and said he wanted to help the pantry garden. After directing him to our pantry garden volunteers, it didn't take long before Duke was making quick work of any weeds that stood in his way.
Thanks to Duke's hard work and efforts, our pantry garden's fence is no longer crawling with vines, and after a long morning of weed-whacking, the entrance to our garden is far cleaner. We are so grateful to Duke for showing up ready to work hard and provide any help he could!
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Find your new favorite items at our SSVP Omaha Thrift Stores! Our stores are full of beautiful second-hand home décor and gently used clothing waiting to find their new home.
As you may know, your support of our Society of St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores helps to fund our homeless prevention and outreach programs. Shop today to help a neighbor in need!
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12301 W Center Road
Mon-Sat, 10 AM-8 PM
Sun, 12 PM-5 PM
(402) 933-8242
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2101 Leavenworth St
Tues-Sat, 9:30 AM-5:30 PM
(402) 341-1689
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5505 N. 90th St
Mon-Fri, 10 AM-6 PM
Sat, 10 AM-4 PM
(402) 502-7837
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807 Tara Plaza
Mon-Sat, 9 AM-6 PM
(402) 593-4055
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Thanks to the help of our incredible volunteers, our Sack Lunch program serves an average of 1,125 lunches a week. With every sack lunch comes a sandwich, a salty snack (chips, pretzels, etc.), a sweet snack (cookies, brownies, etc.), and a fresh produce item.
As you may guess, this requires us to go through a LOT of food, and we can completely run out of sweet snacks to offer our neighbors.
This is where YOU can help! While many people enjoy baking as a fun hobby, it can be a great way to serve your neighbors in need as well! Donating your home-baked goods to the Sack Lunch program not only provides us with a donation that goes directly to those in need, but our neighbors just love them!
So please, the next time you bake, think of those in need and make a few extra batches to donate to the Sack Lunch program. Your extra effort will go a LONG way for those we serve.
You can drop off your donations at the Holy Family office at 1715 Izard St., Monday through Friday, anytime between 9am-5pm.
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Last Saturday, August 31st, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) and the Irish Charities of Nebraska hosted their 21st Annual Golf Tournament for the benefit of local non-profits - including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha.
The event, held at the beautiful Tregaron Golf Course, offered participants 18 holes of "big cup" golf, mini-games to play at nearly every hole, a great dinner, and the chance to participate in raffles and win prizes!
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Above is a photo of co-golf tournament organizer, Jeff Johnson, next to Monsignor James Gilg, who is offering a blessing for those gathered, just prior to heading out to the course. To the left is a photo of Hibernians Mike Addy and Bob Sullivan presenting the generous donations earned from this event to SSVP Omaha Development Director, Tim Sully, and Development and Marketing Coordinator, Daniel Bartolomei.
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to AOH and the Irish Charities of Nebraska for hosting this event and choosing to benefit the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Omaha. We look forward to participating in this fantastic event again next year! 🏌️♂️⛳️
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