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The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Bremerton, WA
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Our Lady Star of the Sea Conference
SVDP CONFERENCE OF OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA
REFLECTION – NOVEMBER 2020
“To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything.”
~ Thomas Merton ~
During the month of November, as individuals and as a country, we traditionally celebrate thankfulness and express gratitude for our many blessings. St. John Paul, a man of wisdom, offered the following: “Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.” A thankful heart has been described as not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues (Cicero, a Roman Philosopher).
St. Vincent de Paul himself was often heard to say, “We must give as much time to thanking God for His favors as we have used in asking him for them.” The presence of thankfulness is a fundamental characteristic of our organization and is essential to our Mission and service:
· Being thankful can make each of us a happier and more optimistic person. It is rare for a fundamentally unhappy person to inspire followers to give up their self-interest for the common good, consequently optimism is a key attribute of strong and inspiring leaders.
· Thankfulness opens our minds to the needs of others. When we recognize how we have been blessed, we are more apt to notice the needs of others whose situation in life is less fortunate. The roots of empathy are nourished by a thankful heart.
· Thankfulness is the basis for generosity. Guilt and fear may be powerful motivators for some people, but thankfulness has staying power when it comes to sharing resources with others in need. The motive for giving also matters. In the book, II Corinthians, the Apostle Paul tells us that God loves a cheerful giver. Thankful people give cheerfully.
· The free expression of thankfulness creates a culture of appreciation for the work of others. This is not something that can be easily faked. A heart filled with gratitude enables us to sincerely tell staff, volunteers, and donors how thankful we are for their hard work, dedication, and support.
Within our organization, what are we thankful for?
- Work that has intrinsic meaning and makes a difference in the lives of others.
- Those we are privileged to work with — people of good will who turn the Mission of the organization into reality in the lives of those we serve.
- Those who continue to share their time, talent, and treasure with SVDP, enabling the organization to provide over 80 years of service within our community.
- The realization that every one of life’s blessings comes from God and everything we go through in life is an opportunity to grow in holiness.
In closing, all those affiliated with our SVDP Conference wish you a thankful month as we pray:
· May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deeply within your heart.
· May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.
· May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them.
· May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen (Franciscan Blessing)
Lin Krell
President, Conference of Our Lady Star of the Sea
With the progression of autumn, blessings continue to present themselves at St. Vincent de Paul. Holiday planning is underway. With the help of generous donations, the Assistance Office will be providing over 300 Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets. Families will receive a full turkey or ham dinner. We are continuously grateful for the support that makes such an endeavor possible. The Assistance Office was thankful to receive sleeping bags, coats, hats and gloves from Holy Trinity's cold weather drive. These items will be distributed to those who need them the most in Bremerton. With the support of volunteers, the Assistance Office is now providing Bibles, Rosaries, comfort and support to clients.
Star of The Sea Knights of Columbus & Holy Trinity Knights of Columbus will have holiday food drives for clients of the Assistance Office on November 7th & November 8th, respectively. We have been incredibly thankful for the ongoing support of The Knights of Columbus. At the Birkenfeld - Stella Maris House, residents enjoyed autumn activities such as pumpkin carving and baking cookies. For Halloween, children dressed up in costumes, watched Halloween movies, ate popcorn, and enjoyed time with one another. Residents harvested the community garden gathering over 150lbs of squash, pumpkins, and tomatoes. Tomatoes from the garden were used to make salsa to enjoy while watching the game. With a house full of Seahawks fans, it is always an enthusiastic Sunday afternoon at the Stella Maris House! Clothing at the store has been rearranged by size! Customers can now locate items in the correct size with improved efficiency. The Thrift Store has lowered prices again! Check our Store Facebook for the latest news on sales https://www.facebook.com/St-Vincent-de-Paul-Bremerton-Thrift-Store-155194574516853
October marked one year since our Executive Director Joe Crain joined St. Vincent de Paul. In the last year, Joe has been instrumental in improving operations and empowering a team of “helpers.” At St. Vincent de Paul, we help others. Joe is a prime example of someone who puts their all into bettering the community, one client at a time. Volunteers, staff, and board members were invited to commemorate Joe’s one year at a surprise luncheon.
We count our many blessings at St. Vincent de Paul and look forward to the holiday season.
With gratitude,
Felicia Kolhage & Melinda McMullan
DONATIONS NEEDED
Although St. Vincent's in Bremerton has needed to modify it's operations to comply with safe hygiene practices during the Corona Virus outbreak, we still have the ability to provide assistance through our Conference Office and Women's Shelter. Many in our community are seeking assistance for their basic needs and are hopeful that St. Vincent's will be able to help them during this very difficult time. Please consider donating through this website and with your prayers we will be able to continue our mission of serving those in (great) need.
Please pray for our volunteers and employees who are continuing the work to provide for those we serve in our community. And of course, pray for those who are in need. May this be a time of spiritual discernment when people turn to the Lord and give their lives to Him.
Starting in February 2020
All Active Duty or Retired Military will receive a 20% discount at our
Thrift Store & Furniture Annex
Monday through Saturday as a Special Thank You for your Service.
Must show ID.
This offer will resume when the Thrift Store Re-opens
SVdP Thrift Store - See Us on FACEBOOK
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO EAST BREMERTON ROTARY CLUB FOR THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE BIRKENFELD STELLA-MARIS WOMEN'S SHELTER
A Short Video on the Work of St. Vincent's
CLICK HERE for more information from the SVdP National Website
Find Us Here
Cash donations can be made here. Thank you.
If you prefer, you may specify where you would like your donation to go when filling out the dontation form. please specify in the note area: Conference General Fund, Assistance Office, Women's Shelter, Thrift Store or for specific needs (rental, utility, funeral expenses, etc.) Thank You!
Thrift Store
Stella Maris Shelter
Friends of Stella Maris
Birkenfeld - Stella Maris Women's Shelter
Current Needs
The Birkenfeld-Stella Maris needs diapers sizes 4, 5 & 6. If you would like to donate, please bring diapers to the Assistance Office at 1137 N. Callow Ave.
For general information about The Birkenfeld-Stella Maris Shelter, please email Felicia@svdpaul.org
Contact the Housing Solutions Center at (360) 473-2035 for more information about bed availability.
Thrift Store Donations Click here to see Current Donation Information
Thrift Store
Current Needs
The Thrift Store needs volunteers! Click here to see our monthly calendar and available Volunteer positions, or call the Thrift Store and talk to Melinda or Debra at (360) 377-2929, extension #3. Volunteering is a great way to “Help Us Help Others”.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Website
Holy Trinity Parish Website
