Dear Brother and Sister Vincentians,



Conference Presidents, please share this monthly news with your members to keep everyone connected with what is happening at the Ontario Regional and National level. Particular and Central Council Presidents, please share this monthly news with your Vincentian members who may not belong to a Conference, and feel free to email questions or comments to linda@ssvp.on.ca. Thank you.

Check out the “Not in My Backyard” article prepared by Phil Bondy and published in the recent Mission newsletter of the Diocese of London. He references the poor and how the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul assists with home visits referring to “My home” or “Your Home”.

SPIRITUAL MATTERS
The October spiritual reflection reminds us that everything that God created is good. Let’s be thankful for all that God has provided in our lives.

Please remember to pray our Prayer for Vocations to the Vincentian Family at all your meetings praying for an increase in membership. You can print and attach to your Opening/Closing Prayer.

ONRC MEETING SEPTEMBER 28/29
Thank you to everyone who attended the ONRC fall meeting in Sarnia this past weekend. We had store tours Friday afternoon, and prepared blessing bags filled with hygiene products and food items which we distributed to The HUB. The HUB is a community outreach program that reaches out and provides a safe space to youth ages 16 – 24 where they can receive a hot meal, take a shower, do laundry and take part in recreational activities. The youth that come together here are family to one another. We heard about systemic change projects Friday evening followed by Vincentian family time.

Saturday started with a beautiful Mass celebration followed by a commissioning ceremony for our members. Those who attended were able to attend 2 out of 6 workshops. An award was presented to Sarnia Store Manager, Steve Dew, on behalf of his peer store managers. Guest speakers in the afternoon included Deacon Rudy Terpstra who shared his heartfelt and inspirational story of poverty and hope, Richard Pommainville brought news from National Council talking about the Campaign and marketing materials prepared around World Day of the Poor, and Rebecca McCarrell presented on Camp Vincent.

Workshop presentations and videos will be posted online as they become available.

MEET & GREET
We have been doing Meet & Greet sessions in communities across the province to meet and listen to Conference members, hearing about the work being done in Conferences, listening to their challenges and successes, and their vision for the future and how ONRC can assist with that vision. Please email linda@ssvp.on.ca if you are interested in arranging a Meet & Greet within your community.

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Jim Paddon, National Social Justice Chair, would like to invite all Vincentians and friends to join the National Social Justice Facebook page, ssvp Canada social-justice-sociale. Our goal is to increase Facebook members and readership in the coming months. We are always interested in finding ways to raise awareness of social justice issues and would like to enhance the ability to use our Facebook page as one way to accomplish this goal. You don’t have to be a social justice rep and may just want to visit to read about social justice, not only in Canada, but also from members in countries around the world. There is also information on our national website which you can easily access and use for your council and conference meetings. Please contact jim@ssvp.on.ca should you have questions or comments.

WORLD DAY OF THE POOR
If you have not already started, we encourage you to create a plan for World Day of the Poor taking place on Sunday, November 18. We encourage every Conference and Council to observe World Day of the Poor in some way as this is an opportunity to educate and raise awareness of poverty and increase visibility of the work of our Society. Marketing materials are now available on the National website and consists of:

• Campaign guide which includes a blueprint of what can potentially be done at the Conference level or at stores
• Posters which can be ordered on the National website to be printed at a nearby Staples in your community
• Power point presentation
• Prayer cards

ONRC has also developed a leaflet sharing examples of our friends living in poverty which can be printed to include as a bulletin insert or handed out.

NATIONAL NEWS
National will not be sending a special appeal for donations to offer assistance to the Ottawa and Gatineau Central Council following the recent tornados in their communities. However, should Vincentians wish to help, you can send a cheque to the next higher Council as per the normal procedure and ensure that it is clearly specified that the donation is for the Ottawa / Gatineau tornados. Any donations received at the Ontario Regional Council level will then be passed along to National.

Thank you for your ongoing passion, dedication and commitment to helping our friends in need!

Linda Dollard,
President