St. Vincent de Paul Society

NEWSLETTER

Published by and for Vincentians http://www.stvincentdepaul.net/Vincentian-Support July 2019 Diocesan Council of Phoenix, AZ Vol. 21 No. 6

“It is for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give them.” St. Vincent de Paul

On this Independence Day…

May we remember those who gave themselves in service for our country. May we remember those who gave us the chance to live in the land of opportunity.

May we remember what a blessing it is to live in a country of freedom. May we remember that the Lord has truly blessed us.

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President or Placeholder?

“Following Christ’s example, the Presidents at all levels of The Society endeavor to be servant leaders. They provide an encouraging atmosphere in which the talents, capacities and their spiritual charisms of the members are identified, developed and put to the service of the poor or to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.” (The Rule: 2012 Edition: Part 1: 3.11)

Every year conferences and councils struggle to find members that are qualified and willing to step forward and fill the position of president. Far too often, I hear from Vincentians that no one is willing to serve in that position or that someone did come forward simply because no one else did. Just stepping forward to fill a presidential slot in order to keep a conference or council open is not really what our founders had in mind when they founded the Society. Discerning a call to serve in a leadership role within the structure of SVdP is about prayerful discernment and is rooted in a desire to serve. Servant leadership is about answering a call from God to serve not only the poor but to serve our brother and sister Vincentians and to promote growth and holiness. Like many of the teachings of Christ, the concept of servant leadership turns the traditional model of leadership upside down. Instead of the members of a conference or council working to serve the president, the president actually exists to serve the members and the poor. Servant leadership is based on a desire to serve and aimed at promoting cooperation, collaboration, trust, empathy, holiness and a deep sense of community. Its primary goal is to enhance spiritual growth, fellowship and effective service to the poor. According to Robert Greenleaf in his essay on Servant Leadership, "The servant leader is servant first... It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. That conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead." While servant leadership certainly has the desire to serve as its primary motivator, the term also includes leadership. So how can the servant not only serve but also lead? What types of skills and applications can be employed by servant leaders?

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President or Placeholder? Continued

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First and foremost, a servant leader leads by example. A Vincentian president must regularly participate in the life and works of their conference and/or council. Even though servant leaders are called to delegate, they must spend time encouraging and supporting other members in their roles and works. A servant leader also leads by inspiring, challenging and persuading rather than commanding those individuals they are called to lead. A servant leader thinks of the welfare of others first instead of constantly doing what is best or will further themselves more than the wellbeing of the group. Servant leaders serve in humility, foster a sense of trust, develop other leaders, and think long-term. Servant leaders value diverse opinions and listen to the ideas and dreams of other members. When a member steps forward to serve as president simply because someone needs to fill the position, the entire conference or council is at risk of just treading water or putting in time. Growth, enthusiasm and effectiveness never come out of a neutral position. As leaders, we must be willing to be on fire, excited and passionate about being a Vincentian and willing to share that joy with others. We need to dream, to bring in new materials, new ideas, outside speakers, and new members. We need to encourage evaluation by regularly looking at our successes, our failures, and to be open to change. As leaders we must ask ourselves, am I a president or am I a placeholder? No conference or council needs a placeholder. They need a president that understands that they are answering the call to serve others including Vincentians, the poor, and the Society. They deserve a president who is committed to leading in a Christ-like fashion with faithfulness, joy, and passion. A president that understands that they are in this position not because it was open but rather because God chose them. They were chosen to serve at this moment in time. As presidents, we need to know that it is our call and our response to God's invitation that has placed us into a leadership role. That role is a sacred trust that we have been given. May we never aspire to or be satisfied to simply be a placeholder. May each of us truly embrace our presidency and our the call to serve and to lead.

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“My 18 year old son just got sick with a kidney disease: generalized edema, nephrotic syndrome and hypertension secondary disorders. He had to have care in Phoenix Children’s Hospital through the month of January. This caused me to

loose work time and I have exhausted my annual leave and sick leave.” The mother returned to work just two days before our visit. She has many bills to pay, but knows that this is the most important as her son needs to be warm. She has been self-reliant and was embarrassed to ask for assistance, but as a mother was pushed to swallow the embarrassment and ask. After completing the forms, we prayed with her and her son. Both cried during the prayer and said many thanks as we left their home. The bill which included both December and January was $600.98. The APS Grant paid $400 and the St. Jude Conference was able to pay the remaining $200.98. When I called to let her know that the bill was completely paid, she again cried and said many thank yous. We planned to follow up with this mother and son in the weeks to come. FOLLOW-UP - The son is now stabilized on medication for his condition. This condition will last a lifetime and will need continuous monitoring. Currently, the family has been able, with the help of the Navajo Housing Authority, to move closer to high school, so that the young man can complete his education.

News From Tuba City

(article taken from Spring 2019 Newsletter)

October 20 will be the 20th Anniversary of our St. Jude

Conference

Events will consist of our FRIENDS OF THE POOR WALK 2019 Saturday, October 19 and Mass with “everything Vincentian”

on Sunday, October 20.

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Ask A Parliamentarian

By Shirley Smalley

Is there such a thing as a friendly motion? Most everybody has encountered a well-intended member that blurts out during a meeting, “I want to make a friendly amendment.” When a motion has been made, seconded and stated by the President or the Secretary, it is said to be on the floor. Once a motion is on the floor, the maker of the motion no longer owns it. Any motion to amend a main motion depends upon the acceptance of the assembly, not the person who made the original motion. In informal settings such as committee meetings or minor issues within a Conference, the Chair has the option to seek consensus on the suggested "friendly" amendment. For example, a Conference is voting on a motion to go out to dinner to celebrate the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul. The original motion was to meet at 6:00 and during the discussion another member suggests that the starting time be changed to 6:30 so members could attend mass first. The matter of time is not a critical issue and asking for consent would not cause a major procedural issue. So the change could be made without a formal motion or vote. The same is true of corrections in language or clarifications of the intent of the original motion.

Mark Your Calendars:

Next General Membership Meeting is September 21, 2019

8:30 am Mass

Always encourage your fellow members to attend for a chance to win raffle prizes of $1,000, $2,000, $5,000 for your Conference!

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Blessed Frederic Ozanam Intercession Prayer Line

O God, our Father, You alone have the power to bestow those precious gifts of Yours which we rightly call miracles. If it be Your will, be pleased to grant such a gift on behalf of...

ALL SAINTS MESA Tom Margalski Judy Allard Nancy Hackert Geri Adams Veronica Nord Maureen Julian CHURCH OF THE RES-URRECTION Caroline Steele Bob Bruce HOLY CROSS Traci Fay HOLY FAMILY Emily Allaire IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Deacon Jim Brown Deacon Dave Kaminsky Mike Vize Barbara Reed Jim Plas Lorraine Alvey Kathy Reif Sally Ochoa Diane McCann MOST HOLY TTRINITY Jackie Hennings OLPH SCOTTSDALE Mike Herrrmann Pat Hawn Forrest Dougherty Lila Wisdom Barbara Lowman OUR LADY OF GUADA-LUPE Joe DiGiovanni OUR LADY OF THE LAKE Cindy Smith QUEEN OF PEACE Susan Petrie Mary Kay Dunlevy Martina Bonilla

SACRED HEART—PARKER Karen Rath Mary Gonzales Ron Brayman

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA Dennis Orr

SACRED HEART—PARKER Karen Rath Mary Gonzales Ron Brayman ST. BRIDGET Lou Martinez Cheryl Crame Sandra Jarr ST. JAMES Diane Stofko Abel Noble SACRED HEART—PRESCOTT Richard Howell Herb Bourgault ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE John Winters ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Vince Kempton ST. TIMOTHY Karen Wilson ST. LOUIS THE KING Phil Whelan Ed & Esther Escarcega Raul & Elvia Lujan Mario & Mary Fierros ST. CLARE OF ASSISI Kathy Ford ST. GERMAINE Pat Caldwell Joe Zambito Sue Christian Freda Jeffries Fred Widmer Kathy Ferguson Sandy Smith

ST. GREGORY Gabe Arellano Tate Gatson Josie Gutierrez Shoshanna Fawley Frank Sano ST. MARGARET MARY-BHC Rev. Peter Dobrowski ST. MARY—KINGMAN Patty Couch Roger and Rita Gaumond Diane Schatz ST. MARY MAGDALENE Nancy Weise ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Henrietta Cordova ST. JEROME Nancy Barnes Yvonne Hurley ST. JOSEPH—MAYER John Cantella ST. JOSEPH—WILLIAMS Theresa Norsworthy ST. MATTHEW Evelyn Guerra Charles Seps ST. JOACHIM & ST. ANNE Gene Harmeling Irene Sosnicki Harry Steckler Mary Taylor Lucia Mastroianni Terry DeYoung Al and Alice LaRocque ST. JOAN OF ARC Paul Parent ST. ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE Demore Family ST. STEVEN’S Pat Krause

ST. THERESA Bill Haugen Patricia Metrick SVDP EXECUTIVE OFFICE Ray Daoust Gabriel “Gavin” Rivas Jerry Baily John Mulligan Jayden Southern Jake Doyle Aleena Who Dr. David Goldfarb Barbara Cabin Don Meis The Delbrocco Family Dick Hannon Alice Ehmann Arden O’Connor Michelle Small Jerry Simmons Catherine Mulhern John Jakubczyk Cindy Coons Peter McQuaid Kathleen Nageotte Sharon Ehmann Paul Joseph DeMuro Daniel Mark "Bear" Johnson Thomas Bugai Bryce Yarbrough Mary Raymond Betsy Adams

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St. Vincent de Paul Volunteer Lawyers Program

FREE LEGAL ADVICE CLINICS

WHEN:

3RD Thursday of every month 4:30 – 6 p.m. To reserve your time call, 602-850-6939

Walk-ins welcome!

WHERE: SVDP Resource Center

320 West Watkins, Phoenix

WHO: All are welcome

WHAT:

Talk to volunteer lawyers and receive brief legal advice on your legal issue

2019 Clinic Dates – Mark Your Calendars!

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March 21 April 18 May 16 June 20 July 18

August 15 September 19

October 17 November 21 December 19

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The newly published Member Handbooks are available at Vincentian Support Services.

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