Dear Brother and Sister Vincentians,



Conference Presidents, please share this monthly news with all your members to keep everyone connected with what is happening at the Ontario Regional and National level. Conference Presidents and members, please feel free to email linda@ssvp.on.ca with any questions or comments.

Particular Council Presidents, please share this monthly news with your Vincentian members who may not belong to a Conference, and please email questions or comments to linda@ssvp.on.ca. Thank you.

Here’s a tip when forwarding emails from ONRC on to your members to ensure you do not get accidentally unsubscribed from receiving our communications, which has sometimes happened. We suggest you remove the options at the bottom of the email before forwarding our emails to anyone else. Typically, there are four buttons “Web Version”, “Preferences”, “Forward” and “Unsubscribe”. Once you click “Forward” in your email program, scroll down to the bottom, highlight these 4 buttons and press delete before sending the email on. Our message will stay so you can share it with your members, but these members will not be able to unsubscribe you should they not wish to receive the message.

ONRC MEETING SEPTEMBER 28/29
Please be sure to register for the ONRC meeting taking place in Sarnia September 28/29. It is sure to be an inspirational meeting that will motivate Vincentians. Check out the agenda and workshops offered. Hotel accommodations can be made at the Harbourfront Inn, 505 Harbour Road, Sarnia by calling 519-337-5434 and mentioning the group name of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul and/or group #96.

Please remember these meetings are open to all members and volunteers. We look forward to seeing you there.

SPIRITUAL MATTERS
The September spiritual reflection reminds us that September is filled with many Feast Days for Vincentians. This is the month we honour our patron saints and ask them to intercede in our work and in our formation.

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.

If you have not already read Pope Francis’ letter, you may want to read his letter issued on sex abuse “We showed no care for the little ones”

Claude Bedard, National Spirituality Committee Chair, shares that during these difficult times within the Church, we must turn to the Lord in prayer asking for healing, peace and comfort for all the victims and for cleansing the church of this great evil.

Claude also shares a follow-up article concerning the means of warfare in this spiritual war against Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.

PASS UP CONTRIBUTIONS
Thank you to the Conferences and Councils who have already sent your pass up contribution to the next higher level Council. If you have not already sent your pass up contribution for 2018, please do so as soon as possible. Please review the letter regarding the assessed pass up amounts and the purpose of the pass ups. Please email linda@ssvp.on.ca should you have any questions on this.

VOICE OF THE POOR ADVOCACY
The Voice of the Poor Advocacy Committee has prepared a newsletter which talks about the Basic Income Pilot Project and what you can do to add your voice asking that the Basic Income Project be allowed to continue. This e-newsletter will be emailed out later this evening. If you do not receive it, but wish to be included on social justice and advocacy emails, please email sarah@ssvp.on.ca and ask to be added to the list.

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Jim Paddon, National Social Justice Chair, shares information about the importance of having a Social Justice representative at the Conference and Council level. Please email jim@ssvp.on.ca should you have questions.

A past recipient of the Ozanam Education Fund shares his success story.

MASS CELEBRATION IN REMEMBRANCE OF OUR FOUNDER
The National Council Broadcasting Council in partnership with the Archdiocese of Toronto taped 3 Masses on Monday, August 27 at the Loretto Abbey Chapel in Toronto. These tapings will be broadcast across Canada on September 9th in remembrance of our founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam. The one Mass celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, will be broadcast across Canada on September 2nd Check out https://dailytvmass.com

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.

Here are some suggestions to help with what can be done in your community:

• Meet with your parish priest to discuss what can be done in your parish to raise awareness of SSVP – possibly a talk at Mass, handing out a brochure (ONRC is creating a brochure for Conferences/Councils to use). You can tell the priest that National Council has confirmed support received from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops where they will be providing a support message around our World Day of the Poor campaign.
• Serving poor meal of soup broth and roll in Parish and ask for free will donation; encourage families to have a poor meal in their home.
• Pray for the poor.
• Store Managers could do poverty awareness week providing discount on items that week.

Marketing materials are being prepared by National. Posters will be available later in September on the National website.

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

Linda Dollard,
President