Society of Saint Vincent de Paul World Day of the Poor November 18, 2018 2018 Campaign Guide
TABLE OF CONTENTS Presentation of Campaign... 2 Campaign Blueprints... 4 Conference Campaign... 4 Store Campaign... 5 Text for Parish Speech... 6 Text for Parish Newsletter... 7 Liturgical Reflections... 8 Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 1
PRESENTATION OF CAMPAIGN At the closing of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, on November 20, 2016, in his apostolic letter Mercy and peace (Misericordia et misera), Pope Francis invited us to celebrate the World Day of the Poor each year on the 33 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Pope Francis stated, This would be the worthiest way to prepare for the celebration of the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, who identified with the little ones and the poor and who will judge us on our works of mercy. Who would be in a better position than the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) to promote the World Day of the Poor? That special day is also a great opportunity for the Society to: - increase the visibility of SSVP activities; - make known the mission of the SSVP; - foster closer ties between Vincentians and other parishioners during Eucharistic celebrations, to live the message of the Gospel together by serving Christ through the poor with love, respect, justice and joy; - recruit new members; and - conduct campaigns to raise fund or collect non-perishable food items in support to Vincentian work. You will find in this guide a description of the tools accessible to you, as well as a few campaign blueprints that could be useful to your conference, store or outlet. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 2
CAMPAIGN TOOLS In line with this campaign, the National Council will publish an ad in the following publications: - Living with Christ monthly; - Church bulletins online; - Paris newsletters (Québec) French and English; - Catholic Register. The team offers you material that you may use as is, or adapt according to your needs. Available with this guide: - Campaign blueprints, for a conference or store/outlet; - Text for a parish speech; - Text for a parish bulletin. - Prayer card Available electronically and distributed with this guide: - Poster: o letter format (8 ½ x 11 ) o legal format (8 ½ x 14 ) o tabloid format (11 x 17 ) In PDF format: to print, adding your contact information, or to order from the National Council, who will add your contact information on the PDF document and send it to your selected printer. (We suggest Staples / Bureau en Gros.) - PowerPoint presentation about the campaign with animation in loop mode. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 3
CAMPAIGN BLUEPRINTS Adapting the campaign in each conference or council is very important, in order to reflect local realities. Following are two basic blueprints for a successful campaign. CONFERENCE CAMPAIGN - Determine what actions to undertake in your parish/parishes, or in the community: o Fundraising (using envelopes placed in church pews)? o Collection of non-perishable food items? - Coordinate with particular or central council to place an ad in local newspapers or on local radio; - Organize a meeting with the pastor; - Print the campaign poster (from National Council); - Identify where to display campaign posters; - Print collection envelopes for fundraising; - Place a notice in the parish bulletin; - Plan for an SSVP member to address parishioners after masses; - Place envelopes on benches and/or add containers to collect nonperishable food items. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 4
STORE CAMPAIGN - Determine what actions to undertake in the store: o Fundraising? o Collection of non-perishable food items? - Coordinate with particular or central council to place an ad in local newspapers or on local radio; - Identify where to display campaign posters; - Print the campaign poster (from National Council); - Promotion near cash registers; - Set up a computer with a presentation (PowerPoint in loop mode); - Offer relevant or related documents to take back home (leaflet, collection envelope, etc.). Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 5
TEXT FOR PARISH SPEECH Hi! My name is. I am very happy to be able to talk to you today, on behalf of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, for the Conference. I wish to thank our pastor,, for allowing me this opportunity to address you for a few minutes. At the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, on November 20, 2016, in his apostolic letter, entitled Mercy and peace (Misericordia et misera), Pope Francis invited us to celebrate the World Day of the Poor on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This year, we celebrate that special day on November 18 th. According to the Canadian government, one million, nine hundred thousand Canadian families struggle every day to make ends meet. Just a few weeks before Christmas, we must do more than usual to help the least fortunate among us. For more than 170 years, thanks to the generosity of parishioners, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul has been distributing Christmas hampers or organizing community meals. Such gestures of solidarity help less fortunate people to emerge from isolation, and allow them to experience wonderful moments of joy. By taking the time to welcome our sisters and brothers in Jesus Christ, not only do we give food, but we interact with them on an equal basis. In the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, our tradition is to avoid judging and to serve people with love, respect, justice and joy. In response to Pope Francis appeal, we invite you to work with the members of the local Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and give a hand, either by participating in our guignolée or in our collection of food supplies. In this very busy period, we always need volunteers and, of course, financial help is always appreciated as well. You may donate to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul team in our community, or directly to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, via the official website, at www.ssvp.ca/donation. Thank you for your attention! I wish all of you a very nice Sunday. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 6
TEXT FOR PARISH NEWSLETTER November 18 th, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, is the World Day of the Poor. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul invites you to help society s less fortunate people. We encourage you to give a hand by participating in our guignolée or in our collection of food supplies. In this very busy period, we always need volunteers and, of course, financial help is always appreciated. You may donate to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul team in our community, or directly to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, via the official website, at www.ssvp.ca/donation. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 7
LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS Charity is the Samaritan who pours oil on the wounds of the traveller who was attacked. The role of justice is to prevent the attack. Blessed Frederic Ozanam. The Gospel of Saint Matthew (25, 31-46), also known as The Final Judgement, takes us back to the very basis of the work of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. It also outlines the basic principles of the Church s social teachings, that is, the preferential option for the poor and the dignity of the human person. When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the angels with Him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me, naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed You, or thirsty and gave You drink? When did we see You a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 8
Then he will say to those at his left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. Then they also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? Then he will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. In a context of abundance and equality, it is also appropriate to read the second letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (8,7.9.13-15): Therefore as you abound in everything in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us see that you abound in this grace also. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich. For I do not mean that other men should be eased and you burdened, but that there be an equality: that now at this time your abundance may supply their want, that their abundance may also supply your want, that there may be equality. As it is written: He that had gathered much had nothing left over, and he that had gathered little had no lack. Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 2018 9