6th Annual Walk for Life - San Francisco - January 23

The 6th Annual Walk for Life, West Coast (San Francisco) is January 23.  Click here for all the information.

Haiti Earthquake Relief

The National Society of St. Vincent de Paul has released the following information:

Society Of St Vincent De Paul National President Calls For Haiti Earthquake Relief Funds
Society has strong permanent presence in Haiti
For Immediate Release

ST LOUIS, Mo./EWORLDWIRE/Jan. 13, 2010 --- National President of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA Joseph D. Flannigan has issued a call to the 120,000 volunteer members of the Society in the United States, as well as to the general public, to help provide assistance for the victims of the terrible Haiti Earthquake.

Flannigan said, "The people of Haiti are suffering with mass devastation. Our sister and brother Vincentian volunteers in Haiti will need our help in what will be an enormous and long term recovery. I ask for your prayers and financial support for the poor of Haiti."

The Society of St Vincent de Paul has a permanent presence in Haiti. Flannigan went on to explain. "Our Society of St. Vincent de Paul volunteers - who we call, 'Vincentians,' are at the scene of disasters long after many other service organizations have left. Our Society volunteers live and work in, and are primarily native to, the communities in which they serve. In the aftermath of natural disasters, this permanent presence is particularly important. Our volunteers already know and understand the people who are suffering. Using Hurricane Katrina as an example, several of our Society units - called, 'Conferences and Councils,' are still working with the many people of the Gulf Coast still impacted by the tragedy of Katrina."

"The Society of St Vincent de Paul makes no distinctions in service to the victims of disaster. We address their needs, whatever they may be, and we keep on addressing them," added Roger Playwin, national executive director of the Society of St Vincent de Paul USA, headquartered in St Louis, Mo.

Contributions for Haiti Disaster Relief and Recovery can be made via the Society's national Web site at SVDPUSA.org ('http://www.svdpusa.org'), or mailed to:

Haiti Earthquake
Society of St Vincent de Paul USA
58 Progress Parkway
St Louis, MO 63043

Epiphany

 

Epiphany is the Greek word for "manifestation."  On this feast day, "God is with us"--Emmanuel--is made manifest, shown, to the whole world with the witness of the Magi.

from The Deacon's Bench website:

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“But this feast should remind us: we are all magi, no matter where we come from. Each of us bears a gift, and has something to offer. And we are all journeying toward an unknown place of promise, guided by a never-ending light.”

To read the complete homily, click here. 


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Q:  In the picture above, why is St. Francis of Assisi (center, at left) present at the manger?

A:  St. Francis is credited with bringing the tradition of the "creche" or manger scene to our Catholic celebration of Christmas.  Click here for more on the Nativity Scene tradition.