St. Vincent de Paul Conference
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Thank YOU!!
The St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to thank the parishioners of Our Lady of Hope for their generous support to our families. This year we have been able to give them some hope and security by helping with rent, utilities, and other expenses because of your donations. Market Sunday, a separate ministry, partners with us to provide groceries each month to our now 21 families. The holidays were made a little warmer by parish groups. With the support of the Religious Education families and turkeys donated by parishioners and distributed by Erin Wajer, Shannon Cahill and the entire Flynn family, beautiful Thanksgiving food baskets with all the fixings for dinner and dessert were provided to 18 families. Thank you to Jeremy Gendron and Cub Scout Pack 106 and their families for providing 19 Christmas bags with treats.
Parishioners’ donations and an anonymous donation of 19 Stop & Shop gift cards made it possible to give each family cards at Thanksgiving and Christmas to help purchase traditional food items they personally enjoy. SVDP children were included in the Giving Tree this year. Twenty tags were returned to provide gift cards to parents to purchase gifts for their children. All 21 families received a Christmas bag with a small gift for each family member. As the need continues into 2024, we are blessed and continuously grateful for your support. If you or someone you know is in need, please call us at 508-839-3993 Ext. 35. All calls are confidential.
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Background:
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference at Our Lady of Hope Parish embraces all works of charity throughout the Grafton community. Our work includes, but is not limited to, helping families and individuals with food insecurity or those having difficulty paying their bills, regardless of creed, ethnicity, or social background. We believe it is not enough to provide short-term support. We are committed to addressing root causes of problems and bringing systemic change to the lives of those we serve.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.’ “ Matthew 25:40
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Who Are We?
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic lay organization that has been in existence for over 150 years. Our members are known as Vincentians and we strive to see our ministry as a way to achieve personal holiness and spiritual growth by focusing on tangible and specific works of charity to benefit those who are struggling in our local community. We are comprised of parishioners from Our Lady of Hope Parish.
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What Do We Do?
Our ministry allows us to meet face-to- face with residents of Grafton to discuss what they may be struggling with and to see how we, or our resources, may be able to assist them with temporary needs. The nature of this work is kept confidential among our Vincentians. We use our combined hearts and minds, along with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to determine how to best serve in each particular instance.
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How Can You Help?
If you are interested in learning more about our Vincentian ministry, we would be happy to meet with you. With your help, we can further meet the needs of our local sisters and brothers in Christ. Come to imagine the possibilities!
If interested, contact SVDP at
508-839-3993 ext. 35 and leave your name and number. -
Let Us Know If We Can Help:
If you, or someone you know in Grafton, is struggling, please call our phone line 508-839-3993 x35. Please leave a message and clearly state your name and phone number and what kind of assistance you're looking for. A member of the St. Vincent de Paul ministry will return your call within 48 hours. Please be sure that your phone will allow blocked calls. May the peace of the Lord be with you.
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History of the St. Vincent de Paul Society:
Vincent de Paul was a priest of the Catholic Church who became dedicated to serving the poor. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church and was canonized in 1737.
The Mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul:
Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.
Frédéric Ozanam,
Founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Frédéric Ozanam’s vision of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul “is to embrace the world in a network of charity.”
As a reflection of the whole family of God, members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.
Organized locally, Vincentians witness God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ.
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Check Out Our Worcester Website and Flier:
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Who Are Our Benefactors?
Many of our parishioners are already known as Contributor Members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. This is a status granted by the Society to acknowledge the financial donations of generous and regular contributors. Our work ministering to those in need in the Grafton community could not be accomplished without our Contributors’ generous and ongoing support such as:
- Market Sunday (non-perishable food; personal care items)
- The Giving Tree (Christmas Gifts)
- Religious Education Program (Holiday food baskets)
- BSA Cub Scout Pack 106 (Holiday food baskets)
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Who Benefits From Our Ministry?
Those we meet in the Grafton community are young families, elderly widows, individuals the may be unemployed, individuals with various disabilities, veterans, single parents. Basically, it could be anyone living in Grafton. In past years, our ministry has helped struggling individuals and families in the following areas:
- Food
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Utilities (gas, electric, phone)
- Medical prescriptions
- Heating oil
- Back-to-school items
- Dinner gift baskets at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter
- Children’s gifts at Christmas
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