Thanksgiving week has always been an important time for our parish’s St. Vincent de Paul Society. We raise a significant portion of our operating expenses during this time because of the faithful generosity of our parishioners. Add in the support from various groups throughout the year, especially our Holy Name Society, and we have been able to help our neighbors-in-need within our parish boundaries with utilities, household furnishings, rent, clothes, and food.

The virus has changed our manner of contacting the people we work with both in their homes and at the food pantry. The overall needs have grown substantially, but we have been able to offer some help to almost everyone who has asked. During our most recent fiscal year (ended September 2021) we provided monetary assistance to our neighbors-in-need in the amount of $43,416.88 (down from last year’s record setting amount of $62,081.21).

We do not foresee any lessening of requests for help in this coming year. We are hopeful of your continued support with this year’s Thanksgiving collection, future Fifth Sunday collections, the Parish Memorial Fund Program, as well as your individual gifts, words of encouragement, and prayers so we can continue to meet some of the needs of our neighbors.
 
In pre-Covid years you would have received an SVDP Thanksgiving flyer with an attached contribution envelope to put in the special Thanksgiving Mass collection. This year we invite you to put any donation in the Thanksgiving Day collection basket — or in an envelope marked “SVDP” at a different Mass — or send it to the rectory or contribute on the SSP Online Giving site. You are again invited to bring non-perishable food items to be placed on the sanctuary steps at the Thanksgiving Day Mass.

Happy Thanksgiving and blessings to each and every one of you!

Jim Prag, SVDP President
314-504-8216
[email protected]