SVDP Calendar of Events
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at All Souls Catholic Church
is a Registered 501c3
Mailing Address:
301 West 8th Street
Sanford, FL 32771
Phone: 407.330.4400
E-mail: svdpallsouls@yahoo.com
Web: svdpallsouls.wordpress.com
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We are now on facebook: Daily Vincentian news is now available on the Council’s facebook page. “Like” us at “Society of St. Vincent de Paul Orlando”
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Case Manager Schedule:
Week of May 27 – Cathy
Week of June 3 – Dennis
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SVDP Merchandise online: http://www.magnalite-usa.com/svdp09-1.html
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Need your coupons: We are collecting coupons for the Overseas Coupon Program (OCP) that serves military families by providing manufacturer’s coupons to overseas military bases. Coupons are placed on tables at the PX and the Commissary or handed out for use by military families on base. The coupons need to be only manufacturer ones, no “store” coupons, such as Target or Publix, etc. The coupons can be “food” or “non-food”, including pet food. Please leave coupons in the SVDP basket. Thank you!
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St. Vincent de Paul is now accepting vehicle donations. Used car donations may be turned into money to provide critical items such as food, shelter, housing, care for the elderly or medicine. Your tax-deductible donation is tied directly to our community. That means your car donation will help someone in the Sanford area. Call us at 407.330.4400 if you’d like to make a vehicle donation.
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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at All Souls Catholic Church thanks the following sponsors for supporting our 5th Annual Friends of the Poor Walk on Saturday, September 22, 2012 along the RiverWalk in downtown Sanford:
The Nation Law Firm
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May 27, Pentecost Sunday
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. — Psalm 104:(see 30)
Mass readings: Vigil: Genesis 11:1-9 or Exodus 19:3-8,16-20 or Ezekiel 37:1-14 or Joel 3:1-5 / Romans 8:22-27 / John 7:37-39; Day: Acts 2:1-11 / 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13 or Galatians 5:16-25 / John 20:19-23 or John 15:26-27;16:12-15
Come, Holy Spirit
Today we celebrate Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came and the Church was born. The promised Holy Spirit descended upon praying, waiting disciples gathered in one place. Fearful hearts set free spoke God’s message boldly and were understood by people of a variety of languages.
Human beings seek to unify by uniformity, but the Spirit creates unity from diversity: one message proclaimed and understood in many languages; different gifts for unique contributions to one Body of Christ. Different gifts from one Spirit, different ministries from one Lord, and different workings from one God all come together to build the Kingdom of God.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, increase our awareness and appreciation of Your creative, unifying work in Your Church.
Courtesy of Our Sunday Visitor: http://www.osv.com/MyDailyVisitor/tabid/7626/Default.aspx
Mass Reading & Meditation for May 27, 2012
Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Acts 2:1-11
Pentecost
Scholars tell us that the first Pentecost took place during the Jewish Feast of Weeks. This was a festival at which the first fruits of the harvest were offered to God in thanksgiving. But on this particular day, instead of giving our first fruits to God, he gave his first fruit—the Holy Spirit—to us.
And what an amazing gift the Spirit has been! It is his power that has kept the church on track, despite human sinfulness, for two millennia. It is his grace that has strengthened us, revealed Jesus to us, moved us to serve, and convinced us that Jesus will indeed come back to bring heaven down to earth. To put it quite simply, Pentecost is all about the fact that Almighty God has come to live in human hearts, making ordinary people into extraordinary saints.
After Jesus rose from the dead, he appeared to the apostles and, breathing on them, said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). Just as he did at Pentecost, Jesus wants to breathe God’s energy into our hearts every day. The spiritual dynamic that was present at that first Pentecost, moving people to love God, to seek out holiness, and to come together as a church, is still at work today.
How can we tell if this breath of God is active in our lives? We will feel energized by the Spirit, and we will want to set our sights on being like Jesus. We will feel moved to go to work for the kingdom, relying on the Spirit’s power and guidance. We will try to be more loving, more kind, and more patient.
Right now, stop and take a few deep breaths. In your mind, imagine yourself breathing in the Spirit and breathing out your sin. Picture yourself accepting the Lord and his plans, and letting go of your own plans and visions. Know that what you are breathing in is pure, holy, and intoxicating. Jesus has great plans for every member of his church. And that includes you!
“Lord Jesus, breathe on me and make me more alive to God. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill me with your life!”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion
(Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23)
1. The account in Acts 2 of the First Reading describes the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. Through this miraculous work, we see the Holy Spirit becoming the unifier of the Church. We too have received that same Spirit. In what ways can you fan into flame in a deeper way the Holy Spirit who was given to you at your Baptism and Confirmation? How can you use the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life and others to strengthen the unity of your parish?
2. The response to the Responsorial Psalm is “Lord, send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.” This renewal begins with each one of us. What renewal does God want to make in your life? In addition, in what ways has the Holy Spirit called you to participate in the mission of the Church to “renew the face of the earth”?
3. In the second reading, we learn that the Holy Spirit is given to each one of us for some benefit of the whole Church. What gifts do you have that can be used to build up your church? How can you use them for the benefit of others in your family?
4. In the Gospel reading, Jesus tells the Apostles, “As the Father has sent me so I send you” and then he “breathed” the Holy Spirit on them. Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have reminded us over and over again that this commission that Christ gave the Church in the Gospel was not meant just for the Apostles, but rather for each of us believers. We all share in the responsibility to tell the world of the Good News of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ! What specifically can you do in the upcoming weeks to share this Good News with others?
5. In the meditation, we hear these words: “Just as he did at Pentecost, Jesus wants to breathe God’s energy into our hearts every day. The spiritual dynamic that was present at that first Pentecost, moving people to love God, to seek out holiness, and to come together as a church, is still at work today.” In what ways have you experienced the “spiritual dynamic that was present at that first Pentecost”?
6. The meditation ends with a spiritual exercise to allow each of us to experience a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. Take some time now to go through this exercise and then, using the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point, pray for this fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Sunday Reflection
“When…the Holy Spirit is at work in someone, it means that this Spirit, residing in that person, gives him or her the same inclinations and dispositions Jesus Christ had on earth, and they cause the person to act in the same way–I’m not saying with equal perfection, but according to the measure of the gifts of that Divine Spirit.”
Saint Vincent de Paul
Vincentian Reflection
“To give of one’s means is nothing if one does not give oneself, and employ every moment of one’s life, and even expose it to danger for the love of God, in serving the poor.
St. Louise de Marillac. Lord, you have been so generous to me. Show me how to serve without counting the cost.
This Week’s Vincentian Reflection
PENTECOST
May 27, 2012
Gospel: (John 15: 26-27; 16:12-15)
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify because you have been with me from the beginning. I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.
Reflection:
Jesus tells us that he is sending the Spirit to us. The Spirit is the Word speaking to us in a most profound way because he dwells with us and guides us to all truth. This Spirit is all we need, provided we allow the Spirit to speak through us and not turn God’s word into our word. Openness to the Spirit within is our guarantee that what we speak as disciples is spoken in Jesus’ name. This Pentecost commemoration isn’t simply recalling a past event but celebrating what God is doing with us now. In baptism each of us received the Spirit; that was our Pentecost. The Spirit dwells within us so we can be faithful and true disciples. The indwelling of the Spirit is a continual Pentecost! (Living Liturgy, p.144)
Vincentian Meditation:
It is only when what is heard is pondered, that its full meaning is revealed. The quest for truth, therefore, involves prayerfulness and reflectiveness. While at times one can hear the Spirit speak even in a noisy crowd, it is often only in silence that one hears the deepest voice, that one plumbs the depth of meaning. Jesus turned to his Father again and again in prayer to listen to him and to seek his will. Prayer is then surely one of the privileged ways of listening. But it must always be validated by life. One who listens to “what the Spirit is telling me” in prayer, but who pays little heed to what others are saying in daily life is surely suspect. Prayer must be in contact with people and events, since God speaks not only in the silence of our hearts, but also (and often first of all) in the people around us. (Maloney, The Way of Vincent de Paul, p.24)
Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence)
How do we listen to the Holy Spirit through people and events?
Closing Prayer:
Seeking the grace of the Holy Spirit, we pray,
-Come, Holy Spirit
That the winds of Pentecost may move us to deeds of peace and justice,
-Come, Holy Spirit
That the fire of Pentecost may breathe new hope into the hopeless,
-Come, Holy Spirit
That we may listen in the silence of our heart to people and events.
-Come, Holy Spirit
Amen.
Saturday Reflection
“We must endeavor to have God reign sovereignly in us, and then in others. The trouble with me is that I take more care to have Him reign in others than in myself.”
Saint Vincent de Paul
May 26, St. Philip Neri
The just will gaze on your face, O Lord. — Psalm 11:(see 7)
Mass readings: Morning: Acts 28:16-20,30-31 / John 21:20-25
Saint of Renewal
On this eve of Pentecost we honor St. Philip Neri (1515-1595), a saint who embodied the spirit of Vatican II during the days of the Council of Trent.
Philip left the business world, devoted his life to God, and considered priesthood but remained a lay person for a time, enlisting other lay people into his life of prayer and service to the poor. He became a priest and a wonderful confessor, known for his charity, humility, and sense of humor. He continued to inspire lay people by founding the Oratory, a religious institute, and praying and singing to the Lord with them in the vernacular. His vision must surely have inspired Vatican II’s focus on the laity, both in empowering us and teaching us that becoming more human is compatible with striving for holiness.
Prayer: St. Philip Neri, model for inspiring and empowering lay people, pray for us.
Courtesy of Our Sunday Visitor: http://www.osv.com/MyDailyVisitor/tabid/7626/Default.aspx
In This Week’s All Souls Bulletin
News from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Welcome Father Voor from all of your friends with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul!
Food Pantry Need of the Week: Paper towels. Last week: 153 items were donated with a retail value of $370. Thank you All Souls and the Nation Law Firm for the donations!
Our Mission: Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference at All Souls Catholic Church is a Catholic lay organization that leads people to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering. Vincentians witness God’s love by embracing all works of charity and justice, making no distinction in those served because in them we see the face of Christ.
Need your coupons: We are collecting coupons for the Overseas Coupon Program (OCP) that serves military families by providing manufacturer’s coupons to overseas military bases. The coupons need to be only manufacturer ones, no “store” coupons, such as Target or Publix, etc. Please leave coupons in the SVDP basket. Thank you!
Vincentian Reflection: Today, as we celebrate Pentecost, the Holy Spirit wants to make us advocates of God’s presence to bring new life to others, especially those who do not know the love of God in their lives. Thank you for your continued generosity of the Society.
Mass Reading & Meditation for May 26, 2012
Catholic Meditations
Meditation: Acts 28:16-20,30-31
“With complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 28:31)
Imagine being the soldier guarding Paul during his house arrest in Rome! He would have seen this great apostle and evangelist toward the end of his life. He has been tested by trials and proved faithful through all his journeys. Now Paul could take advantage of two years of relative peace to wrap up his affairs. He wrote many letters to the churches he had founded and tried to reconcile with his adversaries. And over all, he never stopped proclaiming Jesus to any who would listen.
This house arrest at the end of Acts is thought to immediately precede Paul’s execution. Even then, at the end of his life, Paul did not stop preaching. Even then, God called him to proclaim the gospel, teach, and intercede for the fledgling church. Especially then, nearing the end of his life, Paul was so vitally important to God.
Some of us may be in a similar situation—slowed down by age, health concerns, or other constraints. But no matter what limitations we may face, we will never lack an opportunity to be of service to God. He will never tell us he doesn’t need us anymore! Like Paul, we can continue to share the gospel. We can spend time in intercessory prayer, both for our personal and family needs and for the broader and far-reaching needs of the world. We can write to our loved ones, encouraging them in their relationship with God.
Don’t ever think that you are useless to the Lord! Don’t feel inadequate! Jesus will take whatever you can do, big or small, and infuse it with his grace and his transforming power. Your experience, faithfulness, and even suffering are of great value to the kingdom of God! You can be a dramatic influence on your friends, family, or neighbors by your faith-filled presence, no matter where you are!
“Lord, thank you that you treasure me, that you actually need me! Help me to slow down enough so that I can listen to what you want me to do right here and right now!” Help me to win the race, so that I can receive the prize.”
Psalm 11:4-5,7; John 21:20-25
May 25, Friday Easter Weekday
The Lord has established his throne in heaven. — Psalm 103:19
Mass readings: Acts 25:13-21 / John 21:15-19
Agape Love
In today’s Gospel Peter is asked to reaffirm his love for Jesus and is renewed in the commission Our Lord gave him before his threefold denial. A humbled Peter confesses his love, realizing it falls short of the sacrificial agape (unconditional and true) love of Jesus. If asked by Jesus, “Do you love Me?” we would give a resounding “yes,” but are we sure our love goes beyond the love of phileo (warm friendship) all the way to agape love?
I believe I would choose death over mortal sin or denial, but I know I must depend on grace. My flesh cowers and rebels at the prospect of suffering, whether illness, loss, or leaving my comfort zone. Blessed be God Who meets me at my level of love and gently calls and leads me to the next level.
Prayer: Yes, Lord, we love You. Help us grow in our love for You.
Courtesy of Our Sunday Visitor: http://www.osv.com/MyDailyVisitor/tabid/7626/Default.aspx
