Go Forth and Serve: Season for Giving Thanks & Volunteering

As parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul we again have the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of St. Vincent and carry out our parish mission in addition to answering Pope Francis’s call to go out and serve those most in need. Please join our extended Vincentian family at the St. Vincent de Paul Center (Halsted & Webster) for its annual Thanksgiving Outreach Event on Saturday, November 14th from 9:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. (and/or for set-up and sorting nights on Nov. 12th & 13th from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Dinner provided). We hope to have 30 parish volunteers for the Nov. 14th meal and event, as well as several others on Nov. 12th & 13th. Many of the men and women who come to our own parish soup kitchen and food pantry benefit from this event.

We are reminded as followers of the Vincentian mission and our personal faith in God that Christ calls us to serve in His name and see His face in everyone we meet. His words in Mt. 25:40 (so personally vital and important to St. Vincent de Paul in his own work and service) are central to this idea: “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Come join with other parishioners in this special volunteer experience where services include a holiday meal, the distribution of winter clothes, sleeping bags, and items to help our neediest community members get through a harsh Chicago winter. Other services (podiatry, dental, etc.) are on site and referrals for many services are available. We will plan prayer & reflection for our volunteers to follow.

If you are unable to serve, we hope you will consider contributing a slightly used or new winter coat or jacket for the event. Larger size men’s coats (not wool or pea coat style) are most in need. We will have a drop-off box at the back of church from October 17th through November 8th.

Please contact Joyce Walsh at jawalsh70@gmail.com or 773-528-6690 to get more information and directions to registration links for the event. Thank you for all you already do for our brothers and sisters most in need.