Our Lady of Grace Vincentians: February 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Spring Training - March 7

Half Day Training & Retreat
Saturday, March 7, 2009
8:30 a.m. to noon

Our Lady of Grace parishioners and all interested persons are invited to join us in this Lenten season for a morning of reflection and training on serving the needs of the poor through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

8:30 a.m. Gathering for the Rosary (First Saturday) (Parish Center)
8:45 a.m. Registration & Welcome
9:00 a.m. Program 9:00 a.m. to noon

General Session: About the Vincentians
>Overview: Spirituality, Fellowship & Service
>About the OLG Conference
>Are You Called to be a Vincentian?

Panels & Discussion: Home Visits: Meeting Christ in the Poor
>Home Visits: The Basics
>Meeting Christ in Serving the Pooer
>Team Building for the Home Visit “Team”

No-host luncheon to follow event

For questions or to attend all or a portion of this event, please contact us by email:
paulstarkey@wavecable.com

Bundle Sunday - March 7-8

BUNDLE SUNDAY

March 7-8 (before & after masses)

DURING LENT, PLEASE HELP FAMILIES IN NEED

The St. Vincent de Paul Truck will be at Our Lady of Grace for DONATIONS before and after masses on March 7 & 8.

We ask for donations of all kinds—shoes, clothing, books, toys, tools, appliances — anything of useable value.

Household Items Needed*

Beds, rugs, chairs, furniture of all types, blankets, clothing, shoes, lamps, cookware, utensils, plates, towels, linens, home decorating items, sleeping bags, sporting goods, lawn furniture, toys, other useable goods

WE CANNOT ACCEPT

*large appliances

*built in appliances

*lighting with direct connection

*console or projection TVs

*office desks

*paint or any toxic materials

*carpeting (area rugs OK)

*exercise equipment

*furniture with missing parts, rips, stains, animal hair or detectable smoke smell

*king size beds

*mattresses with rips, stains or tears

*mattresses or box springs separately (bedding must be matching sets)

*office copiers

*cribs, playpens, high chairs or car seats

*hospital type beds

*firearms or any weapons

*encyclopedias or large volume reference books

*computers, monitors, keyboards, mouse, CPUs

For questions, please call (916) 371-5264 (message line).

*FOR PICK UP OF LARGE, HEAVY ITEMS, CALL THE SVDP STORE DIRECTLY AT (916) 972-1212 AT ANY TIME

During this Lenten season, help us to help the poor. Thank you.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Homeless Count

(from Yolo County press release) The Yolo County Homeless & Poverty Action Coalition (HPAC) is conducting a point-in-time street count of the homeless on Jan. 29, 2009. The count will occur from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and will include a survey component. The count is a collaborative effort of community volunteers, including homeless and formerly homeless individuals, and HPAC member and partner agencies.

Full story (click here)

Blessed Rosalie

Blessed Rosalie Rendu was born at Confort, France on September 9, 1786. She entered the Daughters of Charity on May 25, 1802, just after the Community was reestablished in France following the French Revolution. Her zeal for the poor drove her to establish the means to educate poor children, to care for infants, to support the elderly unable to care for themselves, and to supervise young working girls. One of her disciples in her mission of service was Frederic Ozanam, founder of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. After fifty years of dedicated service to the poor in the Mouffetard district in Paris, she died on February 7, 1856. Pope John Paul II beatified Sr. Rosalie in 2003.

(for more information, click the picture)

In an era troubled by social conflicts, Rosalie Rendu joyfully became a servant to the poorest, restoring dignity to each one by means of material help, education and the teaching of the Christian mystery, inducing Frédéric Ozanam to place himself at the service of the poor. Her charity was inventive. Where did she draw the strength to carry out so many things? From her intense prayer life and the continuous praying of the Rosary, which she never abandoned. Her secret was simple: to see the face of Christ in every man and woman, as a true daughter of Saint Vincent de Paul and like another Sister of her epoch, Saint Catherine Labouré. Let us give thanks for the witness of charity that the Vincentian family gives unceasingly to the world!

- Pope John Paul II at the beatification of Blessed Rosalie

Conferences do not forget the one who undoubtedly can be called our first Spiritual

Adviser: the Blessed Rosalie Rendu, who knew how to stand by our young founders in the beginning, with her advice and her example, afterwards letting them walk on their own, in response to their lay vocation. She always remained at their disposal for everything they could need from her. She was an example of a mother who dreamed of the formal and responsible independence of those children who sought her help in the first moments of their journey.

--Excerpt from Comment to Rule 4.3 The Vincentian Family