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August is Make a Will Month
August is Make a Will Month 1707 1707 admin

Why Do We Work Our Whole Lives to Build Financial Security—But Not Plan How It Will Reflect Our Values After We’re Gone?

By Dennis Kempf, Director of Philanthropy

Many of us spend a lifetime earning, saving, and giving back. But when it comes to what happens after we’re gone, too often we leave our legacy to chance. Why Do We Work Our Whole Lives to Build Financial Security—But Not Plan How It Will Reflect Our Values After We’re Gone?

Have you prayerfully considered how your life’s work—and your life’s values—can continue to bless others?

The benefits of planning ahead are clear:

  • Peace of mind
  • Reduced family conflict
  • Ensuring your legacy reflects your faith and values
  • A deep sense of fulfillment and well-being

Will everything go to your heirs? Is there room at the table for others—those whose lives could be transformed by your generosity?

Here’s how four Vincentians have answered that call and named SVdP in their plans:

  1. Michael is establishing an endowment via his estate plans. He has been donating to SVdP every quarter for 5 years – this will continue his generosity for future generations. Why? “I’ve been very blessed in life and am paying it forward.”
  2. Jim established an endowment to fund the capital expenses for food pantries. The goal is to extend the life of our food pantries, “helping keep the doors open for years to come to feed those in need.”
  3. Another Jim shared that he has a strong Catholic viewpoint about death through his years of working at a cemetery. Ninety five percent of the groundskeepers were immigrants from Italy and Ireland trying to escape poverty. In response, he has been supporting grants through our Friends of the Poor for over ten years. His estate plans will help him continue his legacy of loving support for years to come.
  4. Mary Ann named us a beneficiary of a life insurance policy and comically suggests that we “do not spend it yet!” She said that our Vincentian work means that we are good people, but with our spirituality … we are saints!

You, too, can reflect your faith, your values, and your love for those in need—today and tomorrow.
Have you prayerfully considered how you might continue your legacy of love and service through St. Vincent de Paul?

Let your legacy feed the hungry, clothe the cold, and uplift the forgotten.
Your faith can live on—in action. 

SVdP’s Advancement Team oversees planned giving, fundraising, National Partners, the Friends of the Poor® Walk, the Friends of the Poor® grants, and the CARS vehicle donation program. 

Feature on Formation: Invitation for Renewal Retreat
Feature on Formation: Invitation for Renewal Retreat 2560 1920 admin

Invitation for Renewal Retreat

By Tim Williams, Senior Director of Formation & Leadership Development

Begun in 2002, the Invitation for Renewal (IFR) program is nearing 1000 alumni, and nearly every one of them will tell you that this five-day retreat was a profoundly transformational experience in their Vincentian lives.

The spark that led to Invitation for Renewal came from a survey of members by National President Gene Smith in 1999, asking what they felt was their greatest need. The response was overwhelming: spiritual formation. As a result, formation became the #1 goal in the Society’s first Strategic Plan in 2000 and it remains the highest priority in the Society.

In 2002, the Invitation for Renewal Committee, chaired by then-future National President Sheila Gilbert, developed a new leadership formation program which sought to return the Society to its roots and primitive spirit. It was an ambitious plan, which Gene enthusiastically approved.

Today, Invitation for Renewal is held twice yearly for groups of not more than thirty participants at the Pallotine Retreat Center in the St. Louis area. At this secluded 83-acre center, participants can set aside their daily cares, focusing on God’s creation and their own growth in this Vincentian vocation. Although the specific agenda is not published outside of the event, it does include classroom time, with deep dives into our spirituality, history, and the lives of our saints and founders; practical information on governance and leadership; worship time, with daily Mass and prayer services; time for quiet personal reflection; and most importantly time to grow together by sharing and bonding with fellow participants.

When the Society celebrated the twentieth Anniversary of Invitation for Renewal at the 2022 National Assembly, alumni were asked to share their thoughts and memories. We were overwhelmed by the responses we received, such as the ones below:

“Single best Vincentian activity I’ve taken part in during my years in the Society.”

“I am now 88 and my 2008 Invitation for Renewal experience has to go down as one of the most spiritually rewarding experiences in all my life.”

“IFR was one of the most valuable and cherished experiences I have had as a Vincentian. The week went by quickly but the friendships remain. Wonderful memories.”

Alumni of Invitation for Renewal have gone on to serve in many leadership positions in their Conferences, Councils, and Regions – including the last five National Council Presidents! Of the alumni who responded to a survey in July 2022:

  • 61% have served as Conference Presidents
  • 38% have served as District Council Presidents
  • 29% have served as (Arch)Diocesan Council Presidents
  • 37% have served on a National Council Committee
  • 13% have chaired a National Council Committee
  • 25% have served as Conference Spiritual Advisors

The current Invitation for Renewal team includes Dave Barringer, former CEO, Marge McGinley, National Formation Committee Chair, Sr. Consuelo Tovar, Associate Formation Director, Tim Williams, Senior Director of Formation and Leadership Development, Fr. Gerry Kelly, CM, Sherry Brown, Administrative Associate, and Marybeth Gamber and Gail Rowe who serve on national committees.

Invitation for Renewal is the Society’s premier event for formation and leadership development, and the best part about it is…you’re invited!  The next IFR retreat is November 12-16, 2025. Find out more information about the fall retreat here.

Feature: What Would You Do if you Answered the Phone?
Feature: What Would You Do if you Answered the Phone? 534 712 admin

What Would You Do if you Answered the Phone?

By Jeff Beamguard, National Director of Stores Support

What would you do if you answered the phone and a “Neighbor in Need” said, “I need water”?  I was stunned and asked if she could be more specific.  An elderly female voice replied, “I’m thirsty and need water.  I can’t drink the tap water because it tastes like metal.”

Now in most cases when I get a call from someone needing assistance, I refer them to St. Thomas Aquinas Church or the Resource Center at the SVDP Phoenix Campus, but this call hit my heart and soul. I told her that I would buy a couple of cases of bottled water and bring it to her house on my way home.  I asked the Production Manager Yadira at the National Store in Avondale to come along with me.  The two of us went to the house and asked for Nina.  A voice inside the house said she was not home but would be back later.  We asked if we could come in and the man behind the metal screen door was reluctant and wanted to know who we were and why were we there.  He said he did not trust anyone he did not know.  We finally convinced him that we were there because Nina had asked us for help and we had some bottled water for her.  We found out that John who let us in the house was Nina’s son.  John lived there with his mother and was dressed in dirty ripped up clothing from a job he had just returned home from.

The house was in disarray, and we noticed there was no air conditioning or a working refrigerator in the house.  On this day the outside temperature in Phoenix was 108 degrees and my guess was that the inside temperature of the house was over 90 degrees.  John told us that the A/C had gone out last summer along with the refrigerator.  They were using a small mini freezer on the floor that had two bags of ice in it and another mini fridge with only enough food in it for a couple of days.  There was also a Coleman cooler that contained a small amount of lunch meat, bread, and condiments.  John told us that they were living off Nina’s social security income and odd jobs he could get, and they didn’t have the money to fix the refrigerator or the A/C.  I called Nina, who was at her daughter’s house, to see if we could come by the next day to talk and she agreed.

Yadira and I called Nina the next morning to see if she was home and asked if we could come over.  She said, yes of course, and thanked me for the water.  When we got to the house, Nina, who was a very petite woman, greeted us with open arms and said she didn’t think I would follow through on bringing her the water.  As we talked, I inquired about her life.  She told me she was born in Mexico and moved to California as a small girl with her mother and father.  Nina’s family (husband, daughter and two young boys) wanted to leave southern California for a better life for her kids in Arizona so they sold their home in Los Angeles and with the proceeds paid cash for their new home in 2000.  Tough times hit the family immediately after getting to Phoenix when her husband and oldest son got cancer at the same time and died shortly afterward. Nina, now 87 years old, has tried to hold together what was left of her family since then.

I got permission from my supervisor to help Nina and her family, and then I went to Home Depot and ordered a new refrigerator and giant  swamp cooler (a portable and efficient cooling system for space in the home).

I set the delivery and installation of the refrigerator and cooler for the next day.  Our store drivers showed up to remove the old refrigerator and the Home Depot drivers came soon afterward to install the new refrigerator and hook up the cooler.  Nina kept asking me why we were doing all of this for her!  I told her because it was what Saint Vincent de Paul does for our neighbors in need.  She called all of the SVDP staff “angels” repeatedly.

As we were filling the swamp cooler with water to start cooling down the house, Yadira filled a one-gallon pitcher from the sink, and we saw the brown colored water coming out of the tap that Nina described as not drinkable.  After letting the water run for 5-6 minutes the water became clear again.  We’re not sure why the water got that way, but it probably was the result of the city flushing the pipes in her area.

In less than an hour, Nina and her son had a working refrigerator that came with a water filter so Nina could get fresh ice and water, and a swamp cooler to lower the inside temperature of the house to a tolerable temperature.  On our way out of the house Nina continued to hug all the SVDP staff and thank all of us repeatedly.  We also brought 5 pairs of shorts and tops for John from the thrift store and said we hoped this would be enough clothing so he could replace the tattered clothing he was wearing.  This is when we found out their washing machine had also quit working!  Are you kidding me?

As I was telling this story to one of our long time Vincentian volunteers, she immediately offered to buy Nina a new washer!  We went back to Home Depot to pick out a washer and our store drivers delivered and installed the new washer for Nina.

Nina asked if it was ok if she could call me occasionally and I said of course she could.  She did call me a couple of weeks later and told me she still could not believe why we helped her but wanted me to know how much she appreciated what we did for her family.  She said everything was working so perfectly, something many of us take for granted!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners 2025 – Round 2
Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners 2025 – Round 2 1080 1080 admin

Congratulations to the Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners of the Mid-Atlantic, North Central, and Southeast!  

We received 177 grant applications totaling $862,910. Grant awards for this round total $135,000.

Through simple application process, SVdP Conferences and District Councils can apply for up to $5,000 from the National Council’s Friends of the Poor® Fund. The Friends of the Poor® funds available to grant is normally limited to the amount raised and/or approved by the National Council budget process. Individual grant award amounts may vary from the application amount but will not exceed $5,000.

Grants are targeted to specific areas of need, above and beyond available Conference resources: assistance for rent/housing, utilities, food, clothing, medical, transportation, and baby/children needs. No systemic change projects.

FOP Grant Awards – July 2025
Mid-Atlantic $5,000.00 Our Lady of Good Counsel- Vienna, VA Emergency Housing Assistance
Mid-Atlantic $5,000.00 St. Dorothea – Eatontown, NJ Rental Payments
Mid-Atlantic $4,500.00 St. Luke the Evangelist – Glenside, PA Rent, Food gift cards, Utility assistance
Mid-Atlantic $4,500.00 St. Phillip – Pittsburgh, PA Rent & Utility assistance
Mid-Atlantic $4,500.00 St. Timothy – Chantilly, VA Emergency assistance
Mid-Atlantic $3,000.00 Holy Spirit – Mullica Hill, NJ Rent & Utility assistance
Mid-Atlantic $3,000.00 Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Bethlehem, PA Rent and Utility assistance
Mid-Atlantic $3,000.00 St. Michael the Archangel – Glen Allen, VA Rent assistance to prevent Homelesness
Mid-Atlantic $2,500.00 Holy Spirit – New Castle, PA Utilities, Shelter, Food, Other needs
Mid-Atlantic $2,500.00 St. Michael the Archangel & Mary Mother of Peace – Georgetown, DE Rent payment, Utlities assistance to prevent disconnection, Bus passes
Mid-Atlantic $2,000.00 Immaculate Conception St. Cecilia – Glen Burnie, MD Sarahs hope family shelter, Grief ministry, Camp St. Vincent
Mid-Atlantic $1,500.00 St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception – Fredericksburg, VA Emergency Vehicle related expenses
North Central $4,200.00 St. Joseph Hand of Mercy – Devils Lake, ND Rent, Utilities, Transportation, Food, Clothing
North Central $4,000.00 Cathedral of the Holy Spirit – Bismark, ND Housing, Utilities, Transportation
North Central $4,000.00 Holy Family – Rockford, IL Rent & Utlities
North Central $4,000.00 Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier – Wilmette, IL Seasonal Outerwear & Boots/Gym Shoes
North Central $4,000.00 St. Joseph – Fort Atkinson, WI Rent & Utlities
North Central $4,000.00 St. Kateri Tekakwitha – Walker, MN Electricity, propane, car repairs
North Central $2,500.00 Queen of Apostles – Chicago, IL Hot meals, To go bags, Supplies
North Central $2,500.00 St. Anthony on the Lake – Pewaukee, WI Rent & Utlities
North Central $2,500.00 St. Francis Assisi – Freeport, IL Rent
North Central $2,500.00 St. Francis St. Mary – Sturgis, SD Rent
North Central $2,500.00 St. John XXIII – Waseca, MN Rent, Utilities, gas, car issues
North Central $2,500.00 St. Maria Goretti – Madison, WI Rent assistance
North Central $2,000.00 Blessed Sacrament – Milwaukee, WI Rent assistance, New Beds, Appliances
North Central $2,000.00 St. Bernadette – Appleton, WI Rent, Utilities, Bus passes/Gas cards, Laudormat gift cards
North Central $2,000.00 St. Joseph – Waupun, WI Housing, Utilities, Personal Items, Fuel&Transportation
North Central $2,000.00 St. Mary Frances of the Five Wound – Berwyn, IL Rent & Utlities
North Central $2,000.00 St. Mary St. Andrew – Mayville, WI Hotel Stays, Rent Payments, Disconnections
North Central $1,000.00 St. Mary – Oregon, IL Rent & Utlities
North Central $1,000.00 Sts. Peter & Paul – Weyauwega, WI Rent & Utlities
North Central $800.00 St. Joseph – Sheboygan, WI Gas Assistance
Southeast $5,000.00 Light of Christ – Clearwater, FL Rent/deposits, Motel, electric/water, Groceries
Southeast $5,000.00 Our Lady of Lourdes – Raleigh, NC Rent and Utility Assistance
Southeast $5,000.00 St. Elizabeth of Hungary – Columbus,MS Car Repairs
Southeast $5,000.00 St. Joseph Sacred Heart – Greenville, MS Purchase of box fans
Southeast $5,000.00 St. Michael – Gainesville, GA Rent assistance
Southeast $5,000.00 St. Michael – Murrells Inlet, SC Utilities
Southeast $2,000.00 Annunciation of the Lord – Decatur, AL Rent, Utility Payments
Southeast $2,000.00 Epiphany – Venice, FL Temp lodging for homeless
Southeast $2,000.00 Nativity of Our Lord – Pensacola, FL Rent Assistance, Utilities
Southeast $2,000.00 Our Lady of Lourdes – Atlanta, GA Rental assistance
Southeast $2,000.00 St. Mark the Evangelist – Birmingham, AL Rent and Utility Assistance
Southeast $2,000.00 St. Mary Help of Christian – Aiken, SC Utility & Food

Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners 2025 – Round 1
Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners 2025 – Round 1 1080 1080 admin

Congratulations to the Friends of the Poor Grant Award Winners of the Northeast Region, South Central Region, and West Region! 

Northeast $5,000.00 Corpus Christi Conference St. Johnsbury VT Rent, Transportation, Fuel & Utilities
Northeast $5,000.00 Sacred Heart Conference Merrick NY Car payments/repairs, Car Insurance/Registration, transportation
Northeast $5,000.00 Santo Christo Conference Fall River MA Rent & Food
Northeast $5,000.00 St. Boniface Martyr Conference Sea Cliff NY Rent payment to prevent Eviction
Northeast $5,000.00 St. Brendan Conference Riverside RI Rent and Utility assistance
Northeast $5,000.00 St. Charles Borromeo Conference Woburn MA Rent, Utilities, Food
Northeast $5,000.00 St. Francis of Assisi Conference Wakefield RI Food
Northeast $5,000.00 St. Joseph Conference West Warwick RI Heating/Oil/Gas, Rent (to prevent eviction), Utilities
Northeast $5,000.00 St. Pius V Conference Providence RI Rent payment & Security Deposits
Northeast $1,000.00 St. Anselm Conference Sudbury MA Rent and Utility assistance
Northeast $1,000.00 St. Frances Cabrini Conference Coram NY Beds/Bedding & Rental Assistance
Northeast $1,000.00 St. James Conference Seaford NY Rent/mortgage Utilities, Funds in kind/car repairs, transportation
Northeast $1,000.00 St. Mary of the Annunciation Conference Danvers MA Rent, Food , Utilities
Northeast $1,000.00 St. Matthias Conference Marlborough MA Rent payment & Transportation assistance
Northeast $1,000.00 St. Raphael Conference East Meadow NY Rent & Utilities
South Central $3,500.00 Sacred Heart Conference El Paso Tx Rent assistance
South Central $3,500.00 San Jose Conference Austin TX Rent and utility assistance
South Central $3,000.00 St. Gerard Majella Conference Baton Rouge LA Rent, electric, Water
South Central $3,000.00 St. Patrick Conference Houston TX Rent & Utilities
South Central $3,000.00 St. Rose of Lima Conference Houston TX Rent & Utilities
South Central $3,000.00 St. Thomas Aquinas Conference Ruston LA Rent payment assistance
South Central $2,500.00 Santa Cruz Conference Buda TX Rental assistance to avoid eviction
South Central $2,500.00 St. Helen Conference Pearland TX Food Purchase
South Central $2,500.00 St. Rose of Lima Conference San Antonio TX Food, Utilities, Rental Assistance
South Central $2,000.00 St. Helen Conference Georgetown TX Prevent Eviction, Car Repair
South Central $2,000.00 St. Mary Conference Wimberley TX Rent Payment up to 500 per family
South Central $1,500.00 St. Edward Conference Athens TX Rent & Housing
South Central $1,500.00 St. Helena Conference Amite LA Utilities, Rent, Eviction prevention
South Central $1,500.00 St. Pius X Conference Dallas TX Rent Payment
West $5,000.00 Callistus Conference El Sobrante CA Rent, Electricity, Water
West $4,000.00 Holy Family Conference San Jose CA Rent assistance & Utility payments
West $4,000.00 Holy Innocents Conference Duvall WA Large back rent/Large Utility Bills
West $4,000.00 Our Mother of Good Counsel Conference Los Angeles CA Rent payment, Room Rentals & Utilities
West $4,000.00 St. Bruno  Conference Whittier CA Rent assistance, Motel Stays, Utilities, gas card, gift cards
West $4,000.00 St. Phillip Conference Woodland WA Rental Assistance & Utility assistance
West $4,000.00 St. Stephen the Martyr Conference Renton WA Rent and Utility assistance
West $3,500.00 Christ the King Conference San Diego CA Rental Assistance & Utility Assistance
West $3,500.00 Nativity Conference Los Angeles CA Food, utilities, Eviction Prevention
West $3,500.00 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Conference San Ysidro CA Rent Assistance
West $3,500.00 St. Mark Conference Shoreline WA Rent support, Utility support, Beds & Furniture, Auto/emergency related
West $3,500.00 St. Mary Conference Eugene OR Rent assistance
West $3,500.00 St. Peter Martyr Conference Pittsburg CA Rent, utilities, Registrations & Food for pantry distribution
West $2,800.00 Immaculate Conception Conference Arlington WA Ret for neediest families
West $2,800.00 Immaculate Conception Conference Seattle WA Rent, utilities, Beds
West $2,800.00 Queen of Angeles Conference Port Angeles WA Gasoline, ferry tickets, lodging and phone/Cards
West $2,800.00 St. Catherine of Alexandria Conference Temecula CA Motel stays, Rental Assistance, Utilities Assistance
West $2,800.00 St. Matthew Conference Seattle WA Rent assistance, Eviction prevention

 

 

 

 

Feeding Hope: A Vincentian Connection from California to Morelos with International Twinning
Feeding Hope: A Vincentian Connection from California to Morelos with International Twinning 843 632 admin

Feeding Hope: A Vincentian Connection from California to Morelos

Through the International Twinning Program of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Vincentian communities form bonds of faith and charity that transcend borders. One inspiring example is the partnership between the St. Clement Conference in Hayward, California, and the Centro Vicentino de Morelos, operated by the Council of Region IV in Cuernavaca, Mexico.

The Centro Vicentino runs three essential projects: Nutrition, Education, and Community Support, which serve more than 450 families each month. Through these programs, families receive basic food pantry items to ensure they have meals at home. Additionally, the Center prepares and distributes hot meals daily, both on site and outside hospitals, providing nourishment to the families of patients who often face difficult circumstances.

This compassionate service goes beyond addressing physical needs, offering hope, dignity, and spiritual comfort to those served. The ongoing partnership with St. Clement Conference has strengthened the Center’s capacity, allowing it to reach even more vulnerable individuals and communities.

More than just financial support, this twinning relationship is a shared journey of prayer, communication, and commitment to service. The impact resonates deeply on both sides of the border. Families in Cuernavaca receive vital assistance and hope, while the members of St. Clement Conference experience spiritual renewal as they witness the power of solidarity.

If your Conference is not yet part of the Twinning Program, now is the time to consider joining. Twinning transforms lives, not only of those receiving help but also of those who serve.

To learn more about starting a Twinning relationship and discover the areas of greatest need, visit:
https://ssvpusa.org/international-twinning

 

Our Work to Protect the Poor Must Go on After Reconciliation Bill Passage
Our Work to Protect the Poor Must Go on After Reconciliation Bill Passage 1600 1065 admin

Our Work to Protect the Poor Must Go on After Reconciliation Bill Passage

By John Berry, National President of SVdP USA 

In the Gospel reading on July 4, our nation’s independence day, Jesus called Matthew to join the disciples, prompting the Pharisees to ask why he ate with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus responded, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’”

This reading is fitting. After all, America was founded as a Christian nation. At our best, we are a nation of Matthews, sinners who hear the Word and follow Him. That is why it was so disappointing to me personally that on this very same day, a bill was signed into law that lacks mercy for the least of these.

The budget reconciliation bill, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” changes our nation’s SNAP and Medicaid programs, which will hurt men, women, and children by stripping away food and medical benefits that they rely on to survive. That is why the US Bishops and I, along with numerous other secular and faith-based organizations, urged Congress to protect Medicaid and SNAP. With freedom comes a responsibility to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and comfort the lonely.

So now, we must go forward. From the passage of this bill, it is estimated that millions of people will lose their Medicaid or food assistance benefits. Here are ways you can respond:

  1. We can expect an increased need for assistance in our communities. We encourage you to discuss at the local level how you might be able to adapt and scale up your services and programs.
  2. On July 17, SVdP USA’s national director of public policy and advocacy Ingrid Delgado will join a Voice for the Poor webinar to provide an update on current federal policy and how our new D.C. office staff is engaging on key issues, as well as how all of us can advocate effectively at the local level. You may register here.
  3. As SVdP USA continues to advocate for our neighbors in need, you can sign up for Voter Voice to receive electronic action alerts so that you can contact your elected officials on key legislation.

We 85,000 American Vincentians are fortified by the strength and knowledge that we are doing God’s will. We do this through our food banks and homeless shelters. We do this through our charitable pharmacies and our programs to aid immigrants. Mostly, we do this through our one-on-one encounters with people, for it is in those encounters that we see the very face of God. We will not stop working for them, and we will not stop advocating for those who have nobody else. We cannot – we will not – fail them.

Feature: Poverty Program committees
Feature: Poverty Program committees 1280 853 admin

A Tradition of Transformative Action 

By Steve Uram, National Director of Poverty Programs

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is composed of individuals who seek personal holiness through works of charity – in other words, we are called to action. When you think of advocacy, your mind may immediately move to our National Voice for the Poor Committee, legislative advocacy through Voter Voice, or to our new Washington DC office, led by National Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, Ingrid Delgado. These groups take action to influence policy and change the systems that trap people in poverty.

It should come as no surprise that our other National Poverty Program Committees are also all about action: our new Poverty Action Committee and our Homelessness Prevention Committee. Both committees meet monthly over video chat and are open sessions that Vincentians can listen to.

The Poverty Action Committee is charged with engaging more Councils and Conferences in systemic or transformational change. Valuable webinars are available to watch, like last fall’s webinars on “The Benefits Cliff” (Part 1, Part 2).

The Poverty Action Committee is focused on how to encourage Conferences and Councils to build and expand their systemic change programs.  One way to inspire such change is through the Systemic Change Grant.  This annual grant provides up to $20,000 a year for Councils or Conferences to create or expand a transformational program that will shift the conditions that hold poverty in place. The grant application asks Conferences and Councils to draw from encounters with their neighbors, survey the needs of their community, and build sustainable and replicable programs.

“I have reviewed systemic change grant applications for over four years and have seen the innovative programs presented by Conferences and Councils to address the barriers faced by our neighbors,” said Deb Zabloudil, Chair of the Poverty Action Committee.  “This grant program allows conferences and councils the opportunity to pilot a new program or implement a more established program such as reentry, workforce development, or Getting Ahead, that are prevalent across the Vincentian Family network.”

The grant application, scoring rubric, and a recording of last week’s informational webinar can be found on our website.  Applications are due July 11th.

The Homelessness Prevention Committee is charged with providing guidance and best practices in homelessness prevention and shelter diversion to Councils and Conferences. They are working with likeminded national homelessness organizations to create a series of training courses and toolkits for Vincentians, continuing our long-standing mission to prevent homelessness in our local communities.

Denise Fisher, Chair of the Homelessness Prevention Committee said of her committee, “Our goal is to help Vincentians become confident in their knowledge of the homelessness response system and potential interventions to help neighbors avoid the trauma of homelessness. By using best practices in program design, we hope to help councils and conferences become more intentional about who they are serving, more effective in the way they are serving, and more confident in their ability to communicate and advocate for homelessness prevention efforts in their community.”

“Each one of us plays a vital role in this beautiful network of charity. We as Vincentians know we need to work together to tackle issues of poverty: we cannot do it alone. We cannot feed the hungry, shelter the unsheltered or pay for all our neighbor’s utilities by ourselves: we gather up, go out two by two to do that work together,” said Bobby Kinkela, Chair of the Voice for the Poor Committee. “Countless small acts of service combine to make meaningful impact in the world.”

Advocacy and action are, by definition, transformative. Those actions will become part of your culture. That culture will become a tradition. That’s how systemic or transformational change takes place, one action step at a time. Ask yourself, do you regularly make advocacy and action a part of your meeting agenda? If not, consider how you might do that.

SVdP Poverty Programs consist of the Homelessness Prevention Committee, the Poverty Action Committee, the Voice for the Poor and the following shared interest groups: Reentry, Workforce Development, Housing, and Getting Ahead.

Feature on Formation: The Society and Catholic Social Doctrine
Feature on Formation: The Society and Catholic Social Doctrine 788 998 admin

The Society and Catholic Social Doctrine – Learning is Available

By Tim Williams, Senior Director of Formation & Leadership Development

In his book A New Century Dawns, Fr. Robert Maloney, CM, raises the interesting point that if you were to ask the average Catholic to name the Ten Commandments, the Seven Sacraments, or the Theological Virtues, most of us could do so. But if you ask us the basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching, we often respond with a blank look.

Yet it is our church’s social doctrine which presents to us not only the what or the why of our faith, but the how – the ways in which we may live our faith in every part of our lives, applying the timeless teachings of the church to our particular time and circumstances.

Serving in Hope, Module IV – Our Vincentian Mission, like all the Serving in Hope learning resources, includes videos, readings, discussion topics, and prayers, divided into six short sessions. Magazine-sized books are available for purchase and designed to be used in Conference Meetings or retreats, or for individual reading, in combination with prayers and a video. Each session takes about 20 minutes as a group reflection, or the entire Module may be used for a longer retreat.

Serving in Hope Module IV includes sessions on:

  • Justice and Charity
  • Catholic Social Teaching
  • Life and Dignity
  • Family, Community, and Rights
  • The Poor and Work
  • Solidarity and Creation

For a deeper examination of Catholic Social Doctrine, the Ozanam Institute offers a full online course with video lectures and supplemental readings expanding on each of the Four Permanent Principles of Catholic Social Doctrine: The Dignity of the Human Person, Solidarity, Subsidiarity, and the Common Good. It is free to enroll.

In his short life on earth, Frédéric anticipated so many of the church’s teachings; in his manner of living his faith, he was the very epitome of what we now call the Apostolate of the Laity. As a result, it is fair to say that Vincentians, even among our fellow Catholics, have a special responsibility to know and to live our Catholic Social Doctrine.

At his beatification in 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II pointed out the important influence of Blessed Frédéric’s writing, thought, and example on the church’s modern social teaching, particularly Pope Leo XIII’s seminal encyclical Rerum Novarum.

When Pope Leo XIII wrote Rerum Novarum in 1891, he was responding to the ongoing societal and political upheavals in the wake of the industrial revolution. His important teaching helped to shine the light of Christ on these temporal concerns, and continue to serve as a model for Catholic Social teaching. By choosing the name Leo XIV, our current Holy Father has warned of the urgency of a new technological revolution, with innovations such as AI posing a potential threat to our very humanity.

It is an excellent time in the history of our world, our church, and our Society to take the time to study and to better understand our Catholic Social Teaching.

 

For videos, use password “hope” 

Feature: Young Vincentian Excellence Awards
Feature: Young Vincentian Excellence Awards 2160 1440 admin

Young People in the Spotlight for the 2025 Young Vincentian Excellence Awards

By Linda Roghair, National Vice President of Youth, Young Adults & Emerging Leaders 

 

A Society-wide search for young people doing amazing work in their community is happening now.

Vincentians from across the U.S. are invited to nominate emerging young Vincentian servant leaders from their Conferences, Councils, and Special Works for two Young Vincentian Excellence Awards which will be presented at the National Assembly in Louisville, KY in August.

We are asking Vincentians to nominate a young person who serves the Society in their community, embodies servant leadership, and has a passion towards the Vincentian Charism. Nominations are open now until May 15, 2025.

Submission Requirements

  • Nominees must be involved in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USAin some capacity (ie. Youth Conference, Youth University Conference, Adult Conference, Special Works, etc.).
  • Age groups: Youth 16-18 (High School) or Youth University (18-University age), and Young Adults (18-40)
  • Include photos, volunteer logs, etc. if possible
  • Nomination Form must be submitted via email to: YYAEL@svdpusa.org by May 15, 2025. Please include your Conference President, Council President, NCM & Regional Vice President when submitting a nomination.

Award recipients will be gifted a paid trip to participate in the 2025 National Assembly in Louisville, KY (August 28 – 30). Award recipients must commit to attending the National Assembly in order to receive the award.

Last year’s award winner Sarah of the Madison Wisconsin St. Vincent de Paul Youth Service Council had this to say:

“For me being a Vincentian means actively growing in my faith through allowing the grace of incarnational charity to fuel impactful service and beautiful friendships. Winning the Young Vincentian Excellence Award allowed me the opportunity to attend the National Assembly and connect with the Society on a larger scale. I am especially grateful for becoming a member of the YYAEL Team since this amazing group of passionate young people keep me connected to the Society while I am at a college with no current SVdP presence.”

Last year’s award winner Zoie Roghair of the Sioux Falls St. Michael Conference had this to say:

“I am grateful for what this award represents—opportunity, future growth, and community,” said Zoie Roghair of the Sioux Falls St. Michael Conference. “The award and Society have opened many doors for servant leadership, advocacy for the voiceless, friendships, and increasing the involvement of Youth and Young Adults. It is something I will cherish forever.”

Do you know a young person who serves the Society in their community, embodies servant leadership, and has a passion towards the Vincentian Charism? Please submit a completed form and any supplemental material to YYAEL@svdpusa.org by May 15, 2025.

 

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