Pentecost

Come Holy Spirit

Live within our lives.

And strengthen us by your love.

Send forth your spirit and

New life will be created.

And the whole face of the earth will be renewed.

Holy Spirit, help us to hear the cry of the poor.

The Feast of the Ascension (Reflection)

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

May 24, 2009

Gospel: (Mark 16:15-20)

Jesus said to his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature…These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

Reflection:

Jesus expects his disciples to walk in his footsteps. But Jesus always invites us to share in his ministry, never forces us. At the Ascension, Jesus commissioned his disciples to proclaim the gospel. At first this might seem an impossible commission: how can we expect to fill Jesus’ footsteps? On our own authority we cannot preach the gospel, we can fill Jesus’ footsteps only when we hear “the instructions given through the Spirit.” What an awesome honor it is to be disciples of Christ – by returning to his rightful place at the hand of God, Jesus entrusts his mission to us. (Living Liturgy, p.136)

Vincentian Meditation:

“No work of charity is foreign to the Society.” Accordingly, the possibilities for Vincentian action are almost without limit. Being poor does not always, or necessarily, consist of being short of material goods. Being poor can also mean being physically and mentally handicapped, sick, crippled, old, ugly, or illiterate. They are poor who are or are made to feel alone…immigrants, transients, orphans, the abandoned or rejected, and all those who find themselves among others who are indifferent or hostile. Being poor may mean wanting to cry when others are laughing …being physically or morally chained, as prisoners, shut-ins, alcoholics, drug addicts - being defenseless against attacks, insults or accusations – being an innocent victim of crime or quarrels. The more the Society grows, the more it will reach the lonely and troubled who have need for care and friendship. US Manual, P.45-46)

Reflection:
Are we being called to carry the mission of Jesus in new ways, meeting new needs or creating new works of charity?

Closing Prayer:

Jesus is ever present with God, and ever present with us, and so we pray,
-Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth.
We ask for strength to continue as your faithful disciples,
-may we seek to speak your word and your healing presence.
“No work of charity is foreign to the Society”,
-may we be aware of the weak among us and seek to assist them.

Amen.

(source: Vincentian Reflections, US Council)

Our Lady of Fatima

During Eastertide, the Angelus is replaced by this prayer, "Queen of Heaven" (below). Today, May 13, we recall the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima.

Regina Coeli

Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia:
For He whom you merited to bear, alleluia,
Has risen as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray:
O God, who by the resurrection of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant, we beg You, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Ozanam Sunday Sending Out Blessing

On Sunday, April 26, 2009, known as Ozanam Sunday, the members of OLG Conference at the 10:30 a.m. Mass received from Fr. Nicholas a special prayer and blessing for the work of the conference and the Society. That blessing is re-printed below:

Almighty God and Father,

Through your Son, Jesus Christ,

And with the Holy Spirit,

We ask that you bless the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

In our parish, in our community, and throughout the world.

Guide your Vincentian servants, gathered here,

And help them to see the Most Holy Face of Jesus, your Son,

In each person they meet.

Let them be our hands, and let them be our hearts,

As they reach out to the least of our brothers and sisters in need.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the virtue of charity.

Help us everyday to be open and generous.  Help us not to judge.

Almighty God,

who called your servant Vincent de Paul

to serve you in the person of those in need:

Grant that we, following his example,

may fulfill your commandments

by defending and supporting the poor,

and by loving you with all our hearts,

and we ask that you strengthen and encourage

these members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

today and in the months ahead, in their ministry to the poor,

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

District Council Stats

This report from the Sacramento District Council on the work of St. Vincent de Paul in the Sacramento Diocese:

People served: 136,196
Expenditures in service to the poor: $1,507,767

In-kind value (food, clothing, furniture): $1,489,675
In-kind professional services: $8,900
Estimated value of service hours: $1,695,735

Total value of Vincentian services: $4,702,078

Source: Sacramento District Council, Annual Dinner Report (April 2009)

Homelessness: Update

Information from West Sacramento Press story, April 22, 2009, re 2009 homeless survey:

237 total homeless in West Sacramento. 16 were families with children: 26 of the children were under age of 18.

West Sacramento population of homeless men about DOUBLE that of Woodland (137 to 75).

92 more homeless in West Sacramento than 2007.

Homeless in West Sacramento NOT in shelters jumped from 107 to 201.

Resources:
Homeless and Poverty Action Coalition, Janice Critchlow, 924-0534
Housing and Community Investment, West Sacramento, Louise Collis, 617-4555
West Sacramento, Police Department Liaison, Lt. David Delaini, 617-4912