Social justice has been a key component of our Society of Saint Vincent de Paul for close to 20 years, as we joined the larger Vincentian family (FAMVIN) in active systemic change. As defined by FAMVIN, Systemic Change among those in poverty aims beyond providing food, clothing, shelter and alleviating immediate needs. It enables people themselves to engage in the identification of the root causes of their poverty and to create strategies, including advocacy, to change those structures which keep them in poverty. SYSTEMIC CHANGE REQUIRES TRANSFORMING ATTITUDES Transforming attitudes can mean stepping outside of our comfort zone of charity only work to including trying new methods of actually making a difference in the lives of persons living in poverty. This may include listening to their voices, allowing our own thinking to undergo change. READ MORE | | | OUR UNKNOWN NEIGHBOURS: MIGRANT WORKERS The strength of Canada’s economy is measured in part by the size of the labour force that generates income taxes for the government. Foreign workers are a growing segment of the Canadian labour force. Migrant workers (MWs) come from different countries, the most predominates being the Caribbean islands, Mexico, Guatemala, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Ecuador, China, Ukraine, Peru and Brazil. READ MORE | | | | CAMPAIGN - SAFE, SECURE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT The Reality in Moncton A home is a place where you feel comfortable, where you decorate with objects that reflect your personality and where you invite your friends. The right to have a shelter, to sleep in one's own bed, under a roof, to live in a place where each person can be safe is a right enshrined in the Declaration of Human Rights. Having a home is essential to maintaining one's dignity, safety and health. Yet many Canadians struggle to put a roof over their heads. READ MORE | | | ANNUAL NATIONAL FORMATION We are excited to invite you to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Annual National Formation (ANF) to be held in Ottawa on June 17 and 18, 2022 at Carleton University. The theme for the 2022 ANF is HUNGER; this theme covers hunger on different levels, such as hunger for spirituality, human contact, the continuity of SSVP as well as the hunger we address in our communities related to food insecurities. | | We are offering multiple workshops in French and English and a Live Chat Room for an opportunity to exchange ideas and enter into conversations with our fellow Vincentians on their initiatives. We are also pleased to offer a plenary session with a keynote speaker (TBA). The theme of HUNGER will be a thread that runs throughout the two-day event. The Live Chat Room is a forum where members, conferences or councils can identify a topic for discussion or share their successful initiatives/projects with other Vincentians. Please reserve a spot at the Live Chat Room to present your initiative or project by filling this submission form. Workshops are typically 75 minutes long, to include presentation with a question and answer period. Presenters must provide their own presentation material. Please submit your workshop proposal by filling this submission form. Please submit by April 30. This in-person event is long-awaited after our hibernation over the last two years. Our hope is to create an inspiring and uplifting event in which we can once again network and enjoy each other’s company and wisdom. We hope to see you there. National Formation Committee | UKRAINE In solidarity with the people of Ukraine who are being pressured to leave their beloved country to flee the war, and to assist with the exodus of people from Ukraine to neighboring countries or refugees who will be coming to Canada, the National Council of Canada has established a special appeal “Emergency Ukraine”; in conjunction with the International Confederation of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Commission for International Aid and Development (CIAD) , funds will be directed where aids will be required. Donations can be made at: MAKE A DONATION | | PRAYER OF SAINT FRANCIS The person saying the Prayer of Saint Francis is praying that his or her desires be seen as irrelevant and, instead, that he or she become an instrument of God, a tool of God’s divine will, to move beyond their own will and do only what is discerned to be God’s will. It is God’s will that we be a positive influence – to bring love where there is hatred, pardon where there is injury, faith where there is doubt, hope when there is despair, light where there is darkness, and joy where there is sadness. This is not always easy. It is far easier at times to fall into the negativity and worldly cynicism which has always surrounded us. READ MORE | | TOGETHER WE HEAL – Join the Dialogue Circle! Featuring Charles E. Wood
Co-Facilitated by Catherine Twinn and Archbishop Emeritus Sylvain Lavoie, OMI These monthly Dialogue Circles serve as an opportunity to participate in decolonizing our hearts and minds while learning to walk humbly with our Creator towards healing and reconciliation. We welcome Indigenous and non-Indigenous to join these sessions, open to anyone interested in listening more attentively to the stories needing to be heard for a renewed relationship to be born; to educate ourselves about our mutual reality and how to create new pathways together. Our fifth session, focused on education around bringing the children home and the challenge facing survivors of residential school today, will be with Charles E. Wood, next Thursday, March 24, 7:00 pm (MT), at the Star of the North Retreat Centre in St. Albert. The session will also be live-streamed virtually. Charles E. Wood is a Cree Elder and former Chief of the Saddle Lake First Nation in Alberta. His successful leadership with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples allowed him to work at not only the local level, but also the provincial and national levels. Charles was commissioned by the Chiefs of Canada and is an Elder advisor to the North American Indigenous Games as well as one of the original founders. Presently, Charles is an advisor to First Nations, Indigenous organizations, governments at the local, provincial and federal levels. He was also a former Chair of the Blue Quills University. The session will involve a presentation, small group sharing and a closing sharing circle with Charles. There is no charge, but donations are welcome. Please register online or by calling 780-459-5511. | COMMUNICATIONS AND PRAYER WITH THE TWINNING PARTNER There are three main components to an effective twinning – financial assistance, communication and prayer with (or for) the partner. Communication by the recipient twin is a regular challenge due to difficulties in accessing Internet networks, or having no access at all. The language barrier can also be an obstacle. Donor twins must adapt their means of communication to recipient partners with few resources. Cellphones are widely used in developing countries of the southern hemisphere because they are low-cost and free communication options are offered (Messenger, WhatsApp, etc.). These methods of communication are encouraged to maintain regular and effective contacts with twinning partners. Following is a good example of a novel fraternal contact. The North Fraser Particular Council, Coquitlam, BC, has been twinning with the National Council of Guatemala since 2017. Sister Susanna D’Souza is the twinning contact person at the Council. READ MORE | | Q: What are the major areas of responsibilities for a Board? | A: As servant-leaders for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul with the primary focus to be stewards of the organization, it is important to include the Duty of Care, the Duty of Loyalty, and Duty of Obedience in the areas of responsibilities as the governing body on behalf of all members. READ MORE | | Golf Shirt - $28 Women
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in blue, black and red BUY NOW | | We are always looking for Vincentian testimonials and conference/council activity stories. Send your stories to share with Vincentians across Canada to editor@ssvp.ca. If you received this from a friend, you can subscribe to receive our newsletter directly. SUBSCRIBE HERE | | | | |
