SEPTEMBER AWARENESS 2017 Society of St. Vincent de Paul Suggestions to help your conference to be more visible in your parish
2
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocesan Council of Milwaukee Voice of the Poor Committee 3 David Busch, VOP Chairman August, 2017 Blessed Sacrament Conference Milwaukee, WI 53215 Dear Conference Presidents, The Voice of the Poor is the advocacy arm of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. With members representing every section and demographic of the nation, we identify those issues that are critical to those living in poverty and need, and help bring attention to them so that communities and our elected representatives can help develop strategies and tactics that will provide the most effective and efficient means to reduce or eliminate poverty. Part of the VOP's mission is to bring attention to the work of the larger St. Vincent de Paul Society. To that end, we have developed a program that each Conference can use in their own Parish to help increase awareness among your parishioners for the works that you perform in aiding those in need. Our prayer is that greater awareness of our work will result in greater participation in the ministry of serving the needy, and greater donations of time and resources. Each September the church celebrates the feast of St. Vincent de Paul on the 27 th, making this the perfect time to call attention to the charitable works you perform. Last year, we commissioned a post Awareness Month on-line survey and learned that almost half of the SVDP Conferences are holding Awareness Month Activities. Of those participating, nearly 70% reported that they felt speaking from the pulpit had been their most effective tool, and many Conferences reported that Awareness Month resulted in adding some new members. Please consider sponsoring Awareness Month Activities at your parish using the guidelines found in this booklet. Start by enlisting the support of your Parish Priest or Pastor and feel free to customize these events as you think might best fit your Conference or Parish. And please consider having a member of your Conference join the VOP Committee. The commitment is minimal but the rewards are great! Sincerely, David Busch 262-853-9178 Chairman, Voice of the Poor Committee Society of St. Vincent de Paul Archdiocesan Council of Milwaukee
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDEBOOK To help prepare you for the SVDP month of Awareness this September, we present this step-by-step guide. Various inserts are included to give your conference ideas to make this task easier. STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS 1. Ask your spiritual advisor to use the reflection on the next page at your next conference meeting. 2. Discuss this booklet with your conference members and decide what would be the best way to reach your parishioners. 3. Discuss this with your pastor and see if some visibility would be available. 4. Choose a member/members to tell the SVDP Story. 5. Use display boards/easel to present posters (enclosed) or other visual material. We would ask that you stay faithful to the weekly themes: 4 Last Weekend in August First Weekend in September Theme: COMMITMENT Parish Bulletin announcement of program All Catholics, as followers of Jesus, are called to respond in love to people in need. Vincentians make this response as part of an organized effort to grow in their faith while giving witness to God s love for the most distressed. Acting on behalf of our faith community, Vincentians are invited to make their commitment publically and be commissioned to carry out this work. Second Weekend in September Vincentians meet the needy in their homes, care institutions, and correctional facilities. Carrying the love Theme: VISITS TO HOMES, HOSPITALS, and concern of the parish, they concentrate on personal encounters. If possible, this message deserves AND PRISONS to be mentioned this weekend from the pulpit. Third Weekend in September Theme: SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR Fourth Weekend in September Theme: FRIENDS OF THEPOOR WALK Understanding that helping involves more than giving funds, Vincentians work with people toward selfsufficiency and help them speak in their own behalf in creating a world of justice and peace. All are invited to participate in Friends of the Poor Walks in several communities in our Archdiocese. These are opportunities to give public witness to service for the poor and disadvantaged in our community.
A CONFERENCE REFLECTION ON AWARENESS (Please use as a spiritual reading at one of your August meetings) 5 Gospel (Matthew 5:13-16) You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. Reflection You are a bright, beautiful being. Feel that, know that. If you have trouble believing this, ask yourself what blocks you from shining brightly? Is it fear, ego, peer pressure, insecurity? Prepare to let go of those things that keep you hidden under a bushel. Share the brightness and beauty of Who You Are at your work place, with your customers, clients and co-workers. When you live true to who you are, at work and elsewhere, you let your light shine. When you stop short of being your authentic beautiful self, when you bow to pressure from others to be a certain way, that s just not you. You hide your light under a bushel. It helps no one and eventually dims your own life. (Linda Ferguson, Path for Greatness: Spirituality at Work) Vincentian Meditation In the Society, there is a long tradition that draws our members into a quiet obscurity that often makes our works so confidential that no one knows we exist. While humility is still one of our Vincentian virtues, we must not forget what drew Frederic Ozanam and his college companions out to the ghettos of Paris: their desire to give witness to an unbelieving world that their faith was still relevant. Does our world today not need a similar witness? As Vincentians, we need to balance the admirable quality of humility with the need to become better known - not so much as individuals, but as believing Catholics who are not afraid to light our candles and put aside anything that would stop that light from being visible. We must become shining examples of good so that all may believe. Discussion Do our parishioners know what is being done by our conference? Do we ever report how their donations are used? What could we do to make our works be better known? Closing Prayer O God, there are those who do not know your presence, -may our lives be a sign of faith for them. O God, there are those who live in fear and doubt, -may our lives be a sign of hope for them. O God, there are those who do not experience your love, -may our lives be a sign of love for them. O God, there are those who are poor and oppressed by others, -may our lives be a sign of justice for them. Amen
Last Weekend of August Parish Bulletin Announcements 6 SUGGESTION 1 The St. Vincent de Paul Society helps the people in our parish area with basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. Our parish conference is part of an international Catholic organization bringing men and women together to grow spiritually by visiting anyone in need. During September, they are making an effort to become more visible, giving witness to one of the best things about our Church. Let s celebrate as a parish all that they do and continue to support them with our time and resources in this spiritual ministry. Could this be the time when we consider joining them? Supporting them? SUGGESTION 2 The St. Vincent de Paul Society recently celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of its founder, Frederic Ozanam. As a college student, Frederic led a small group of his classmates into the poor area of Paris to do what they could to address the needs for food and fuel. Working one-to-one with families, they gave witness to nonbelievers about the vitality of their faith. This model of assistance spread through Europe and arrived in our Archdiocese in 1849. Perhaps known best for its quiet, behindthe-scenes work in most parishes, our Vincentians will be presenting several themes in September in an effort to increase the awareness of the poor in our midst and how the Society members serves them. Perhaps this will be the time in our life to consider joining them? Frederic Ozanam 1813 1853 Beatified Aug. 22, 1997
First Weekend of September Commitment 7 BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT The members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society are committed to visiting people in need and working with them to resolve their problems. They are one of the important outreach ministries of our parish and give witness to the Lord s special concern for all who experience difficulties. This weekend, we want to thank them as well as all our parishioners who, on behalf of the Church, reach out to God s special people. Vincentians do this week after week, year after year, often making a lifetime commitment to help others. We pray that their example may lead others to a life of service. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS: 1. Ask the pastor if he would say something this week from the pulpit to inform parishioners of the work of the Vincentians in his parish. 2. Ask if a commitment ceremony (next page) could be conducted after communion or after one of your Sunday liturgies, with your members in attendance (see the following page). 3. Consider conducting a multi-week membership drive, using the Invitation to Serve program available, without charge, from the Milwaukee SVDP Office (414-462-7837) and which details a pulpit appeal. It has been overwhelmingly successful throughout the country in drawing new members. 4. Take the time to invite a friend, relative, or acquaintance to consider joining SVDP. 5. Invite parishioners to join you in one of the Society activities - serving at a meal program, helping at the pantry, accompanying you on a nursing home or prison visit. 6. Hold a clothing collection (Bundle Sunday, or a Stuff the Poor Box ) St. Vincent de Paul There when you need us 7. A large variety of shirts, hats, and logo merchandise is available through Magnalite-USA. Go to magnaliteusa.com/svdp09-1.html SEPTEMBER IS ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY AWARENESS MONTH POSTER
Vincentians: Vincentians: Vincentians: Vincentians: Vincentians: Vincentians: COMMITMENT CEREMONY I invite the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society to stand and renew their Vincentian Commitment to serve the poor on behalf of our parish. In response to the call of Christ who invites you to follow him, do you promise to be a witness to his boundless love for the poor, the lonely, the suffering and deprived, those without faith and those who feel unloved? I do, and I ask for the grace to grow in holiness of life and to share in a longing for spiritual growth and enrichment. Do you firmly resolve to treasure the warm friendship and unity which was from the beginning a hallmark of our Society? I do, and I ask for the grace to grow in humility and simplicity so that true friendship may grow in my heart. Do you promise to seek and find the forgotten, the suffering or the deprived so that you can bring them your love? I do, and I ask for the grace to be sensitive to their vulnerability, to respect and not to judge or blame them. Do you promise to be generous with your time, your possessions and yourself in your mission of charity? I do, and I ask for the grace to always serve in justice and charity so that I can be an advocate and a voice for the poor. Do you promise to persevere in regarding your home visits as a sacred trust? I do, and I ask for the grace to be more aware of the blessings I receive from those I visit. Let us pray together: Lord Jesus, you who willed to become poor, give us eyes and hearts directed toward the poor. Help us to recognize you in them in their hunger and thirst, their loneliness and suffering. Enkindle within us the fire of love that burned in the hearts of St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Frederic Ozanam, so that we will live our mission and core values with integrity. Grant us the grace to be faithful to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, so that we will grow in spirituality, friendship and service to our suffering brothers and sisters 8 Amen
ALTERNATE COMMITMENT CEREMONY 9 Presider I invite the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society to stand and renew their Vincentian Commitment to serve the poor on behalf of our parish. Spirit of the living God, Vincentians: Come and breathe your life anew. Passionate fire of God s love, Vincentians: Ignite the talents and gifts of everyone present here, and enkindle our hearts with the fire of your love. In your Mission Statement, you state that you are inspired by Gospel values to be of service to the needy and the poor, and that you grow spiritually by this service. So I ask you: Vincentians: We do. Do you commit yourself to spiritual growth in your work, so that you may bear witness to the love of God and to see the face of Christ in the faces of those you serve? Do you commit yourself to give service to the poor in a spirit of justice and charity? Vincentians: We do. So we ask the Lord to bless you: (sign of blessing) May the flame of God s love light your way and lead you to grow in the path of spirituality and holiness. Vincentians: Amen May the Spirit strengthen you in the ways of justice and charity, and may you bring hope and healing into the hearts of all those who are poor and suffering. Vincentians: Amen May your hands and hearts be nourished for the work that lies ahead, that you may be compassionate to human need, tender and strong in your care and faithful to the commitment of service you renew today. Vincentians: Amen
Second Weekend of September Visits to Homes, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Prisons 10 The St. Vincent de Paul Society visits people in all kinds of distress to offer a helping hand and a listening ear. Volunteers go to the homes of anyone who requests help. They also visit people in nursing homes, hospitals, and in prison. Throughout our Archdiocese, they made more than 240,000 contacts with people in need last year. We celebrate the works of our parish St. Vincent de Paul conference and encourage everyone to consider becoming part of this arm of the Church s ministry. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS: 1. If your pastor will allow you pulpit time after communion this Sunday, talk about the number of families in need visited in your parish this past year. Tell the story of how important your gifts of money, food, clothing and visits were to them. If possible, tell a short story of an individual you helped and what it meant to him. 2. Some Vincentians make regular, weekly hospital visits to take communion to parish members. Others do the same at nursing homes. This might be the time to let your parishioners know of your work. Consider initiating this work, if you aren t already doing it. 3. If you are aware of a parish member who is incarcerated or affected by a loved one s incarceration, consider visiting them. 4. If St Vincent de Paul operates a food panty in your parish, consider having an Open House to show what food is available, what is needed, and how helping is organized. 5. Put the visitation poster on your parish bulletin board this week. FACTS YOU MAY WANT TO SHARE: HOME VISITS The home visit is the basic, most fundamental activity of a Vincentian ministry. Rather than have people come to us, we go to the homes of those in need. We speak with the person needing help during the friendly visit to find out the nature of the problem as well as to learn more about their other needs. We also want an environment where the person feels relaxed and unthreatened. Their own home is the best place for this to happen. Whatever the person shares with us remains confidential between the Vincentian conference and the person. A home visit is always done by a minimum of two Vincentians, never alone. This provides multiple viewpoints and suggestions on the resolution of problems. We listen to the person or family, getting their perspective on the problem and its resolution. When we are able, we try to meet the immediate need first and then try to develop a longer term plan with the needy. One of our most important gifts to leave behind is a feeling that someone cares and that there is hope.
11 OTHER FORMS OF VISITATION Since the poor include not only the financially deprived, Vincentian visitation also takes other forms. Visiting the homebound and parishioners in the hospitals and nursing homes is an important Vincentian ministry. Keeping such people informed about what is happening in the parish, bringing weekly parish bulletins, etc., can be very important for people who may feel isolated and alone. FACT SHEET Throughout the 10-county Archdiocese in 2016, Vincentians from 111 conferences made 36,062 home visits to people in need. They spent $3.7 million in donated funds. In addition, they provided almost $1.7 million in donated goods, mostly through their food pantries. They provided help to 171,390 people. 303,283 hours of service were offered by 2,236 Vincentians in our area. (Share your own conference numbers with your parish members.) SAMPLE PARISH BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT St. Vincent de Paul Society PERSON TO PERSON There when you need us SEPTEMBER IS ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY AWARENESS MONTH There are 15 St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores in our Archdiocese. People in need receive vouchers for items in those stores through Vincentians in parishes making home visits. Additional merchandise is sold to cover costs and to raise funds for the many St. Vincent de Paul programs. Stores are dependent on the generous donations of items by the general public. There are stores in the following locations: Beaver Dam Fond du Lac Greenfield Hartford Kenosha Milwaukee Port Washington Plymouth Oconomowoc Sheboygan Slinger Slade Corners Waterford Waukesha West Bend This week s poster
Third Weekend of September Voice of the Poor Ministry 12 PARISH BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT: In addition to quietly and discreetly serving families in need in our Archdiocese, Vincentians also are concerned over the broader issues that affect the needy. The St. Vincent de Paul Society has a standing committee called the Voice of the Poor ministry with the purpose to educate its members on legislative issues that impact the lives of the poor. Vincentians are urged to identify these negative impacts and share their concerns with those who legislate and administer programs to lessen the suffering of the needy. Some Vincentians also become mentors to people who are having difficulty in managing things in their lives. Waukesha County Vincentians, for example, sponsor sessions to help people find and utilize community resources. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS: STORES SVDP thrift stores are a special ministry of SVDP. 1. Volunteer to host an awareness table at your Council thrift store. Have information available about all SVDP does in your local community. Promote the open houses with flyers and signage throughout the Store. Have store discount coupons in local newspapers to encourage new shoppers. Create a festive environment with food, and beverages for shoppers. Consider balloons, popcorn machines, face-painting, clowns! Use your imagination! VOICE OF THE POOR 1. At times, the Voice of the Poor Committee may issue Action Alerts to make Vincentians aware of issues that affect the poor which are before State or Federal legislative bodies. Make sure your conference discusses these alerts. Members of the Society are urged to contact their respective legislators to support or oppose such legislation which affects the poor. 2. The primary information sources on most issues are the National SVdP Voice of the Poor Committee, Catholic Charities U.S.A., the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Wisconsin Catholic Conference. Encourage members to sign up for CAPWIZ on the National SVDP Website (http://www.capwiz.com/svdpusa/ home/). 3. The Voice of the Poor speaks as a unified voice on behalf of the poor. You can join the Archdiocesan Voice of the Poor committee by attending a meeting. Contact SVDP-Milwaukee (414-462-7837, ext. 101) for its meeting schedule (The committee usually meets on the second Saturday of each month except for July.)
4. Members are encouraged to speak at every occasion about the purpose and services of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The names of those we help must remain confidential, but what we do should be much better known. 5. Set up a table or booth/display at parish events, handing out literature on the Voice of the Poor and on issues currently before state and federal legislatures. 6. Put the Voice of the Poor poster on your parish bulletin board this week. 7. Put the Friends of the Poor Walk poster on your parish bulletin board as well in anticipation of next week s event.. 13 Society of St. Vincent de Paul VOICE OF THE POOR Society of St. Vincent de Paul Friends of the Poor Walk September 2017 Won t You Join Us? SEPTEMBER IS ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY AWARENESS MONTH SEPTEMBER IS ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY AWARENESS MONTH This week s posters
Fourth Weekend of September FRIENDS OF THE POOR WALK 14 Friends of the Poor Walk/Run is a National Program with the purpose of providing local SVdP conferences and councils the framework to host an event that raises funds to support their special works projects. This year marks the 10th Year of the Walk. Some of our councils will be holding the walk locally this year. Funds are generated when people pledge to support the Society based on walkers who participate. The Society depends on its Vincentians to promote the program in our parishes and among their friends. Participants are welcome to run, walk or cheer on those who give this visible symbol of their support of programs to benefit the needy. All money generated is used locally in SVDP programs. Racine: Local Friends of the Poor Walks Saturday, September 23 10:00AM Cliffside Park (off 6 Mile Rd and Michna Rd.- Crestview in Caledonia;Picnic Area1) (Registration begins at 9AM) There is no charge for participating but all are asked to obtain sponsors. Contact: Bill Frayer (262)633-7887 frayerfamily@yahoo.com) Milwaukee: Saturday, September 30 9:00AM St. Alphonsus Parish and Scout Lake Park - 6060 W. Loomis Rd. Greendale (Registration begins at 8:00 AM) Admission - $20 Adults, $10 Child (ages 5-17). On-line registration: www.svdpmilw.org Waukesha: Saturday, September 30 11:00AM St. William Church 440 N. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha. (Registration begins at 9AM) 10:30AM Mass, 11AM Walk There is no charge for participating but all are asked to obtain sponsors. Pre-registration: www.stvincentwaukeshacounty.org Sheboygan: Saturday, September 30 9:45AM Sheboygan South High School Commons & Track 3128 S. 12 St. (Registration begins at 9:00AM) 5K Walk/Run Admission Adults $15, Children (under 12) $5.00, Families $30, Teams $50 Contact: Dennis Van Hoof (920)457-4844 ext. 102
15 September, 2017 The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is one of the oldest and most effective charitable organizations in the world. It was founded in Paris, France in 1833. The United States Society of St. Vincent de Paul was founded in 1845, in St. Louis, Mo. Began in 2008 to celebrate the 175 th anniversary of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Monies raised are applied to a wide range of assistance to the needy and those living in poverty, including: housing assistance, disaster relief, job training and placement, food pantries and dining halls, clothing, transportation and utility costs, care for the elderly and medicine. All proceeds directly benefit people in the communities where the money is raised. Each community s walk is organized and run by its own SVdP Conference or Council. The FOP Walks last year were held at over 250 locations around the country, attracted more than 28,000 participants, and raised more than $3.1 million. Walkers are encouraged to make a personal monetary donation and collect pledges from supporters.
Celebration of the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul September 27 16 PARISH BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENT On September 27, we will celebrate the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, the patron of our parish St. Vincent de Paul conference. Vincent was a priest during the 17th Century renowned for his compassion, humility, and generosity and is known as the "Great Apostle of Charity." His teachings about God s special presence in the poor are revolutionary even in our day. Our SVDP conference will attend the XX:XX a.m. Mass together this weekend as a witness to sharing his beliefs. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS: 1. Ask if a parish bulletin announcement similar to the one above could appear. 2. The Conference may wish to attend Mass on the weekend before St. Vincent de Paul's feast as a group to visibly show the parish your active conference! Ask if your presence could be recognized in some way during the liturgy. 3. At your Conference meeting nearest St. Vincent s feast, considering using the prayer service on the following pages for your opening prayer. 4. Set up a table in the vestibule or gathering space of church to publicize SVdP at the parish. Have pamphlets available to invite anyone interested to join.
THE FIRE OF VINCENTIAN CHARISM PRAYER SERVICE 17 Leader: O God, your love ignites our hearts, captures our imaginations, shapes our dreams, and awakens possibilities. Make us disciples on fire with your love so that we can become true followers of St. Vincent de Paul. Help us, O God, to enkindle in others a sense of hope that transformation is possible and give us the grace to transmit to others the fire of the charism of St. Vincent. Leader: Let us pray (alternate sides) When the heart is on fire, light comes from within. With the eyes of an enlightened heart we can see the hope to which we are called. By responding to the call to be a Vincentian, we proclaim that the quest to be a servant of the poor is the fire of our lives. The path to seeing with the eyes of the heart is discovered in the journey of discipleship. It is not an easy journey. It is an ongoing effort to live the gospel with integrity always trying, sometimes succeeding, often failing, recognizing the need for patience, and then trying again. Discipleship is a way of being in the world that affects every relationship. Disciples shape one another according to the action of the Spirit in their lives. The energy of the disciples flows from faith in what is unseen yet believed. At its very core, discipleship is a call to a love so radical that it never gives up on God, one s neighbor, or one s self. Disciples are called to love well, as Jesus did, with hope, truth, fidelity and compassion. This leads inevitably to taking a stand with the Christ of the paschal mystery who willingly laid down his life in love so that all may have life in abundance. Leader: We remember the times of our lives when we felt God s warmth within us and we were on fire to do his will.
All: Leader: All: Leader: All: Leader: All: Leader: God of Fire, burst into flame in our lives. We remember the people of Faith gone before us, messengers of a gracious God. God of Fire, fan our faith into flame. We remember those in our lives today, whose flaming hearts have encouraged and touched us on our journey. God of Fire, fuel us into thankfulness. We remember our journey, and how we need to trust in God s love and to pray to live as illuminators in our world. God of Fire, empower us to trust. God of fire, send your sparks to enlighten our lives and fill us with your passionate life. Transform us with your love and touch us with your goodness. May the truth we seek and accept, fuel all we are and do. 18 All: May God the Father who made us, bless us. May God the Son send his grace among us. May the Holy Spirit move within us and give us eyes that see, ears that hear, hearts that love, and hands that do God s work. May the God of peace watch over us and lead us as we walk together, as Vincentians, into the future. Amen Closing song: (Conclude with an appropriate song)
19
Society of St. Vincent de Paul Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council 9601 W Silver Spring Dr. Milwaukee WI 53225 (414) 462-7837 council@svdpmilw.org 20