Bishop Ott Shelter Collection Drive

BISHOP OTT SHELTER COLLECTION DRIVE

We are pleased to report that WGMB Fox 44, WVLA Channel 33, and their family of stations have come together for the 32nd year to support our Bishop Ott Shelter Program. Please consider joining the Baton Rouge Clinic, Albertson’s and Louisiana Healthcare Connections in collecting these critical items. All of these items are critical to the people who come to us with little more than the clothes they are wearing. Things such as toothbrushes, disposable razors, shaving cream, soap, and shampoo are so important to someone’s dignity and self-esteem, and without these critical items, it’s impossible to make a good impression when someone is trying to find a job.

Below is a list of the toiletry items we need at our shelters. When you look at this list, think of the people who will be using them, and you’ll understand just how important this annual effort is to our Bishop Ott Shelter Program and the people we serve. We also ask you to encourage your family, friends, church or social groups to participate in a collection drive for this worthwhile effort. You can collect these items and donate them by dropping them off at the Baton Rouge Clinic, Albertson’s or at the Bishop Ott Shelter located at 1623 Convention Street. More information is on our website, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 383-7837, extension 0.

Bishop Ott Shelter urgently needed items:

Toiletry items such as deodorant, soap, shampoo, body wash, lotion and body powder; paper products (napkins, paper towels, toilet paper), disposable cups, plates, bowls, knives, forks, and spoons. We also urgently need twin & Crib size sheets , towels and washcloths, blankets; disposable diapers; men, women, and children’s underwear; socks, knit caps, gloves, scarves, and rain gear; and reading glasses (all strengths).

Homeless At Christmas

Whether at Christmas time or any time of the year, St. Vincent de Paul is the leader in providing homeless services in our community.  Our services are built on the philosophy of giving a hand-up of hope while helping people to break the cycle of homelessness. 

In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of homeless men, women, children and families that need our help.  Our response was to expand our Sweet Dreams Shelter in 2018 and 2020.  This has enabled us to assist more people, which is critical, because we are the only shelter in our community that provides services to homeless mothers with male children over the age of 5, fathers with children, and couples with children.  

On behalf of the individuals, families and children we serve, we express our heartfelt gratitude for your support.  Because of your investment in our work, their dreams of a bright future can come true.  

Thank you & Merry Christmas! 

A Community Thanksgiving

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends, it’s time to bring out those tried-and-true recipes – those special salads, casseroles, and desserts – that must be on the holiday table every year.  We also look forward to sampling new dishes.

At St. Vincent de Paul, we’re ready to put our tried-and-true recipes together, but we’re also preparing to respond to a growing need in our area because of the economy.  

 On November 23rd, Thanksgiving Day, we will continue our tradition of serving the annual Thanksgiving meal at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room and the Raising Cane’s River Center.  We will also serve at St. Gerard and the McKinley Alumni Center.  We continue to expand our reach to the most vulnerable during these inflationary times.  What a blessing it is to be a part of this community effort, which has touched the lives of the needy for the past 41 years. 

 We serve meals at many locations to ensure that we provide maximum coverage of our community on this special day.  For individuals who have no families to share this special day with and have no financial resources for a traditional Thanksgiving meal, we will be there for them.  For the homeless who live at our St. Vincent de Paul shelters, for others who live near our main charitable campus or in north or south Baton Rouge, we will be there for them. 

We thank the Pennington family for their many years of support!  We thank Mayor-President Sharon Westin Broome, Wayne Hodes, Chef Craig Bergeron, and the entire crew at the Raising Cane’s River Center.  We also thank the Louisiana Housing Corporation for joining us for this year’s event to celebrate Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  We thank all of our partners:  the City of Baton Rouge, Raising Cane's River Center, Pennington Family Foundation, The Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Housing Corporation, McKinley Alumni Center, St. Gerard, Lillie’s Kitchen, and Baker Donelson.  These leaders are once again playing a critical role in reaching people who truly need a helping hand this holiday season

Turkey is the main dish at every Thanksgiving meal, and we thank The Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge for doing their annual Turkey Train!  They collect enough turkeys to ensure that we can continue this Thanksgiving tradition.  Annually, this wonderful congregation is the single largest contributor of turkeys for our Thanksgiving meal service to those experiencing poverty.  Their help is even more critical this year because of the difficult economy.

At St. Vincent de Paul, the most critical ingredient in our Thanksgiving recipe is you – our supporters.  Our guests are so grateful for the meals you make possible.  During these difficult times, we are all called to share God’s blessings with the less fortunate. 

First and foremost, we ask you to join us in praying for those we are blessed to serve.  By the end of this year, we will serve over 260,000 meals, so your support is needed as we combat hunger in our area.  For a gift of just $1.00, you can help us provide a hot, nutritious meal.  $100 provides a hundred meals, and $400 typically feeds all the guests at our dining room on any given day. 

You can make your gift online by clicking here. 

We wish everyone a happy, wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!  Thank you for your support in helping us to make a difference in our community.

Thanksgiving Invitation

HELP US GET THIS WORD OUT TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY WHO MAY BE IN NEED OF A HOT THANKSGIVING MEAL ON THANKSGIVING DAY! ALL OF THOSE IN NEED ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!

Thanksgiving Day Meal Information: With the help of volunteers, we will serve a traditional holiday meal on Thanksgiving Day at four locations: 

Raising Cane’s River Center

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Sit Down and Drive thru option)

Sit Down Option: To be held in the Exhibition Hall (Enter from River Road to Sit Down)

For the Drive-Thru Option: Enter from Government Street (Meals given for the number of people in the car) – SEE ATTACHED MAP FOR DRIVE THRU

 St. Vincent de Paul at 220 St. Vincent de Paul Place

(Sit Down Only at 11:30 am -1:00 pm)

Mckinley High School Alumni Center at 1520 Thomas H. Delpit Dr.

(Sit Down Only 11:00am to 1pm)

St. Gerard Catholic Church Seelos Hall at 5249 Maple Street, 70805

(11:00 am – pick-up only -on first come, first served basis)

All Made Possible by our Partners: Raising Cane's River Center, City of Baton Rouge, Pennington Family Foundation, The Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Housing Corporation, McKinley Alumni Center, St. Gerard, Lillie’s Kitchen, and Baker Donelson.

These community partners are once again playing a critical role in reaching people who truly need a helping hand this holiday season. Once again, all of the turkeys for this year’s events have once again been provided by the Unified Jewish Congregation of Baton Rouge.

St. George St. Vincent de Paul Conference Holds Special Gathering

On July 22nd, the St. George SVDP Conference held a special gathering of St. Vincent de Paul Conferences from throughout the Diocese. The event began with Mass, and then gave Conference members the opportunity to meet and share their experiences in growing spiritually while serving our neighbors in need.

The event also gave St. Vincent de Paul members the opportunity to thank God for His blessings to this ministry.

Last year, Conferences made thousands of home visits and helped those in need with over $1 million in assistance. As you can see from the pictures, the event was a wonderful

opportunity to visit and share time together. A special thanks goes to all of St. George Parish for hosting this event!

100 Years Old & Going Strong!

Long time member and St. Vincent de Paul Top Hat Hall of Fame Recipient Rosie Martina just turned 100! Rosie’s fountain of youth is based on his commitment to his faith and his continued volunteer work to help the poor through St. Vincent de Paul.

In 1982 Rosie was among volunteers who founded the first St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room which originally opened in a shotgun house on South 21st Street, and only served 20 to 50 people a day. Today the Dining Room is in its third location at 222 St. Vincent de Paul Place and serves over 200 to 500 meals a day at lunchtime and an equal amount of brown bag suppers. Last year over 255,000 meals were served.

Rosie has many fond memories of the early days of the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room. He and his beloved wife, Laura, worked side by side serving the poor and homeless at the Dining Room for many years.

Rosie has been active in his local St. Jude St. Vincent de Paul Conference Ministry. St. Jude St. Vincent de Paul does a great job of serving the poor. In the early days of that effort, Rosie and Laura began with a food pantry in their garage. Rosie’s daughter Patricia recalls, “We gave up our garage.” Rosie and Laura’s children have always supported their countless hours of volunteerism and even help Rosie make food pick-ups.

Yes, even at 100 Rosie continues to make food pick-ups and coordinates a small army of volunteers (named Rosie’s Army) who also pick up donated food from local supermarkets, bakeries, and restaurants. St. Vincent de Paul recognizes and thanks Rosie for his many decades of volunteer leadership and services. Happy Birthday, Rosie!

SVDP Stores Gets A Wonderful Visit

As part of our strategic planning, Jeffrey Beamguard, National St. Vincent de Paul Director of Stores, visited us this July to review our operations. Jeffrey runs the National St. Vincent de Paul Store Model in Phoenix, AZ. The National Store Model was put together to showcase best practices in running a thrift store with a mission of charity. He has already provided a report that gives us recommendations for streamlining our thrift stores. We are now working on implementing these strategies to position us for more success in serving our community.

Our stores provide more than just a place where customers can purchase items at bargain basement prices; any revenues produced by our stores are put back into our programs to assist those in need. Most importantly, individuals and families in need get items at no cost after a home visit is made by a St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

You too can help our stores by donating items of clothing, shoes and furniture. To donate to our stores, visit our stores/distribution website page.

St. Vincent de Paul Making History

St. Vincent de Paul conference members take a picture with newly elected Eastern St. Vincent de Paul Council President Tony Guagliardo (second from the right) and Baton Rouge Council President Kim Boudreaux.

Our entire St. Vincent de Paul family continues to work on our strategic future by growing to meet the needs of our entire service area. We serve a 12-civil parish area which includes: Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Point Coupee, St. James, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes.

A service area as large as ours requires a great governance structure that is focused on helping us to be efficient and effective in our mission. Our ongoing strategic planning process calls us to review our governance and management structure to position us to best serve our neighbors in need.

Our Society of St. Vincent de Paul has a rich history of service to our community. The first day Father Delacroix stepped onto St. Joseph’s soil in Baton Rouge was December 27, 1865, and that’s the birth date of our local Society. Now, 158 years later, Father Delacroix’s legacy continues. He inspired many of the laity to get involved with the Society, and his guidance and leadership of our Society for its first 28 years in Baton Rouge was critical to the survival of our organization.

In the 1890’s, with the help of the Society, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart founded St. Vincent’s Academy, which was named in honor of St. Vincent de Paul and is known today as Catholic High School.

The St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Joseph’s served our community well, and other area churches began to establish Conferences: St. Agnes in 1918, St. Anthony in 1929, Sacred Heart in 1931, and St. Gerard in 1945. Today, there are 25 Conferences in our area serving neighbors in need.

In 1930, the Conferences came together to form our area Council. This was a big step in helping to coordinate service to the poor, and enabled the Society to respond to the needs of our neighbors experiencing hardships during the Great Depression. Our Council structure has served our area well, but has had its limitations in recent years.

Our strategic plan called for us to closely examine our structure. The first thing our Council leadership did was to contact our National Society of St. Vincent de Paul about our current structure. We asked them about best practices and what our next strategic steps should be.

Our National organization strongly urged us to expand from one Council to several. This would strengthen the work of the Conferences that make home visits to those in need. It would also strengthen our special works – that feed, shelter and provide services to the most vulnerable. Most of all, having several Councils is a proven method of governance at a national and international level.

In the fall of 2022, John Berry, National Society of St. Vincent de Paul President-Elect, visited our local Council to answer the questions about forming multiple Councils. After his visit, our Council voted to adopt a new structure of three District Councils and one Diocesan Council. The District Councils will be in the Northern, Southern and Eastern part of our service area. The western area will be covered by the North and South Districts.

Tony Guaglirado has been elected president of the Eastern District Council. Kevin Patterson has been elected president of the Southern District.  Greg Accardo has been elected president of the Northern District.  The Diocesan Council will work with the District Councils to ensure that we are fulfilling our mission of spiritual growth by serving our neighbors in need.

Now, with the challenges that the current economic climate has caused those in need, this new structure will enable us to better serve the vulnerable populations that need our help. Please keep those we serve in your thoughts and prayers during these difficult times.

When you look at the photos we use in our newsletters, emails and other correspondence, do you ever wonder if these are really people who came to St. Vincent de Paul seeking assistance?  In every instance, the answer is yes.  The pictures of Carol, Russell and Darryl at the top of this page represent just a few of the thousands we have served at the St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy. 

Despite a difficult economy, our little pharmacy helps many people that have almost given up hope in having their prescriptions filled.  We regularly hear stories of people who were breaking tablets in half and skipping doses of critical medications, and so often, this is the first time they have ever had to ask for help. 

Carol, Russell and Darryl were willing to help us and allowed us to use their photos and stories in this letter, so we could stress the importance of our work.  Many of the people we serve are embarrassed and reluctant to share their situation because they cannot afford their prescription medicine.  Sadly, they do not have insurance or any type of government coverage, and nowhere to turn for help.  Virtually everyone we serve suffers from heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure or other serious illnesses.

One story that I’ve never forgotten was told by a couple who came to us after a visit to the emergency room.  They had both been prescribed the same high blood pressure medicine, but since they couldn’t afford both prescriptions, they had filled only one and were sharing it.  This almost cost the husband his life.  Thank goodness, we were there for them, so they never had to end up back in the emergency room because of a lack of medicine.

Our Community Pharmacy is a testament to the power of generous individuals like you.  Because our pharmacy is here, no one in East Baton Rouge, or the other 11 civil parishes we serve, has to go without their medicine.  Last year, we filled prescriptions of hope that saved lives.  We filled prescriptions worth almost $800,000, and we want to fill even more this year.  We also gave out much needed over-the-counter medicines such as: ibuprofen, acetaminophen, sinus medicine, and vitamins.

As the economy continues to struggle, we thank you for your past support, and we also ask you to consider helping us with the increased demand our pharmacy faces.  WBRZ-Channel 2, Pat Shingleton, and the Baton Rouge Clinic have come together once again to help us get the word out about our pharmacy and the Fill a Prescription for the Needy campaign.  You can help with this year’s effort in two ways. 

First, if you know of someone who needs assistance with their prescription medications, please refer them to our pharmacy at (225) 383-7450.  As we mentioned, many people are embarrassed to ask for assistance and sometimes need to be encouraged to seek help.  No one should ever be ashamed to ask for a helping hand-up of hope.

Second, we ask you to help us financially.  In this economy, any gift will make a difference.  The prescriptions we fill are literally saving the lives of people in need.  Please consider helping us to fill prescriptions of hope by giving a gift online (by clicking here). Whether you can afford to give at this time or not, please pray for the people we serve. 

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Michael J. Acaldo

President & CEO

For Christians, the cross is a powerful symbol of our faith.  It reminds us of Christ’s gift for us – His life, death, and resurrection.  His death was so much more than the ending of a human life; it was a new beginning for all of us.  Truly, He showed us how to love one another. 
 
Easter commemorates the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  All are invited to have a passion for Christ – to live our faith following His example.  But at some point, every Christian asks the question, “Where can I find Him?”  The answer can be found in Matthew 25 when Christ says:  “When you do it for the least of my brethren, you do it for me.”  Every time we serve someone in need, we catch a glimpse of His face.  We see Him in the faces of children in need, men with broken spirits, elderly grandmothers and grandfathers in need.  
                                           
At one time or another, we all have a “cross to bear” – whether it’s a financial setback, poor health or the loss of a loved one.  The Easter Season is a good time to reflect, not only on the crosses we have to bear throughout life, but also on the many blessings that God has given us.  
 
For many of the people we serve, life itself has become burdensome.  When every day is a struggle just to survive, it would be so easy to give up. Poverty causes hunger and hopelessness, despair and desperation. So often, in the darkest hour of need, someone extends a helping hand, shining the bright light of Christ into a life that is almost at the breaking point.  
 
Throughout 2022, St. Vincent de Paul continued to be a beacon of light radiating hope to the underserved in the community by providing over 255,000 meals, and over 26,000 homeless shelter guest nights for men, women, and children.   

It is tough to be a child in today’s complicated world, but it should not be!  What a blessing it is to see the joy in a child’s face when their lives are brighten with a simple act of giving. You can see hope and excitement in the eyes and smiles of Ariel, Tay, and Meagan, in the photos above, right after getting a simple Easter basket full of candy.  Most importantly, throughout the year, we assist thousands of children in need with the most basic of needs – food, clothing, shelter, school uniforms and so much more.
 
We are all God’s instruments, and we make a real impact when we reach out to the least among us.  Please consider helping us provide hope to all those we serve by giving a gift by mail, online (by clicking here).  Whether you can afford to give at this time or not, please pray for all of God’s children, young or old, that we serve. 
 
Thank you for your support of our work in our community.  May God bless you and your family during this Easter Season.  
 
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Michael J. Acaldo
President & CEO

Focus on Jesus

If you have watched the wonderful series The Chosen or just watched normal television and have seen the Jesus commercials, there is definitely a new focus on Jesus.  It doesn’t matter if you call it a Jesus movement or revolution, it’s good.  I believe we should all come together and turn to God!  No matter what your faith or spiritual path is, God should be central to your life.  For Christians, the cross is a powerful symbol of our faith.  It reminds us not only of Jesus’ death, but of His life, and the impact He has in our world today.  His death was much more than the ending of a human life; it was a new beginning for all of us.  Truly, His love never ends.

Lent begins our journey.  Easter commemorates the most wonderful event in the history of mankind – the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  As Christians we are all called to have a passion for Christ – to live our faith following His example.  But at some point, every Christian asks the question, “Where can I find Jesus?”  The answer can be found in Matthew 25 when Christ says:  “When you do it for the least of my brethren, you do it for me.”  Every time we serve someone in need, we catch a glimpse of His face.  We see Him in the faces of little children in need, men with broken spirits, elderly grandmothers and grandfathers.  

At one time or another, we all have a “cross to bear” – whether it’s a financial setback, poor health or the loss of a loved one.  The Lenten season is a good time to reflect, not only on the crosses we have to bear throughout life, but also on the many blessings that God has given us.  

For many of the people we serve, life itself has begun to seem like a burden.  When every day is a struggle just to survive, it would be so easy to give up.  But so often, in the darkest hour of need, someone extends a helping hand, shining the bright light of Christ into a life that is almost at the breaking point.  Over 2000 years after His resurrection, St. Vincent de Paul is continuing Christ’s ministry.  In 2022 we provided 255,000 meals, over 26,000 homeless shelter guest nights, and the list could go on and on.

Poverty is hunger and hopelessness, despair and desperation - but there is always hope.  We are all called to answer the call for help.  Every time we answer that call, we keep hope alive for those in need.  

We are all God’s instruments, and we are called to reach out to the least among us.  During this Holy Season, we thank you for all you do for St. Vincent de Paul’s mission of serving all of those in need.  May God bless you and your family during this Lenten and upcoming Easter Season.  

-- Michael J. Acaldo, President & CEO, St. Vincent de Paul Charities 

Support The Attic Trash & Treasure Sale

St. Vincent de Paul asks everyone to support the 2023 Attic Trash & Treasure Sale on March 3rd through 5th at the upper level Sears department store in the Mall of Louisiana, 6401Bluebonnet Boulevard in Baton Rouge. 
 
Thanks to these special ladies and all those who support the Attic, Trash & Treasure Sale, needy people in our community will receive a hand-up of hope through our charitable services.  In addition to St. Vincent de Paul, several other wonderful charities will receive financial support that will help with their charitable missions as well.  We salute one of our community’s greatest assets, our local Attic, Trash & Treasure Angels!
 
Since their first sale in 1990, Attic Trash and Treasure Organization (formerly Inner Wheel of Baton Rouge) has generated over $3 million for local charities. In 2022, the sale raised over $150,000. Items for the sale come from individual donations from the community.

Holly Jolly Raises Over $56,000 for our Chapel!

Lathan Alexander presents a donation check of $56,000 to St. Vincent de Paul’s Michael Acaldo. See more in the story below.

The Annual Holly Jolly Event at Alexander's Highland Market was another great success! This Annual Event that benefited St. Vincent de Paul was held on January 12, 2023.

Lathan and Kelly Alexander are a couple filled with faith! They knew this event was important and that their hard work would benefit those in need served by St. Vincent de Paul. Lathan, Kelly and their son Ethan teamed up to make this effort an outstanding success.

Chef John Folse was the official celebrity master of ceremonies for the event. Like every great recipe, this event had all of the ingredients for a perfect outcome. Alexander’s Market was packed for the event which lasted about two hours. The result was $56,000 all raised to benefit our effort to build a Chapel on our St. Vincent de Paul Campus.

We thank Lathan and Kelly Alexander and the Alexander Family for their generosity! These dollars will go directly to impact our work by providing a Chapel for those we serve and those who volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul.

Build a Basket Begins its 18th Year

During this holiest of seasons, we want every child to feel God’s presence and loving hand in their lives.

What better way to reach out to a needy child than to provide an Easter basket that includes a special card with a simple message about Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. Some of the children we serve have never been told the greatest story in the history of the world – a story of supreme love and surrender to God’s will. Please help us to get the message of God’s love into the hearts and hands of needy children throughout our community.

We distribute baskets to the children served at our St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room and also to needy children identified throughout the area. We provide Easter baskets for the children at our shelter, as well as other area shelters. In addition to candy and small toys, each basket also contains a bookmark explaining what Easter is about in a brief story of Jesus’ resurrection. These young boys and girls have so little, and something as simple as an Easter basket can create a wonderful memory that will last a lifetime. Groups and families can make a big impact, but so can individuals.

Our goal this year is to, once again, distribute several thousand baskets to needy children in our community. In order to reach that goal, we need as many people as possible to get behind this effort. We encourage you to talk to your church groups, civic groups, or co-workers, about building baskets for needy children. It’s easy to do. You can purchase an Easter basket that’s already filled with candy and ready to give to a child. You can also purchase items like Easter grass, candy, crayons, and coloring books for our volunteers to use in assembling baskets. You can also make a donation that can be used to purchase the supplies we need.

We invite you to join St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Arts and Gifts, and many others throughout our community in this effort to provide Easter baskets to needy children. You can build a basket, purchase a ready- made basket, or you can make a contribution and mail it to: St. Vincent de Paul, Build a Basket Effort, P.O. Box 127, Baton Rouge, LA 70821. You can also go online by clicking here to make a donation that will help our volunteers to build a basket. If you have questions about this effort, give us a call at (225) 383-7837, ext. O

Most importantly, we also ask you to keep the children served by this important project in your thoughts and prayers.

Build a Basket Instructions for a Happy Easter

• A new or gently used basket.

• Easter candy of all sorts. (No peanut products.)

• Easter related toys, small toys, stuffed animals, crayons,

  coloring books, etc.

• Wrap the basket with Easter cellophane.

• Most importantly, lots of love and prayers! For drop off

  instructions go to svdpbr.org or call us at 225-383-7837, ext. 0.

St. Louise de Marillac Chapel Update

As we reported in our last newsletter article about our Chapel project, Bishop Duca wrote, “May the spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul guide our efforts for the glory of God and for the support of the spiritual needs of

our whole Vincentian family.” St. Vincent de Paul Board leaders are in the process of finalizing plans for the project, and we are looking forward to putting the project out for bids.

Over the last 150 years, St. Vincent de Paul has been a community leader in providing food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, and other basic necessities. From our beginning in 1865, St. Vincent de Paul has been known for our commitment to Gospel values in serving the most vulnerable.

This project is important to the community because individuals who come to us seeking help often ask for a quiet place where they can reflect and pray. When someone is experiencing homelessness, hunger, or poverty, they have a sense of desperation and hopelessness. Many people we serve are experiencing emotional and psychological stress, and they find strength and comfort in prayer and reflection. This Chapel will provide our neighbors in need the opportunity to strengthen their faith and also help them to realize that many of the volunteers that come to serve do so because of their faith. That connection is important in bringing people together.

Many people who volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul do so because of their faith. Over the years, many of our volunteers have said that they came to us hoping to change someone’s life and found instead that their own lives were transformed. Finally, volunteers will have a place where they can quietly pray to connect their service to their faith.

Some St. Vincent de Paul volunteers have spent over 50 consecutive years in volunteer service. In fact, one volunteer started as a teenager and then served as a volunteer for almost 70 years until his passing. Ask any of these many volunteers why they were so connected and committed and they will tell you that it was because of their faith. Each of us is on a spiritual journey and we are all called to nourish our faith through prayer and action. We believe this chapel will enable us to achieve this most important objective.

The chapel will be built in the heart of the St. Vincent de Paul charitable campus. Once the final set of plans are complete they will be posted online at svdpbr.org. Continue to keep this project in your thoughts and prayers as we move to ground breaking and completion of this long-time dream of our Vincentian family!