Dear Parishioners,

September has once again been designated as an awareness month for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The aim is to inform parishioners of our work, encourage new members and thank everyone who supports us with prayers and financial contributions. Members are called to become ambassadors for Christ, to seek out those in need and to put their own personalities and life experiences into the friendships they develop.

Our theme is “Welcoming the Stranger” and we are focusing on homelessness, grief, loneliness, hunger and social isolation. Social isolation is the main poverty of our time. When combined with any other kind of poverty it makes any kind of difficulty much bigger. Our volunteer members visit people in their homes, in hospital and in care homes on a regular basis, sometimes for many years. They offer practical support such as food, furniture or financial help when needed.

Members try to attend a weekly meeting on Tuesday at 7 pm and make a visit with another member each week. During 2015/16 our members made a total of 1788 visits.

Fr. John kindly allows us to take a collection after Masses every three months. During the last financial year this totalled £2922 plus £337 from gift aid, a truly magnificent amount! This was used to support families and people in need in our locality, our commitment to our twinned conference in India and medical training for an Indian Doctor and Nurse. We also support national projects including community shops, camps for disadvantaged families and the development of the Vincentian Youth Programme. We appreciate your great support which has brought help and hope to those in need.

We presently visit 130 people in our area but we would like you to let us know if you are aware of anyone who needs help or support. Our work is confidential and all members are DBS checked.

Please consider joining us to help put the words of Jesus into practise. “I was hungry and you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.” All you need is to be able to offer time and love.

For more information please contact Peter on 01200 441081 or speak to any SVP member.

Thank you for all your help and support.

SVP Conference Members