SSVP CANADA - March 22, 2023 | ANNUAL NATIONAL FORMATION (ANF) We are very pleased to announce that the Annual National Formation (ANF) conference is confirmed to take place in Ottawa on Friday June 9 and Saturday June 10, 2023. Our theme for the 2023 ANF is Servant Leader. Once again, we have chosen Carleton University. Our workshops this year will fall within the theme Servant Leader. We have been receiving proposals and we will offer several choices in French and English. These will be announced as we get closer to the event. The meeting will start at 10.00 am Friday morning, with welcome speech, followed by the keynote speaker (to be announced). Workshops will be presented in the afternoon, followed by the Live Chat Room in the evening. More workshops will be presented on Saturday morning and afternoon, followed by the candidates for National Council President presentations. Look out for our next newsletters for more information. | ANF - WORKSHOPS 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 the submission form. WORKSHOPS SUBMISSION FORM Please submit by April 30. | ANF - LIVE CHAT ROOM 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 the submission form. LIVE CHAT ROOM SUBMISSION FORM Please submit by April 30. | | ELECTION - NATIONAL PRESIDENT Once again, the time has come to consider candidates for the position of President of the National Council of Canada. The format, timelines and candidate eligibility considerations are as follows and taken from the Canadian Statutes and Rule of the Society in Canada (2.3.4). Only members of Aggregated Conferences and Instituted Councils are eligible as candidates or nominators. The Role and Responsibilities of the National President can be found in Section 2.5 and 2.5.1 of the Canadian Statutes and Rule. | COUNCIL GENERAL INTERNATIONAL | CGI PREPARES A BOOKLET FOR THE REJUVENATION OF OUR CONFERENCES How many times have we heard phrases like these: “My Conference is getting old” or “Young people are not participating in our Conferences as in the past”. To face this problem, which is a reality in many nations, the Council General is preparing a PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THE REJUVENATION OF VINCENTIAN CONFERENCES. The booklet will be launched at the General Assembly to be held in Rome in June 2023. READ MORE | | REFLECTION ON SHINING LIGHT “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) In his homily for the 6th World Day of the Poor in November 13, 2022, Pope Francis exhorted us: “Let us bear witness. Let us light candles of hope in the midst of darkness. Amid dramatic situations, let us seize opportunities to bear witness to the Gospel of joy and to build a more fraternal world. Let us commit ourselves courageously to justice, the rule of law and peace, and stand at the side of the weakest”. READ MORE | | GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME Following the five articles on the "Basic Income Program" published by the Circle of Advocacy in the newsletters from January 11 to March 8. March 2023, we suggest you write to your MP / MLA / MPP (Ontario)/ MNA (Quebec)/ MHA (NFLD) to remind them that it is time to implement a Basic Income Program as it is an affordable, proven and practical means to lift thousands of Canadians out of the debilitating, unhealthy and hopeless depths of poverty. If you click on this link, you will find the template for a letter that you can use for this purpose. TEMPLATE (Word document) | | APPLICATION FOR TWINNING
WITH A COLOMBIAN YOUTH CONFERENCE Twinning has remained a fundamental work of the Society since its inception. It involves creating a partnership between a Conference or Council from Canada (donor) and one from an emerging country (recipient). | | It is a privileged way to create fraternal bonds with Vincentians from poor countries, to support works of charity and social justice through financial aid and prayer. Several “Twinning Requests” are waiting for a partner from Canada. In particular, a Twinning Application from Conferencia (Juvenil) Nuestra Senora de Fatima, Manizales, Colombia. It is a Youth Conference whose main activities are monthly formation in the Christian, human and technical fields, aid to students from vulnerable populations, delivery of grocery baskets and other forms of assistance to families in need. READ MORE | ST. JEROME CONFERENCE
BRAMPTON, ONTARIO
St. Jerome Conference is twinning with the Central Council of Barbados. Both twinning partners maintain regular correspondence by email. You are invited to consult the Conference’s report for the year 2022, which was sent to the Barbados Council in February. The report shows the great progress made by the Conference, both in terms of recruitment of new members since its establishment in 2020 and the variety of activities and services it offers to those in need. Clermont Fortin, Chair
National Twinning Committee ST. JEROME'S REPORT | NEWEST CONFERENCE VOLUNTEER The Good Shepherd Parish SSVP is pleased to introduce our newest conference volunteer, Master Jack Freeman (age 4), son of Cathryn and Patrick Freeman of Tecumseh, Ontario. Jack is in Junior Kindergarten at St. Pius X School. He regularly helps out Papa Steve Freeman in the Windsor-Essex Central Food Warehouse. Jack practices his numbers by printing the dates on all the food that is donated and places the items on the correct shelves. He is also in charge of putting the broken-down cardboard boxes into the recycling gator. We are extremely thankful to have such an enthusiastic volunteer in our conference! Natalie Byczynski, President
Good Shepherd Conf., Tecumseh ON MORE PHOTOS | | QUESTION What is the difference between the AGA and the ANF? | ANSWER The AGA is the Annual General Assembly where the statutory meeting is held. The reports, financial and others, are presented, as well as the budget. All voting members, presidents of particular, central and regional councils are invited to represent their council. The ANF is the Annual National Formation to which all Vincentians are invited to participate. An inspiring and challenging event, where Vincentians bond while participating in presentations, workshops and the Live Chat Room. | | 2.2.8 THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CANADA 2.2.8.1 Role of the National Council The national council, through its elected president, its appointed executive committee, and its board of directors, provides leadership at the annual general assembly and special meetings and for all Vincentian activities throughout Canada. The national council is the sole authority for the use of the name, logo and colours of the Society within Canada and ensures that the basic principles of the Society, as contained in the Rule and Statutes, are communicated to, and respected by, all Vincentians. The national council represents the Society in issues dealing with social justice and the environment. It may delegate its authority to deal with such issues to councils or conferences at the local or regional level. | 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 | Society of Saint Vincent de Paul - National Council of Canada 2463 Innes Road Ottawa, ON K1B 3K3 | | | | |
