NOVEMBER 2016 Our Lady of Charity Lancaster/Quartz Hill Conference THE VINCENTIAN TRUMPET

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1 NOVEMBER 2016 Our Lady of Charity Lancaster/Quartz Hill Conference THE VINCENTIAN TRUMPET Trevor Site 1, Suite B Trevor Site Trevor Site 3

2 WHO WE ARE For those of you who do not know us, we are Vincentians. Our founder pictured here, is Blessed Frederic Ozanam. In the spring of 1833, Frederic found himself challenged by fellow students to show us your good works today. Frederic was deeply troubled by this challenge because he realized that it was true, people always talk about doing good for others but rarely do anything about it. Frederic promptly set out with some friends to change the way things were. They located a simple charity run by Sister Rosalie and began their new mission by taking bread tickets to the poor. A local baker would redeem them for a loaf of bread. Later that same year, they started their own charity, naming it after St. Vincent de Paul. Who are we? We are your neighbors, your friends, your fellow workers, your priests. We are Christians who love to aid the poor in many different ways. And, yes, we still do things the old-fashioned way, just as Frederic and his friends did it over 180 years ago. We still take food to the poor families in need. We also comfort and care for the poor homeless who gather at our door, serving them a hot meal and giving them clean underwear, coffee, and a shoulder to cry on. Before they eat, we start our day with a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord. If you d like to help us in some way, come and join in. If you can t, you can still be a Vincentian at heart just by sending us a check so that we can continue to do our Lord s work. A few people have even given us their cars. Not one of us receives even a penny. President s Board President Susan Ortega Past President Don Willey 1 st Vice President Robert Weber 2 nd Vice President Tony McLoughlin Recording Secretary Sister Mary Waddell Spiritual Advisor Teresa Matay Treasurer Margarita Hoffman Corresponding Secretary; Newsletter Michelle George Chairpersons Quarterly Mass Rep Dan Rejniak Garage Sales Tish Fox (Morris) Food Pantry Johnny Marchany/ Jack Csizmar Boutique OPEN St. Serra Rep. Dan Vernor Sacred Heart Rep. OPEN Detention Ministry Charlie Shea Haircuts Diane Jones Greeter Alice Rodemeyer 2

3 November 2016 Calendar and other St. Vincent de Paul Events SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT 1 ALL SAINTS DAY 2 ALL SOULS DAY Women of Grace/SHS lunches 3 Miriam Sisters 4 5 Don M Soo VOTE!! Mary M. St. Serra Santi OPEN/ Meeting: 6-8 p.m. Janet/ SHS lunches St. Serra Hispanic Ministry Knights of Columbus/ Mac & Sue Closed Thanksgiving Holy Cross Knights of Columbus/ Meeting: 6-8 p.m. Johnny & Nancy Keep your eye on God s pleasure and the eternal plan for you. Surrender all the remaining days of your life to God, and let the Lord use these for such activities and services as will be pleasing to God and not to yourself. St. Jane Frances de Chantal NOTE: If you have any questions or would like to prepare a meal for the homeless, please check the calendar for open days and call the Center at (661) on M-W-Th-Sat from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Our mailing address is PO BOX 412, Lancaster

4 PASTOR S CORNER There certainly is no shortage of human need around these days, is there? Hurricane Matthew brought great damage and suffering especially in miserably poor Haiti. South Carolina seems to be the hardest hit here in our country. The horrible decline in respect for law enforcement seems to be bringing a shooting or two on a regular basis. Our town suffered what now appears to have been an ambush situation resulting in the death of a rather young sheriff, Sgt. Steve Owen. One presidential candidate has his potty mouth and low sexual mores exposed while the other s staff are exposed for some very bigoted and anti- Catholic statements. It seems the Democratic leadership is behind some so-called progressive Catholic movements aimed at bringing about a Catholic Spring with the goal of getting abortion approved. (Incredibly outrageous to infiltrate a faith community)! And yet this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118:24)! Goodness faces challenges from evil, but in the Resurrection of Christ, the battle s o er, the victory won! Ours is to remain faithful in the little things that each of us can do every day. Taken together, the hungry can be fed, the thirsty can have their thirst quenched, the sick be comforted, the homeless housed, the imprisoned visited, and the dead buried and prayed for. Our Lady of Charity St. Vincent de Paul Conference is all about this daily faithfulness. Thank you all for this great witness and this ongoing effort on behalf of the poor in Lancaster and Quartz Hill. The Year of Mercy ends on November 20; Advent begins the next Sunday. A new year of grace. It can still be a year of mercy since mercy is the perfection of God; in fact, mercy is the very name and face of God. I hope you will take advantage of the new liturgical year and the various opportunities for prayer, worship and service offered in our local parishes. Fr. Leo Dechant, CSJ Pastor, St. Junipero Serra Parish 4

5 A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT Vincentians, In my mind, I hear the mantra God will provide, and He has, through the good works of our youth, Vincentians and volunteers who follow the model set by St Vincent and our founder, Blessed Frederick, by bringing God s love to our people. In the last several months, I have had the opportunity to meet and visit with the folks who give their time and talent to feed our homeless and needy families every morning that we are open, and this is the perfect opportunity to highlight our volunteers efforts in this area. Groups of men and women from Saint Serra, Sacred Heart, Holy Cross and Saints Constantine and Helen Orthodox Churches, and the Korean Church prepare meals on a monthly basis. They always arrive with a delicious meal and smiles on their faces. St. Vincent s is also so blessed that Don, Mauricio, Mary, Dianne, Jane and Janet, Mac, Johnny and Nancy, Margarita and Mary Jo help us feed our people by preparing nutritious meals. This past month, the Antelope Valley Women s Soccer Team brought in lunches and some of them stayed to help sort clothes at Site 2. It is great to have them join our team, if only for the day! In addition, the support from our Catholic schools students is phenomenal. The wonderful Minnie Vinnies at Sacred Heart School have over the years provided sack lunches for our homeless during the school year. Paraclete High School just delivered 1,600 cans of food last week, collected at a football game, and helped our Pantry guys sort and box the cans. All their support is such a blessing and a wonderful example of the next generation preparing to continue caring for our people. God does indeed provide! Thank you for being His heart and hands as we strive to be servants to our homeless and needy families. God bless, Susan Ortega, President 5

6 Prayer Corner Anyone who wishes to add names can contact SVDP at We would love to hear from you and hope that all our fellow Vincentians will lift all people in prayer. Praise God for all our success and ask him for healing for our people still in need of our prayers as well as all of our Vincentians who so generously give of their time and talents. MEDICINE BOTTLES Keep the 2 oz. medicine bottles coming. We give away about 50 bottles a day filled with shampoo, conditioner or lotion that the homeless need. Don't forget to mark out your name and empty the bottles of medicine. Thank you for helping us help the poor. NOVEMBER GARAGE SALE Just a friendly reminder the sale will be Saturday, November 5. We will load the truck Friday November 4 at 3:30. Saturday we will unload the truck at 7:30 a.m. at Kirkland Lancaster, corner of Kirkland and East Avenue J. We will start packing the truck at 12:00. Look forward to seeing everyone! As always, many thanks. Tish 6

7 HEAR YE, HEAR YE We are preparing for our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Volunteers are needed to sort and pack up the food donations on Sunday, Nov. 13 at Site 1 between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also, we need about 40 volunteers to help with the Thanksgiving Basket give away the weekend of Nov. 19. Please call the office at to sign up. Thank you in advance for your response. True charity consists in bearing with all the defects of our neighbors, in not being surprised at their failings, and in being edified by their least virtues. Charity ought to enlighten and make joyful not only those who are dearest to me, but all who are in the house. St. Therese of Lisieux NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY 11 Ryan Escarlan 7

8 Many people came to honor Don and Joyce Willey for their years of dedication and love to Our Lady of Charity SVDP. These persons included past president Eileen Butera from Tehachapi, Catalina and Anna from SVDP in LA, Bertha, our San Fernando area President, all the St. Serra priests, Ralph Bozigian, who helped us buy our three properties, and so many friends and family. Dan Vernor prepared a wonderful video of our history along with vintage music! The St. Leonard Murialdo Knights came with their pick up truck BBQ (you have to see it to believe it!). Serena, Johnny and Cathy Cristos ran the raffle portion of the program, and Eagle Scout Ryan Loebs and his mom Loretta helped serve and clean up. My husband Dennis and Tony prepared the delicious chicken, and Mary Ellen, Mary Jo, the Sisters, Barbara, and Allison Kapusta helped set up and pack up the buffet. Mike and David set up all the tables and chairs. I thank all of you who were a part of this very special night. Following is the text of the prayer I read from my friend Carrie: I learned a long time ago that when you are going through trials and rough edges in your life and they weigh you down mentally, physcially and spiritually, the soloution is to give all these things to the Lord. During the day, let Him take them from you and there is no sense in briging it into another day and suffer. He tells us in the Word to cast your cares and burdens on to Him do not put the on a bungee cord and pull them back. Lay them down at the feet of Jesus so that you are able to move freely into another day! He wants the best for you. God bless, Carrie Whitman, With love, Kathy Clark 8