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March 26, 2023Keep Filling Up Your Box or Bowl This Lent!
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CRS Rice Bowls
Malnutrition is widespread in Rwanda, but Gloriose and her husband are doing everything they can to keep their children healthy and set them up for success. From learning to grow a kitchen garden to participating in a micro-savings group, Gloriose and Karekezi know it takes many resources to help their children thrive. How have you helped others access what they need this Lent?
CRS Rice Bowl donations help families like Gloriose's. Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.
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Ashes to Easter Boxes
The Ashes to Easter annual Lenten mission project affirms and encourages local missionary groups and other mission activities of the Diocese of Austin. Families are encouraged to take a box and drop in extra coins during Lent.
The proceeds from the 2021 Ashes to Easter campaign benefited two nonprofits to continue their mission work: Weavers of Hope, started by small group of Austinites after attending a JustFaith course together, and New Hope for Cambodian Children. Learn more here.
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March 19, 2023Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Conference
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Fr. Chuck and I, Kristen Dempsey Pasyk, attended the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) 2023 Annual Conference: 25 Years of Igniting Change on Saturday, February 25. We were grateful for the time to gather with folks from around the state who support abolition. We heard powerful testimonies from two death row inmate survivors, the sister of a man who was exonerated from death row, lawyers whose clients are on death row, and a politically conservative man on how this issue spans the political spectrum. You can see photos from the event here.
Tragically, after a drop in executions related to the pandemic (3 per year in 2020 and 2021), Texas has already executed 5 people so far this year, including Gary Green and Arthur Brown just last week. With their deaths, Texas has carried out as many executions in the first 2.5 months of 2023 as it did in all of 2022. While the graph below shows that executions have been on the decline in Texas, our faith calls us to speak out against all state-sanctioned executions.
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Our Texas Catholic Bishops in their Legislative Agenda for the 88th Texas Legislative session write:
The state has primary responsibility to uphold justice, with the goals of achieving restitution, protecting the common good, deterring offenses, and rehabilitating offenders. However, our state struggles with overincarceration and overcriminalization. The [Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops] TCCB supports criminal justice reform that provides for compassionate treatment of prisoners, responds to the needs of victims of crime, and encourages rehabilitation and forgiveness for those re-entering society by:opposing the imposition and use of the death penalty; (bolded for emphasis)
supporting bail reforms which depend upon the accused’s danger, not their wealth;
supporting rehabilitation of offenders who commit non-violent state jail felonies;
supporting raising the age of criminal responsibility;
supporting reentry of the incarcerated into society; and
supporting parole board review of lengthy sentences given to juveniles.
We ask that you join us in continuing to work and pray for an end to the death penalty here in Texas as well as a restorative justice focus in our criminal justice system. There is immediate work to be done - there are already three more executions scheduled for later this month and in April. We encourage you to follow the information put out by TCADP and work to stop the executions the State of Texas plans to carry out IN OUR NAME as citizens of Texas.Sign Up For TCADP Emails
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Prayer to Abolish the Death Penalty
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Gracious God, Source of all Life, You bestow your life and love on each of us and call us to be a just and merciful people. Guide our efforts to work for justice in our legal system.
Strengthen the resolve we need to abolish the death penalty and continue the work for more just laws that respect the life and dignity of every person.
We prayer to you, God of Justice and Mercy, for justice that restores right relationships while we work to address the root causes of violence.
Inspire our collective efforts to enact laws that safeguard the human rights of all: that honor the victims, that protect the community, that hold the perpetrators accountable, that promote restorative justice not vengeance.
God our Redeemer, stir our minds and hearts to act today to speak out against the death penalty and to unite in solidarity with others who strive to defend and uphold the sanctity of all life. We ask this Source of All Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Source: Catholic Mobilizing Network)
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March 5, 2023A Vincentian Invitation This Lent
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While the St. Vincent de Paul Society is always grateful for the financial generosity of our parishioners at St. Austin. We are going to go a step farther and ask that you reflect during this Lenten season about whether you might take the step to become a Vincentian. The Lenten readings are full of social justice. It’s a very good time to think about lending a hand. There are several ways to help. If you're interested in learning more, please contact Huddie Murray at [email protected].
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Community Engagement with APD
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Courageous Conversations at Holy Cross
For over eight years, members of our parish have met with our neighbors, now dear friends, from Holy Cross and an ecumenical gathering of people from congregations across the greater Austin area. We've had deep and moving conversations, enjoyed good food, attended movies and plays together - we've built bridges of friendship through dialog.
On Tuesday, February 28, community members across the city joined together to hear a Community Engagement Dialogue with the Austin Police Department at the Holy Cross Catholic Church Family Life Center. The meeting was organized by Joyce James, Vicki Lott, and Johnnie Dorsey as part of the Holy Cross Social Justice Ministry's monthly Courageous Conversations events. In a roundtable-style discussion, community members talked about the Tyre Nichols case and how it affects anti-racism efforts within the Austin Police Department. They also mentioned the Groundwater Analysis training that APD staff is receiving to understand institutional and structural racism.
We offer invitations -Employment Opportunities - the APD asked us to share that there are open positions in their Call Center and in Forensics - if you know someone, please invite them to apply.
APD Community Training - we'll let you know more, but we've been invited to participate in the APD's Community Police Academy and Groundwater Analysis Training (see video below). We can register now for the March 9 I.C.A.R.E. Conference.
Future Courageous Conversations - engage in advocacy through learning and make new connections as you go! If you're interested in Courageous Conversations, please email Kristen.
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Courageous Conversation Facilitators Dr. Vicki Lott, Joyce James (standing, center) and Assistant Chief Gizette Gaslin in the circle of community.
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An Invitation from Austin's Chief of Police
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On behalf of Chief Joseph Chacon, Assistant Chief Gaslin invited the community to participate side-by-side with Austin Police Officers and personnel in Groundwater Analysis Training. The course is phenomenal experience for recognizing and navigating systemic and institutional racism. It's an interactive, revolutionary exploration into how systems of racism work.
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February 19, 2023Supporting a Local Business
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Resolution Gardens
In our Vincentian visits, we meet people from different walks of life and some are working in really interesting areas… Last week, I encountered a fellow who is in landscaping. The more he told me about his company, the more I felt it needed to be shared with our St. Austin’s community. Perhaps you'll need landscaping in the future - if so, please keep this company in mind.
Resolution Gardens 512-887-3363
Stevie Schultz is the manager and Randy Jewart is the owner.
They do not do mowing, but the list of projects they do is too large to put here… raised beds, chicken coops, stonework, etc. Check out their website!
The best thing I heard about Resolution Gardens is their commitment to serve folks in recovery. So, let’s support this effort!-Huddie Murray
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February 12, 2023Parish Service Day 2023 Photos & Experiences
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Vincentian Family Center Food Pantry
"Last Saturday, my daughter Corinne (8th grader at SACS) and I had the privilege of volunteering alongside members of the St. Austin Parish and others at the Vincentian Family Center Food Pantry. We helped prepare and distribute over 300 of boxes of food for our fellow Central Texans! The work was hard, but we were grateful for the opportunity to give back to our community, and we were inspired by the dedicated volunteers. Volunteers worked as quickly as possible to make sure no one waited longer than necessary, took great care to provide as much variety as possible in each food box, and delighted in passing out candy to the children in line. The highlight of the day for me was seeing a mother notice a cake in her food box, break out in a broad smile, and announce it was her daughter’s birthday.
We went home with tired bodies and full hearts, and hope to go back again and again."
- Freya Gaertner
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"I can't think of a better way to spend a chilly, but beautiful, Saturday morning in February."
- Elaine Ward
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Casa Marianella
"It was fun to meet James, Teniah, and Paul. A Casa resident has been coming to Mass with me on Sundays. He met the group Saturday, then he and I got a breakfast taco from Paul on Sunday. Paul also sent a number of tacos to Casa residents. Thanks so much!"
- Jennifer, Executive Director of Casa Marianella and St. Austin Parishioner (pictured right)
Also pictured (left to right): James, Paul, and Teniah in front of painting of Sr. Marianella and Archbishop Oscar Romero.
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Micah 6 Food Pantry
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January & February 2023
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Join Parishioners For A Day of Service
UPDATE: If you go to sign up and don't see any available slots that work for you, please email Kristen. We will have a waitlist for this event.
Be the change you want to see!
Have a busy schedule but still want to give back? Looking to try something new without a big commitment? Parish Service Day is an opportunity for you! Join parishioners in doing good works on February 4th.
Click on the image above to view locations, details, and sign up to serve! All opportunities last 2-4 hours and start in the morning.“Do something beautiful for God.”
~ St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
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Consider Ongoing Service thruOur St. Vincent de Paul Society
Bring hope to our
time and place!
The excitement of Christmas Baskets has passed and life will soon settle back to normal for most of us. We are grateful that our neighbors who lack financial certainty - those who lost a job and can't pay the rent, who face illness, who can't afford the higher electric bill in the face of severe cold, or who have to choose between medicine and food - can rely upon our St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) to help them weather tough times.
All year long we serve neighbors who come to us for help with basics. While we generally provide just a band-aid financially, our neighbors most often mention that they feel HOPE once they speak to our members. THIS is the gift we impart.
Would you like to join us in this special work? SVdP volunteers serve as little as 3 hours a month. Contact Huddie at [email protected].“Go to the poor:
you will find God.”~ St. Vincent de Paul
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December 18, 2022Thank You from SVdP
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Our generous St. Austin's Journey Ministry gifted the St. Vincent de Paul Society with the proceeds from their raffle this season. We are so grateful for the support and it will go toward direct help to those in need. THANK YOU, Journey Ministry!
Recently, we helped a woman and her children move from living in a car to establishing a home. She had been on the list for subsidized housing for some time, and was finally "called up." Deposits and other details threatened to keep her from moving in, but with her own job and determination, and the support from four SVdP conferences, she and her family were able to move in. That did not happen without YOUR generosity! The ultimate payoff was having this grateful mom say to me, "My youngest went singing through the apartment: 'This is my house!, This is my house!" Thank you, St. Austin's! What a wonderful Christmas gift for this family!
Lastly, we cannot thank you enough for the support you provide to the Christmas Basket Project. Every year, we wonder if there will be enough...enough money, enough sponsors, enough HEB cards, enough stocking stuffers, enough drivers....and every year we are overwhelmed by the generous outpouring from our lovely parishioners. More than 200 households - from seniors living in supported housing, to families served by our Thursday Outreach, SVdP, and Gabriel Project, to some special families who have suffered great trauma - all are grateful today because of the Christmas that you made possible for them.
If you wish to deliver gift bags to some of these families, please do come to the St. Austin's parking garage starting at 9 a.m. this Saturday, December 17. We'll send you on your way to make someone's day merry and bright! Thank you!
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Upcoming Education, Service, & Advocacy Opportunities
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Education ~
Faith & Poverty: A Global ResponseUPDATE: This course has been postponed indefinitely. Contact Kristen to be informed of future justice education opportunities.
Learn more about global poverty and how to make a difference in this 8-week JustMatters course. Visit JustMatters to learn more!
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Service ~
Parish Service DayOn Saturday, February 4, give back with fellow parishioners and school families at local nonprofit organizations. Service sites include Casa Marianella, Micah 6 Food Pantry, Saint Louise House, The Other Ones Foundation, and more!
Opportunities for all ages (including a few for kids under 10). It's a great chance to earn any needed service hours. Details and sign up page coming soon! Email Kristen with questions.
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Advocacy ~
Catholic Advocacy DayJoin Catholics from all over Texas on Tuesday, March 28 at the state Capitol. Meet with elected officials on issues related to the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops (TCCB) legislative agenda. The rally with Texas bishops will be on the south steps of the Capitol at 11:30 a.m.
Prepare for the Advocacy Day and legislative issues by signing up for the TCCB newsletter, the Texas Catholic Advocacy Network.
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December 4, 2022
Thank You from Micah 6-
Food Drive Results
Thank you to everyone who donated canned goods for our Micah 6 food drive! We donated 1,136 pounds of food - about one third of what the pantry gives out each week. A special thanks to Knights George Pratt, Paul Lewis, and Dennis Moraw who loaded the cans and took them up the street to Micah 6.
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In November Get Ready to Give:
Micah 6, Christmas Baskets, & A Visit-
Urgent Need to Help Hungry Neighbors: Replenish Micah 6 Reserves, Nov. 19-30
St. Austin normally distributes more than 3,000 pounds of food a week through our Micah 6 ministry. Because of the global supply chain shortage, the food pantry has been dipping into its shelf staple reserves to make up a weekly shortage from the food bank of nearly 2,000 pounds.
Can you help put food back on the shelves of Micah 6? Please donate ONLY the items listed below. Bring them to the Ministry Center between Saturday, November 19 and Wednesday, November 30. Items will be delivered on Thursday, December 1. Free that morning? Email Kristen to help move items to Micah 6’s food pantry housed at University Presbyterian Church.
Here's the list of needed food:
15 oz. Canned Vegetables ( 3" wide x 4 7/16" tall)
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Green Beans
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Corn
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Spinach/greens
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Beans: pinto, black, etc.
15 oz. Canned Fruit ( 3" wide x 4 7/16" tall)
15 oz. Canned Meat
Canned Luncheon meat
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Chicken
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Tuna
Dry Goods
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Rice, 1 to 2 lb. bags
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Dried beans, 1 to 2 lb. bags
Boxed items
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Skillet dinners (hamburger helper, etc.)
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Side dishes (Rice-A-Roni, Pasta Roni, etc.)
18 oz. Peanut butter
Items that we cannot use:-
#10 cans (the big food service cans)
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Snack-sized products
Drop Off - the Where and When
Bring food items to our Ministry Center during weekday business hours - or you can drop off items BEFORE the 5 p.m., the 8:45 a.m. and the 11:30 a.m. Masses as well as AFTER all of the Masses. We'll also collect items at the Thanksgiving Mass on Wednesday evening. We're accepting items from now until Wednesday, November 30th.
Thank you for feeding
our hungry neighbors! -
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HEB Cards for Christmas Baskets
St. Austin Catholic Church will collect $25 HEB gift cards at the Thanksgiving Mass held on Wednesday, November 23rd at 6 p.m. Traditionally, St. Austin's collected food at this mass for their annual Christmas Basket Project, but due to space limitations and the plans we have for preparing the baskets, we kindly request a donation of an HEB card. The cards will be provided in each "basket" for our neighbors to buy food for their Christmas celebrations. While we prefer to receive HEB gift cards of $25 each, we welcome donations in any amount.
Please just be sure to mark the value of the card on the back with a Sharpie so we'll know the value of each card. If you won't be able to attend the Thanksgiving Mass, gift cards can be donated to through December 15th. The card(s) may be dropped off or mailed to the St. Austin Office with an indication of ATTN: CHRISTMAS BASKETS. Thank you for your continued prayers for, and generosity to, the neighbors that St. Austin serves!
Read more about
Christmas Baskets
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Visit to The Other Ones Foundation
Last month, members of the Outreach to Persons in Need team visited Esperanza Community, run by The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF). TOOF offers a holistic approach to serving persons experiencing homelessness that focuses on the assets each person can bring to the greater community. They believe everyone who experiences homelessness has inherent value, even the chronically unhoused. TOOF case managers work to offer Shelter, Opportunity, and Support - three legs of a stool that Esperanza Community residents use to gain the traction they need to move towards stability.
Parishioners Elaine Ward, Keith Arrington, and Linda Carson with Jared Slack (second from left), TOOF Director of Relationships & Giving
TOOF provides Shelter through basic tiny homes with shared restroom and laundry facilities. They offer Opportunity through extremely low-barrier employment, such as cleaning up trash in Austin parks, where Esperanza Community residents can earn a decent wage and gain job skills. Esperanza Community is very much under construction, but our group got to see residents working together setting up the simple bed, table, and chair that each resident receives when they move into one of the tiny homes. The first 25 residents moved in just after our visit! TOOF also provides Support through case managers who help residents secure IDs and work towards their goals as well as community-building opportunities for residents.
TOOF staff in one of Esperanza Community's tiny home shelters.
While Outreach has not resumed directly serving people experiencing homelessness, we continue to serve these brothers and sisters in need through financially supporting The Other Ones Foundation. Learn more about the great work of TOOF on their website, and check back next week for more on how your donation to the monthly Persons in Need collection helps our neighbors around Austin.
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October 30, 2022St. Vincent de Paul
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So Much More than just a Store...
Once in a while, when mentioning the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a person will respond with “I’ve been to that Store…Such great deals!” (And it’s true! Such a great place to find so many treasures!) However, the real action of the St. Vincent de Paul Society takes place in neighbor to neighbor conversations with those seeking financial assistance for needs such as rent, utilities, food, clothing, etc. Most Catholic parishes around Austin have their own SVdP conference. Members of each group serve those needing help within their conference boundaries with the utmost respect for dignity of those in need. The conferences meet two or more times per month, always beginning with spiritual reflection about the efforts they are making. We are always reminded about who is really doing the work…the Holy Spirit inspires us to action! The St. Austin’s SVdP is always looking for new members, so if you are being called to a meaningful way to share your life, please contact us! Huddie can be reached at [email protected].
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October 14, 2022Thanks & An Invitation from SVdP
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Still Looking for the Perfect Costume?
Let the St. Vincent de Paul Store help you dress up in style for Halloween!
One of the best kept Thrift Store secrets in town is the St. Vincent de Paul Store at 901 W. Braker Lane. They have furniture and clothing and books and household items and jewelry and purses, and toys. It's a treasure trove - and all at incredible prices!
They also currently have Halloween costumes, so if you are looking for a dress-up bargain, head to St. Vincent de Paul! The Store's income helps fund their Food Pantry, Client Services (bus passes and clothing vouchers for those in need) and other help provided to persons in need.
Give it a try - support this great mission!
My favorite costume? Running with Scissors!
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We walked - You Gave - Thank You!Saturday, October 15, 2022
It was a beautiful morning to walk for a cause! This team of walkers have a lot to smile about! Their generous sponsors donated $3,000 for those we serve through our St. Vincent de Paul Society conference. Here's our team on the grounds of our host parish, San José who provided not only good company but delicious breakfast tacos, fresh fruit, and double- stuffed Spooky Oreos with orange filling! Sweet! Pictured above from left to right, Huddie Murray, Elaine Stevens, Mitzi Patiño Eastman, and Nancy Jones.
St. Vincent de Paul,
pray with us!
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We gathered with our Neighbors and FriendsFriday, September 30, 2022
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Movie Night at Holy Cross Parish
The Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary at Holy Cross Catholic Church welcomed St. Austin's Parishioners to their Family Movie Night on Friday, September 30 at 7 p.m. in the Family Life Center of Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1110 Concho Street. The movie, A Place At the Table, a documentary profiling the six African Americans nominated for Catholic Sainthood, made the point that there are no African American Saints in the Catholic Church. We are grateful for the gracious hospitality with which Holy Cross always welcomes us. It was a good stop.
Please pray for the causes of sainthood of Venerable Pierre Toussaint,
Servant of God Mother Mary Lange,
Venerable Henriette Delille, Venerable Fr. Augustus Tolton, Servant of God Julia Greeley, and Servant of God Sr. Thea Bowman.
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September 11, 2022From Your St. Vincent de Paul Society
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Marking our Patron's FeastPray with and for Us on September 18
September 27 marks the feast day of St. Vincent de Paul and while the diocesan SVdP normally has a gathering of all the Vincentian Family (SVdP members, Daughters of Charity, Ladies of Charity, etc.), they are being a bit more wary again due to Covid variants which have been spreading quickly!
Instead, this year, our Conference (our parish's) St. Vincent de Paul Society will be blessed during the 11:30 Mass next Sunday, September 18. This will be an even more visible sign of the prayer and support that this Parish showers upon us, and we appreciate it ever so much.
We could use some help, too, so with the start of a new school year, if you are looking for a fulfilling activity that will bless you in ways you could never imagine, check out the St. Vincent de Paul Society. We’ll have some information available and members there to answer questions, so come on by! Or you can always email Huddie at hwmswim@gmail.com.
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