The Top Hat. The Vincentian Voice of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocesan Council of New Orleans. Inside this issue: Vol.

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1 Inside this issue: Vol. 3 Issue 61 The Top Hat The Vincentian Voice of The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocesan Council of New Orleans May/June 2016 Dedicated Vincentian one of six ordained on June 4th Formation News Gala Reminder 2 Adult Learning Center News From the Parliamentarian 3 4 Meet the Vinnies 4 From the Spiritual Director 5 Patrick Carr, a Vincentian and member of the Board of directors was ordained into the priesthood by Archbishop Greggory Aymond on Saturday, June 4th, at St. Louis Cathedral. The ordination class is the largest since 2001, when seven men were ordained. The event brought out a standing room only crowd; including family members and many supporters. Patrick, who spent his diaconate internship at St. Pius X Parish, has been an active member in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul since the mid 1990 s. He has also served on Board s Finance committee. His first assignment as Parochial Vicar will be at St. Angela Merici, Metairie. Bringing the good news of the Gospel to the people and offering the sacrament of reconciliation, he told Beth Donze, of the Clarion Herald. I think that s where a lot of healing takes place because people are carrying around a lot of weight in sin and guilt. That s where God really comes in and restores that relationship. I see the face of Christ in the poor. I see their humbleness, he said. There s that grace that comes from not only just giving the poor a bag of groceries, but giving them yourself, your time. Congratulations Fr. Carr! THE TOP HAT. Is a publication for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and it s designed to inform its communities of past, present and future services and events. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic lay organization that offers service to the needy in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam and its patron, St. Vincent de Paul. Congratulations to: Hon. Pat Schott Top Hat Award recipient Congratulations to nominees: Monica Alicino, Paul Claudel, David Dupont, Jimmy Dykes, Fred Kirchgraber, Sandy Norman and George Richard. The award presentation will take place at the Jazzin on the River gala (July (9th)

2 Page 2 Formation News OUR VINCENTIAN MISSION I do hope that each of you have a great summer. Here is a summer question to ponder as you relax a bit and maybe even take some vacation. It is not a test, I promise. The question to reflect on this summer is: WHAT IS OUR VINCENTIAN MISSION? We do have a mission statement for the SVDP Society of the United States. It goes like this: Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron, Saint Vincent De Paul. As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic rule. Organized locally, Vincentians witness God s love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ. Spend some time this summer with this. What part of our Mission Statement speaks to your Vincentian heart? If you want more on the Mission Statement check out pp of the Manual of the SVDP Society. HAVE A RESTFUL SUMMER. Sr. Teresa IT S NOT TOO LATE Join Us as we CRUISE FOR THE CAUSE!! To attend the 2016 Jazzin on the River Fundraising Gala, send check or money order to: P.O. Box New Orleans, LA

3 From the Adult Learning Center Page 3 Page 3 The annual HiSET (GED) graduation ceremony was held on Saturday, May 14, at Loyola University. Six learning centers participated with a total of 102 graduates. Hope House 5 Jefferson Parish 34 St. Bernard 24 St. Vincent de Paul 7 YMCA 3 Youth Empowerment Project 29 We are very proud of our seven graduates: Patricia Newman looking to pursue a career in Nursing Marvin Maldonado interested in becoming an elementary school teacher Stephen Bradley-wants to establish his own leather business Tanicka Wheeler Ally-attends Cameron College, to study Phlebotomy Valenica Bowden-registered at Delgado, studying to be a Radiation Technician. Cornell Charles Interested in Computer Science Katrina Walker--Will study Nursing Thank you for your support of the Adult Learning Center which helped to make dreams come true for these seven students. The Learning Center has had a successful year. Thank you again for providing for the Center with your interest, donations, and support of the gala. The Center will be closed from June 13 through July 29. Classes will resume Monday, August 1, Have a safe and restful summer!

4 Page 4 From the Parliamentarian Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace From The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer ( ). He was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian and WWII anti-nazi dissident who was hung by the Nazis Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjack s wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church s inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods..it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him... It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God. This grace was certainly not self-bestowed. It was the grace of Christ himself, now prevailing upon the disciple to leave all and follow him, inviting Peter to the supreme fellowship of martyrdom for the Lord he had denied, and thereby forgiving him all his sins..... Following Him to the oppressed, poor in poverty and in spirit, in nursing homes, hospitals, jails and shelters we Vincintians receive the Costly Grace, the Pearl hidden in those we serve. (Bohnhoffer also wrote Life Together) -submitted by: Ransdell Hebert If you haven t heard The Vinnies perform, pretty soon, you likely will. According to Vincentian Paul Claudel, the vocal group originated in 2013, primarily Christmas carols for shut-ins in areas of Jefferson Parish. During our December 2015 gig we performed for one of our parishioners who was a resident of a nursing home and it caused such an excitement that we felt that maybe this is could be our next move (performing at nursing homes) Paul Claudel says. Up next for the group: a gig at Our Lady of Wisdom. Pictured from left to right: Willy Rigney, Richard Carbo, Paul Claudel and Steven Sons

5 Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocesan Council of New Orleans 1995 Gentilly Blvd. New Orleans, LA Phone: Fax: website: svdpneworleans.org Top Hat Newsleer Staff: Deacon Rudolph Rayfield Executive Director Michael Champagne President Kelly Parker Publications Fellow Vincentians, Letter from the Spiritual Director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Page 5 I am leading retreats in Texas so am unable to write my usual letter. However I do want to communicate two things. First I want to thank all the Vincentians who took part in my jubilee celebration at St. Joseph Church on May 29th. I am grateful to God and to all who have supported me these many years. Secondly, I want to encourage as many Vincentians as possible to support The gala "Jazzin on the River" by your presence or at least through purchase of raffle tickets. This year we will be giving the Top Hat to Patrick Schott in gratitude for his enumerable years of service in the Society. May Our Lord bless him and help us all to continue our service. Sincerely in St. Vincent and Blessed Frederic, Fr. Louis Arceneaux, C. M. (Spiritual Advisor) SAVE the DATE The 2016 Friends of the Poor Walk Will take place on Saturday, September 24th THANK YOU!! To everyone who generously donated to the Society for our very first GiveNOLA day Campaign, in which we raised over $ Laketown Park, Kenner, LA 8:00am-11:00am Help Us Help Others!! For donaon info, call Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 679