As my time at Christ the King winds down, I’ve had a chance to reflect on some of the things of which I’m most proud. Our St. Vincent de Paul conference is right at the top of that list!
When I first arrived at Christ the King, I was moved by the good work taking place by our parishioners involved in Christian Action, including our Food Pantry, work with Dismas House, involvement with pro-life ministry, and other efforts. I knew, however, that there was a small group of dedicated parishioners shouldering most of the work, and that there was room for many more parishioners to get involved and thus greatly increase the impact we could have on poverty in our local community. Finding ways to increase our outreach to the poor in our neighborhood was a top priority of our parish strategic plan in 2018, but then the pandemic hit, and we didn’t make much progress toward this goal.
So imagine my delight when parishioner Randy Raciti approached me in 2022 with the idea of starting a St. Vincent de Paul conference here at Christ the King! As I started to learn more about the way that SVdP serves the poor in our local community through parish-based conferences, I realized that this idea had the potential to accomplish everything we wanted to accomplish in our strategic plan, and more. Truly divine providence was at work in our conversation that day, and the most inspiring part of this process to me was that it was dedicated volunteer parishioners like Randy & Tami Raciti and (current Co-Presidents) Mike & Heather Coyne that got our conference off the ground, as well as Christian Action veterans who helped this new ministry continue the good works that were already in place. Under Mike and Heather’s leadership our conference has grown and flourished with over 70 parishioners active in this ministry, serving and sharing life with our neighbors in need.
As I look at what our conference has accomplished in less than three years, I’m truly in awe of the dedication our parishioners have shown in serving our neighbors in need. Our Vincentians have not only made countless food deliveries, but they have made these visits in a way that emphasizes building a relationship with that neighbor (what the late Pope Francis used to call a “building a culture of encounter”). They don’t just give our neighbors food. They give our neighbors respect, dignity and hope, and as we’ve learned so much about the great needs that exist in our community, we’ve also learned about the different types of help that are available. This has led to many inspiring stories where we’ve been able to go beyond food deliveries and assist neighbors with bill payment, affordable housing and all sorts of other needs. I never would have dreamed that this ministry could have become so active in such a short time, but that just goes to show that you can’t underestimate what the Holy Spirit can accomplish in a group of faith-filled volunteers.
This ministry is poised to be a major part of our parish’s Christian outreach for years to come, so I’d like to express my thanks to everyone involved: to all of those who’ve taken on leadership roles, all who have volunteered their time as home visitors and shoppers, all those who have attended meetings and aided in the spiritual formation of our Vincentians, and all of you who’ve donated to our Food Pantry or contributed through your Parish Poor envelopes. I’m incredibly inspired by the difference you have made in the lives of our neighbors in need, and the effect that this Christ-like charity has had on our parish.
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