Seeking President & Vice President Candidates for St Vincent de Paul Society

by popadmin | Feb 28, 2023 | Ministries

Faithful Parishioners,

The St. Vincent DePaul Society has been a part of our parish ministry for over thirty years. I have personally seen the outpouring of support and generosity of the parish to keep this ministry funded and supplied, and it is a true testament to the giving heart we strive for here at Prince of Peace. As the new spiritual director for our local St. Vincent DePaul Chapter, I have begun to work more intimately with the leadership team that helps this ministry stay afloat.

These leaders and members, called Vincentians, are the life-force behind the good works that we have been able to do within the ministry. They dedicate themselves to the virtues of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, which are simplicity, humility, gentleness, selflessness, and zeal. This is most likely why the work that they do is so often unnoticed and unknown. Many of these members have been part of this ministry for decades and have committed so much of their time, talent, and treasure to the success of the ministry. But like the needs of our community, the needs of the ministry are also growing.

The call to servant leadership is an integral part of the Vincentian vocation. Leaders, often, can be perceived as needing to be outgoing or charismatic which we might find to be uncharacteristic of ourselves. But Vincentian servant leaders are not called to command or to rule; they are called to serve in the model given to us by Christ, who said he was among us not to be served, but to serve. As he so memorably washed the feet of the disciples who followed him, Vincentian servant leaders seek to fulfill the will of their fellow members, as friends and as servants.

As the spiritual director for this ministry, it is my responsibility to help aide in the spiritual growth and formation of the members and leaders. Through prayer, reflection and discussion—a cornerstone of a Vincentians calling—I have witnessed firsthand the virtues lived out within this ministry and have found great pride in being able to be a part of the organization. I have seen the commitment of these individuals to the success of the ministry.

Part of the success of St. Vincent DePaul is the development of new leaders who are ready to step up and graciously continue the good work that has been laid as foundation. Our local chapter is in great need of a President and Vice President candidate to take over this incredible ministry; these roles will inherit a dedicated and competent team of members and volunteers for a seamless transition. Our current President, Simone Imber, has led this chapter with compassion, commitment and care and is ready to help develop the next set of Vincentian leaders through a thorough mentorship process.  We ask that you search yourselves to see if you are being called to be that model of service to your local community and prayerfully consider if the Lord is asking you to serve in this special way. If you feel you are ready to answer the call, please email Simone at imber.simone@gmail.com for more information. I look forward to serving with you in this ministry.

In Christ,

Dec. Michael Thompson

Urgent Need for St Vincent de Paul Volunteers & Leaders

by popadmin | Mar 20, 2022 | Ministries

The Saint Vincent de Paul organization here at Prince of Peace is in dire need of new members to fill leadership roles, volunteers, and New Vincentian members to help the families in need inside and outside of the parish.

We help parishioners and non-parishioners alike, though the help differs with our current resources. For Parishioners, we help towards one utility bill every month and food bags as needed. For non-parishioners, we help towards one utility bill every six months and food bags as needed. We see anywhere from 15-20 families each Monday by appointments from 11am to 1pm.

An average Monday would consist of prayers with the members of SVDP and the families in need. Our volunteers then help check-in families asking for all the information we need to help them and interview them to hear their stories. At times we are even a shoulder to cry on. Volunteers also help with preparing bags of food, helping find clothing or other donated items for  these families, and carrying these items out to cars.

Every second Monday of the month, we ask that our members of SVDP stay for a meeting to discuss any new or old business, food drives, monthly collections, upcoming programs such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas program and we are looking for a Spiritual advisor to strengthen of what we do and not forget what we represent.

Our leadership positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Most of these positions will need to be replaced this year ( Vice President and Secretary) due to people holding these positions for too long. If  not, we will be forced to close our doors in the near future. You do not need prior experience for any of these positions aside from treasurer. We work as a team to get the job done and will help you understand these roles.

If God is calling you to come join our team as a volunteer please reach out to Maria Rauch to fill out a background check and complete the Safe Haven Program. Becoming a Vincentian member, you will also need to contact Maria and do the aforementioned items along with being an active member of any Catholic church and complete the Frederic Ozanam Orientation. For any questions, please contact Simone Imber (270-317-9550) or imber.simone@gmail.com).