Vincentians

Vincentians know well the teaching given by Jesus in the gospel proclaimed in our liturgy this coming Sunday, September 6. It is part of the Opening Prayer in our Vincentian meetings: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” 

This point of Jesus’ message is crucial for Vincentians, and hopefully, for Staff and Volunteers of the Society, as well. If we actually saw the face of Jesus in each person at a meeting, including a Zoom meeting, might any one of us change what we said, how we listened, or how we responded?

Words we hear or gestures we see have the power to change us. Listening is the the most fundamental principle of effective communication. In our meetings and encounters let us strive to:

• Listen to understand.
• Get comfortable with a moment of silence after someone has spoken.
• Practice holy curiosity and ask questions to understand before offering an opinion or idea.
• Invite response from those who need more time to process.

And, let us always gather in the name of Jesus. He promises to be there where we are!

Our prayer together, our spiritual reflection, sharing our lives and our experiences provide a hope-filled context for our work and assist us in our spiritual journey.  We have the power to help one another grow in our abilities to communicate effectively with the “fire of love.”

It is good to remember, the first meetings of the founders of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul were not to establish a “Charitable organization” but the works of charity became a holy response to sharing, debating and discerning the meaning of the gospels together.

In prayer with you,
Sister Noreen Ellison, SC

St. Vincent de Paul – Detroit was awarded a $1M donation by DTE Energy to improve access to sustainable energy assistance services.  This restricted donation can be leveraged against MEAP funds to provide additional money and flexibility for households above and beyond MEAP caps in order to achieve the following objectives:

• Increase the number of neighbors eligible for utility assistance,
• Increase the amount of utility assistance available for households,
• Increase the number of households qualifying for the Low-income Self-sufficiency Program (LSP), which has been proven as DTE’s most effective product at helping low-income households be protected from shut-off, pay down arrears, and manage consumption, and
• Support of special DTE initiatives aimed at providing utility assistance.

Details on how this donation will impact screening households for potential assistance will be forthcoming.  We are very grateful to have been selected for this generous donation, and are thankful to now be able to be more adaptable to some of the unique circumstances that may have prevented us from providing assistance in the past.

This donation will be effective September of 2020 and will be available through 2022, or until funds are exhausted.

Other EAP Updates

The MEAP cap has been increased to $3,000.  The moratorium on utility shut-offs has been lifted, and our neighbors are no longer protected from shut-off due to non-payment.  Any customer who has a  date-valid SER (or paid SER) for the existing grant year are now eligible for up to $3,000 through September 30, 2020.  New applicants without a current year SER must still apply through MDHHS first to access these funds.

Dear Sister and Brother Vincentians,

Peace be with you. I pray daily that each of you, my family and friends, our talented, dedicated staff, and all those who support our organization and mission remain safe and do as well as possible during this on-going, dreadful health crisis.

It has been a most challenging, exhausting six months. Covid-19 has crushed many organizations – for profit and Not-for-Profit alike. Even though our Council has surely been bloodied by it, we remain “in the ring” and faithful to our mission.

Our nation has a long and glorious tradition of meeting national crises together. Crises can bring out the best in us. Think September 11, 2001. At that unprecedented moment of crisis, every nook and cranny in our nation featured American flags, homemade banners that read “God Bless America”, and a prevailing attitude of rallying together.

The current crisis, however, presents a fundamentally different threat. It has ripped through businesses, schools, sports, and even religious services. Every family has been affected, some far more so than others. Parking lots remain strangely empty, shops are closed, countless special events have been cancelled, sports are taking place without spectators, and masks and social distancing, among many other peculiarities, has necessarily become the temporary norm.

People feel vulnerable; and the uncertainty of “how much longer” makes it so frustrating and difficult to plan. But even this crisis presents so many opportunities to respond to it with compassion, friendship, and service to others. That is what we are trying to do every day at SVdPD.

We cannot wait for “better days.” Our Vincentian beliefs call on us to stay focused on our mission during abnormally challenging times. Doing so allows us to see daily that this crisis can bring out the best in us. To do that, we need to improvise, e.g. new ways to serve, new ways to “assemble”.

Inaugural Top Hat Gala – October 2019

As you may recall, last October, we celebrated a hugely successful inaugural Top Hat Ball. More than 400 attended the gala; and the inspirational Cardinal Joseph William Tobin attended as our very special guest and keynote speaker. Cardinal Tobin, himself a Vincentian, gave a superb presentation.

As this year began, we were enthusiastically planning and preparing for our encore Top Hat Ball. And then Covid-19 hit. We quickly concluded that having a celebratory gathering of many hundreds of guests in October was simply ill-advised. Initially, we contemplated cancelling the event as we had done earlier this summer with our annual golf outing.

But Covid-19 has also caused an alarming spike in need among our neighbors. In that regard, St. Vincent de Paul quite clearly taught that it is not enough simply to do charity well. To remain loyal to our Vincentian mission, we must also practice fiscal responsibility and avoid mission drift. Otherwise, our capacity to help others can get severely limited. Looking ahead, that is clearly not where we want to be as this crisis (and others) continues to take its frightening toll.

So we quickly concluded that we needed to improvise. We still needed to plan. But we also needed to remain nimble, e.g. when necessary, we must pivot on a dime. That is precisely what we have done in regard to this important, annual fundraiser.

Our Top Hat “Un-Gala” – Friday, October 2, 2020

Our primary annual fundraising event has gone virtual, which means that you can enjoy it from the safety and comfort of your home!  We are incredibly excited about our event! These days, people are gathering digitally through book clubs, study groups, family and community groups, social services, volunteer groups, and for many other reasons. Doing so is a safe, innovative way to promote a sense of community. How fitting as we all suffer from bouts of vulnerability!

We could have planned a virtual gathering that simply brought Vincentians and guests together. That would have been fun. To be sure, our Un-Gala will bring us “together” virtually. But our “Un-Gala” will do more. It will also provide an opportunity to advance our Vincentian mission and grow spiritually.

A. Advancing Our Vincentian Mission

Our Un-Gala will allow us to have fun and celebrate the gift of friendship. It has also been designed to help us to grow spiritually. How essential is that in today’s society? Blessed Frederic Ozanam reminded us that:

“The question which is agitating the world today is a social one. It is a struggle between those who have nothing and those who have too much. It is a violent clash of opulence and poverty which is shaking up the ground under our feet. Our duty as Christians is to throw ourselves between these two groups in order to accomplish by love what justice alone cannot do.”

People who wish to be leaders must have a compelling vision of what our organization can become, e.g. see the possible. This means being honest about where our organization finds itself currently and being mindful about needed constructive change within our Society. It means having a plan to renew individuals in their respective roles so that they can, in turn, help renew the organization’s inspirational mission and also seek innovative ways to fulfill it.. Our program is designed to promote that important objective through a conversation among a truly extraordinary group.

B. A Timely Panel Discussion

Consistent with our Vincentian Rule and the advice of Blessed Frederic, we decided to do something more than other virtual events. In light of what has been happening in our country, our Top Hat Un-Gala will feature a panel discussion that explores the relationship between social justice and developing a more inclusive sense of community. As importantly, it will include how SVdPD can contribute to building a more equitable, inclusive community through service and friendship.

Accordingly, we have assembled a national panel of experts that consists of our SVDP National Spiritual Advisor, Bishop Donald J. Hying, Kylee Mitchell Wells from the Ballmer Group; and Father Greg Boyle, S.J. from Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.  Pulitzer Prize journalist, Stephen Henderson, host of WDET’s Detroit Today, will serve as Moderator. Their remarkable journeys have been dedicated to social justice and broadening the concept of community. They surely met challenge and adversity along the way. But they persevered and prevailed. We are most grateful and truly thrilled that these esteemed, impactful individuals have agreed to participate.

We need to prepare ourselves to serve by growing spiritually. The panel discussion we have planned and the extraordinary moderator and panel members we have assembled to discuss the topic will help us to do so. It is going to be awesome!

Community is a powerful collective noun. St. Paul taught that our faith must take actual form in a living, loving group of people. Otherwise, love remains just a theory. Community is love in action. It should be about healing and inclusion, not exclusion or judgment. By way of one of many examples, Covid-19 has clearly resulted in hunger to rise, classrooms to close, and parental stress to skyrocket. The existential threat to children in poverty – not a traditional Vincentian service in this Archdiocese – is real and consequential. Practically speaking, especially at a time when home visits are not possible, should these beautiful children be part of our Detroit Council community? If so, how could our Detroit Vincentian Council help? Clearly, pursuant to the advice of St. Vincent de Paul himself, any such effort would first have to be carefully planned and funded.

Our faith and Vincentian tenets urge us to explore this and many other challenges that undermine our sense of community. Jesus had a fundamental vision—belief  that all people are “children of God.” Herein lies why concepts of social justice and an inclusive concept of community are so inextricably intertwined. Indeed, our humanity depends upon everyone’s humanity.

In their own, exquisite way, our panelists and moderator have dedicated their remarkable lives to exploring and advancing the concept of community. They will generously share their insights as part of our program.

This is why our Top Hat “Un-Gala” will be fun and so much more!

C. Ways To Help

In addition to fun and spiritual growth, a final, obvious reason exists on why this event will be so important; and this is where we need each of YOU! Covid-19 has severely impacted our finances. We, therefore, have a duty to restore ourselves as we prepare for what lies ahead. That includes financial stability. We are deeply grateful to Weingartz, Inc. and to Magna International for being our Co-Event Sponsors, and for all who have chosen to sponsor our event at some level. Heartfelt thanks, all!

Any sound development plan is built on finding new donors and beginning the process of building those relationships so that they turn into habitual donors and major givers. Having a way to replace the donors who choose to leave us is extremely important, too. It is important to remember that all fundraising supports our entire Council and allows us to do the work that supports our neighbors in need.

Events like the Top Hat Ball are opportunities for current supporters, staff, and volunteers to introduce their friends to St. Vincent de Paul Detroit.  It’s a way for them to share with their friends and acquaintances the joy and passion they have for SVdPD and invite them to support us, too. It also provides us the opportunity to drive brand awareness and a deep connection to who we are and what we do.

Top Hat – even virtually – “brings together” board members, donors, volunteers and new prospects and engages them in ways we cannot do in other situations. If orchestrated well, an event like Top Hat can raise significant funds. While we are raising funds, the event gives our audience a chance to experience the many services we provide to those in need.

Tickets for our event are a modest $25. Please go to www.TopHatBall.com  for ticket information, ordering, and event information. That nominal fee will allow access to our program. Our hope and expectation is that each person who chooses to attend will pay the fee. Moreover, unlike a live event, we can invite family, friends, and acquaintances from all over the country and the world! If your friends, family, or acquaintances have an e-mail address, they can “attend”, too!

Our goal is to attract far more guests than last year! To do that, however, we need your help. Please spread the word and encourage anyone and everyone you know to consider attending.  Imagine, if each of our roughly 3500 Vincentians purchased a “virtual ticket” and brought just one other family member or friend, that alone would result in 7000 attendees! Vincentians, just listening to Bishop Hying alone – a truly gifted speaker – is more than worth the ticket price! See the possible!

If you are unable to attend, you can still participate. For example, there will be an online auction available during the entire week of September 27th.  Once again, go to  www.TopHatBall.com  for event details.

Please help spread the word! Donate gifts, find willing sponsors and donors, and raise awareness to help best position our Council financially for the opportunities and challenges that surely lie ahead. This is a practical way to advance our Vincentian mission of helping neighbors in need. Heartfelt thanks in advance for choosing to do so.

Conclusion

Our nation and hometown are rapidly approaching an inflection point. Covid-19 may hover over our society like a dark, ominous cloud for months to come, perhaps much longer. Its impact already has been devastating to so many; and its duration remains a haunting mystery. The future remains shrouded in uncertainty.

But one thing is certain: needs for basic services are surely spiking alarmingly. We must remain committed to doing what we can to help. That requires financial stability.

To be prepared for what lies ahead, therefore, we need to have a successful Top Hat “Un-Gala” fundraiser. Our very talented, dedicated Top Hat “Un-Gala” team led by our exceptional Director of Development, Keith Koppmeier, and our gifted consultant, Scott Bettinger, of Echo Media has planned an entertaining, thought provoking, and very reasonably priced event. For Top Hat to reach its enormous potential, we need a full team effort. YOU are an important member of our team. Won’t you help as best you can?

We have faced crises before. Once again, albeit using innovative ways, we will get through this crisis as well. As we do, will our appreciation of social justice, our mindfulness of a more inclusive concept of community, and our understanding of and commitment to Vincentian values grow?

Together, let’s make Friday, October 2, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. an historic occasion for our Council. Hope to “see” you there. Best wishes to all of you. Please stay safe. God bless you, your families, and all those you love.

In Blessed Frederic Ozanam’s name,
Dan

Dear Vincentians,

We are still waiting for the onslaught of calls to our help lines from those neighbors facing eviction and utility shutoffs. Federal dollars have come through to assist those in need and primarily given to Social services groups, shelters and Community Action agencies. The amount dispersed to

SVdP in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties will help but falls short of the anticipated need of our neighbors. Monroe, St. Clair and Lapeer counties face even less dollars coming their way.

So, what is our purpose? We are not social workers, caseworkers or emergency responders. As a social worker throughout my working career, personal information was private, friendship with clients was unethical and religion discussion was verboten. Fear, anger and both defensive and offensive measures were daily encounters.

HOWEVER, we have received a calling from God to the mission of helping the poor, in a way far different than most helpers.

Our neighbors are not clients. Our conferences are not driven by written policy, rather general guidelines and consensus decision making.

How do your neighbors see you? As Vincentians we bring friendship, spirituality and hope to our neighbors. Those elements make such a difference in our daily encounters, even if we are not able to help with financial means.

Should we be mentors? Should we share our personal lives or information at all to our neighbors in need?

Let’s not be afraid to share a part of ourselves as we move forward from this Pandemic. This is not a suggestion that we reveal ourselves in any way that could possibly harm us, but accept those who call as our neighbors, not clients.

We talk about systemic change as a means of changing lives. Whether it’s through an official program or your intervention, we can effect great change in keeping the essential elements of our Society, spirituality, service and friendship present in our work as a Vincentian.

In reflection on the founders of our Society, Frederic Ozanam, Blessed Rosalie Rendu, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise Marillac, their commitment of life work to the poor is the foundation of our daily work.

I ask that you reflect on your approach and attitude towards your neighbors. Our calls will increase, our help will be needed. Our opportunity will be there.

Remember, as Vincentians we have chosen the vocation of serving the poor.

God bless to all,

Nancy

At this point in time, I was hoping to write about life with less worry and anxiety, more daily activity from a Vincentian perspective and the opportunity to spend time with my family.

However, I’m still reflecting on life during a pandemic.

For those who live alone, the isolation is difficult, for those who live with family/friends, isolation from others they hold dear is painful.

Higher incidences of domestic violence, child abuse and mental health crises are prevalent during such times.

We all adapt differently. One Vincentian currently residing in Senior Living has perfected the use of Zoom technology to join Conference meetings. A friend’s mother- age 96- cries out in her belief that her children have abandoned her due to COVID-19 visit limits. Others have resisted Governor Whitmer’s orders while others firmly enforce them. Some people have ventured out to parks, outdoor dining, Mass, and visits with family in small groups.  Others remain sheltered due to continuing anxiety and fear of exposure to COVID-19. Those who have been directly impacted through the death of a family member or friend have a different perspective than others untouched by this virus.

What about our neighbors in need?  In addition to all of the above concerns and behaviors, they may have anxiety about a pending eviction and homelessness or reside in an area hard hit by this virus.

Some Vincentians/Conferences are meeting via Zoom and some have shut down all activity for the time being. Exposure to COVID-19 has forced the closure of some food pantries and others forge on praying that all volunteers will be safe.  Our thrift stores have struggled with COVID-19 exposure, reduced staffing and overflowing bins due to high volumes of donations. Food Trucks are more plentiful with Gleaners, The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Forgotten Harvest are upping the number of food giving locations. Few calls are coming in to the Conference help lines due to the suspensions of shelter and utility payments.  Home visits are not recommended at this time, although some Vincentians has been creative in their approach to meeting with neighbors in need.

My recommendations for the time being have not changed.  Be generous and kind in listening to others. Use technology that you are comfortable with to stay connected to those you love.

The time will come when we will meet in person again and rejoice in embracing those, we hold dear. The time will come when home visits will again be a part of our daily Vincentian work.

A prayer:

“Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages, curing every disease and illness. At your command, the sick were made well. Come too our aid now, in the midst of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love”.

God bless to all of you,
Nancy

Vincentian Friends,

Five months into the pandemic of the COVID-19 Virus, we are experiencing the truth that “life has changed, not ended!”  That phrase, often used in our Catholic funeral rites, has special meaning even for us who live and still breathe each day.

I remember well the rainy Lenten March day when Pope Francis stepped onto the balcony and proclaimed to the world through television, that this worldwide pandemic is not God’s judgement on humanity; he said it is God’s loving call to do what is important, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not, to get our priorities straight and to live differently.

So, how’s it going for you, dear friends? From experience with Conference life, and the special works of the SVDP stores, the Matchan Nutrition Food Program, and even our Ozanam Summer Camp for Kids, life as it was is certainly changed, but not ended!

In meetings by ZOOM, or by social distancing with masks in place, prayer, and reflection as well as opportunities to share with one another in friendship are still key elements in our lives as Vincentians.  If we have just gone on to get the “business” done because we thought we were in a short-term pandemic, we need to put that thought to rest.

Has your opening prayer become just the rote exercise that leads into “the business” part of why you are meeting? Do eyes rolls when the President invites the Spiritual Reflection?  If yes, it is time to try praying and reflecting differently! There is no doubt that Vincentians do wonderful and generous service in loving our neighbors, but our primary purpose is to grow in holiness and friendship as we love and serve our neighbors.

In future Conference Connection articles, I hope to suggest some practical ways this could happen. How about a coming Spiritual Reflection being a listening experience as each one is invited to share briefly what has been the blessing in this pandemic time. As each one finishes, all could respond, “Thanks be to God or Praise God!” Another time the reflection could be sharing what has been the burden, the challenge, or a great concern they have during this time? A prayer response could be something like, “Come Holy Spirit.”  Be creative. If you have many folks in your meeting, invite some to share and ask the others to do their piece next time. (This heart sharing should not be a speech or discussion, just some brief thoughts from the heart that others may receive reverently.)

In prayer with you!
Sister Noreen Ellison, SC

This Just Might be an Opportunity….

We have been through some pretty rough times lately. We have seen the worst in some people’s behavior and we have seen the best to the very best in others. We have seen folks come together to fight an invisible virus and exercise their constitutional right to peacefully protest racial injustice.

We have also seen some folks try to mislead, misappropriate the issues, and misinform. Countless millions have lost their opportunity at gainful employment that sustains them and their families. The virus’s impact in terms of racial and age disparity is astounding and the cause of great sadness and sorrow for thousands of families. In times like these we cling to the values we hold near and dear as the foundation of our democracy is challenged and our values and ideals are put to the test.

We are members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul that has as its mission to be “A network of friends, inspired by gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need”.

We strive to help our neighbors in need to escape the pain of poverty, the frustration of despair, the fear of not being able to make it. Our friends are hurting and as this pandemic wears on many are losing hope that things will get better.

We have an opportunity to engage with others to make sure our neighbors don’t feel abandoned.

The event impacting our society today present us with an opportunity to work collaboratively with each other and our neighbors in need to make systemic changes that will renew a sense of hope and empowerment in our neighbors in need.

We can engage in a variety of activities that can bring needed change for those living in poverty. We have this opportunity because we know how to listen, visit with and walk with our neighbors in need. We can write letters to our elected officials demanding the change policies that are causing the fear and the pain of being in poverty. Policies that allow banks to fund payday lenders to charge exorbitant interest rates that lead to ensuring the neighbor in need cannot escape causing even more despair, and fear and exhaustion. This payday extortion keeps people down and out. It a form of discrimination. We can support programs like micro loans, free pharmacies, getting a head training programs and other creative and inventive programs that help our neighbors in need to get ahead, and even escape the trap of poverty. We can be a friend pointing them in the right direction, a friend who walks with our neighbor in need on the journey that leads them out of the trap of poverty. The friend who drives them to their appointments when public transportation is inefficient. We can be the friend who helps our neighbors in need dream of a different day and better life for themselves and their family.  We need to make sure that St. Vincent de Paul Society is around 50, 100 years from now. That’s part of our responsibilities as a member. Things they are a changing, and our neighbors in need are hoping, expecting, needing us to be there for them and their families, not just now, but in the future as well. What we do now will impact the future, if we do nothing, that will impact the future also. Some say we can’t, cause we are all getting to old, or we are all ready to involved to take on more. Our Founder and our Patron, Bl. Frederic Ozanam and St. Vincent de Paul would not agree. Both of them will expect that we as members were inventive to infinity and that we invite others, especially the younger members of our communities, Catholic and non-Catholic to join us as we explore the opportunities and see the possibilities.

Roger Playwin, retired National CEO, Society of St. Vincent de Paul

On a recent summer morning as I was preparing to go on an errand of mercy, I found myself addressing God in the words that Jesus said to Peter when Peter couldn’t stay awake and pray with Him the night before the crucifixion:  “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  How many times in these last many weeks of events in our nation and throughout the world have I paused to reflect on my own weakness in doing what the gospel of Jesus asks of me?  It is nearly impossible to follow through without God’s help. That is why prayer is so especially important!

Sometimes I borrow the words of scripture, or other times, the words prayed by those we name as our saints. This brief plea of Mother Teresa, is especially fitting for us who aspire to grow in humility as we live our Vincentian vocation in humble and demanding service:

“Make us worthy, O Lord, to serve our fellow human beings…”

Lately, I have had  occasions to see the special works of our area Vincentians  as they live out Jesus’ mandate to “feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty” through the ministry of the Matchan Nutrition Center. Appropriately so, this ministry is done from a facility of the St. Vincent de Paul church, Pontiac, Michigan. All through the year, meals are prepared and served to 150-200 neighbors every Tuesday and Thursday by a crew of committed volunteers who are some of the hardest working, and most dedicated folks I have even seen.

Along with the nutritious meals served, there are, normally, other needed services provided for the guests in this social setting. However, during this time since mid-March with all the restrictions that are in place as we protect one another from the Corona 19 Virus spread, the work of the Matchan Nutrition Center has had to adapt constantly without missing a beat in serving the hungers of our neighbors.

With social distancing restrictions, the hot meals turned into “take out” sack meals, served from a tent- like covering that did not always protect from the sleet, the wind, rain, and now the warm sunshine. While some are serving outside in the elements, a whole crew is in the hot kitchen diligently preparing the nutritious food. The area that Matchan serves is literally a food dessert, with grocery stores at a great distance for those with little or no transportation.

Because the Matchan volunteers are so diligent in finding resources and maintaining relationships, including regularly picking up and hauling  grocery donations from generous businesses,  neighbors-in-need  are also able to pick up needed fresh vegetables, fruits, breads, cheese and other food items they can use. Nothing goes to waste!