Welcome to St Vincent De Paul
             of Contra Costa

This year’s Western Regional Conference was held in Everett, Washington
June 24th through June 27th.
The Conference included informative workshops on various aspects of Vincentian Spirituality, Housing the Homeless, Technology in the Society, Serving Veterans in need, Prison Ministry, Working with the Hispanic Community and Disaster Relief.

Recordings available for download
Recorded in mp3 format
(Can be played on all computers and most CD/DVD Players)
Ozanam Orientation I Download
Ozanam Orientation II Download
Ozanam Orientation III Download
General Assembly (National) Download 1 Download 2
Western Region Business Meeting Download
The Tao of personal Leadership Download 1 Download 2 Download 3 Download 4
Vincentian Friendship & Spirituality Download
Vincentian Friendship & Spirituality (Espanol) Download
Voice of the Poor Download 1Download 2
Fundraising & Public Affairs Download
El Servicio (Espanol) Download
Disaster Relief: Working with Others Download
Technology in Service to the Poor Download

This is a story about St. Mark’s Church Community in Richmond, a funder, a little bit of hope money and the sweat equity of a group of Vincentian Conference Volunteers.

A year ago the dilapidated kitchen of this Conference located in one of the most challenging communities in the Bay Area received a boost through the efforts of a new young president who believed that with a little bit of support she could change a community.

“This is a tangible example of what can happen with patient mentorship, some tense moments where partnerships can be formed, combined with the long term experience of the volunteer efforts of St. David’s Pantry.”

The keys to this expression of hope that started in the kitchen and flowed into the community were being open to new expressions of Vincentian service, being willing to support something new and a little bit of help.

Thank you, Carl Gellert and Celia Berta Gellert Foundation for the seed that blossomed into a Community of Hope.

The Society
of St. Vincent de Paul
of Contra Costa

Dear Vincentians:

Several of us had the opportunity to attend the Western Regional SVdP Conference held in Everett, Washington. It was a spirit-filled meeting with much learning, celebration, fellowship, prayer, and sharing. The Orientation focused on our mission statement to grow spiritually by offering service to the needy and suffering. Our mission is grounded in Scripture, of which one passage is Matthew 25:37 “When did you see me hungry, etc?” As I see it, as Vincentians it is our responsibility to convert words into action. The Orientation session is convincing in suggesting that all Vincentians should attend an Orientation. Another primary focus was the importance of home visits.

The Council Support Services led by Stephen Krank has been extremely active assisting many Conferences. Included are giving several “Invitations to Serve” Orientation programs, setting up new Conferences, and helping to set up a new food bank at St. Peter Martyr in Pittsburg. The Council is available for assistance to any Conference who needs help to grow and resolve difficult situations. Additionally, we are working on a web-based reporting system so the Conferences can easily facilitate client call record keeping and reporting. We are waiting to see if National adopts a system which will help tie in all Conferences.

We are also excited to inform you that the City of Pittsburg Planning Commission has approved our request for a Dining Room cut out from our Pittsburg warehouse. This is to be a joint venture with Loaves & Fishes to feed the needy 5 days a week. We expect to be feeding 125 plus people a day. The next steps are working drawings, completing an agreement with Loaves & Fishes, fund raising, and building the Dining Room. We expect to be open in 6 months. This will be an opportunity to get a team of 4 or more Vincentians together to work one day a month in the Dining Room. This a good chance to offer person-to-person service to the needy as quoted in our mission statement.

Of course, we will need to raise money to fund the Dining Room, so please let us know of any sources, such as foundations, grants, etc. Additionally, we would like to expand the SVdP Contra Costa Board. There are
other exciting things that the Board is working on besides the dining room, such as a medical clinic and job training. We welcome Vincentians’ who want to be part of a dynamic and spiritual board and who are dreamers as well as doers. Please call Ron Weston or myself if you are interested. In closing, I must say these are challenging but rewarding times for all of us and our clients. There are many things that we can accomplish together. We look forward to working together in this greater Vincentian family.

Sincerely,

Jim Noe, President

Area low income Day Laborers as we work through Street level health project received over 710 warm coats to keep them from getting sick wile hoping to get fair days work. Here these men and women get in line to receive their coats for this winter season.

Vincentians are a Contra Costa County wide base of volunteers, creating a person to person network of 25 Conferences (Chapters or Locations) who provide support to those in need, as people who deserve dignity and respect.

The St.Vincent DePaul Conference at St. John Vianney Parish providing Christmas serving folks from the Monument Corridor. (December)

On site food distribution by Contra Costa Food Bank (December)

Steve Arnaudo, a long time Vincentian, friend and Treasurer for St. David’s Pantry. (December)

Robert Madigan from St. David’s Pantry with Martha Rodriguez at the weekly St. Marks Church food distribution. (December)

Don. Jesus Garcia, Food Picker-Upper, Driver, Santa Food Distribution & St. Mark Conference Vice President. (December)

Sheila Bolin Officer & Secretary at the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Mary’s Parish. (December)

As Learning to Serve & Service Learning, are two opportunities to involve young people as part of the Vincentian Family and experience a hands on Social Justice Ministry. (December)

St. Mary’s Elementary provided a place where Parish and local families, received the Vincentian Spirit of Giving, Food for Christmas Dinner, Presents and Warm Coats. (December)

“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45)