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Sunday is the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), a document translated into more than 500 languages. Before that, in 1833, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam founded the first SVP conference in Paris. Being guided by the Holy Spirit burning within him, he set out to help those suffering from poverty within his neighbourhood. Since then, the SVP has also become universal and the same Holy Spirit guides each conference today, as it did that first one in Paris.

The run-up to Christmas is always a time full of appeals for the needy. This year it is no different and the SVP appeals are already out there, in the form of our reverse Advent Calendar, for example. Amidst these, it can be easy to forget that the spirit of the needy person might also need help. So, if you can, please pray for our needy, that they may receive inner strength to deal with their issues and then the Holy Spirit will do the rest!

This weekend marks the end of the Church’s year and the beginning of a new one! Is your inner self, your soul, beginning to wonder what new resolution to take up, to mark this new year in the life of the Church? Is your soul nagging you, longing to make contact with its brother and sister souls in the people of the parish around you? Do you sometimes feel an unsettled, burning sensation within you? This may well be your inner self, your soul, the Holy Spirit, communicating with you to say that it longs to put your gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit into action! ‘Turning Concern into Action’ is the global motto of the SVP, and joining your local SVP Team may be one way of responding to your soul. We are always in need of new members and you will be guaranteed to make some new friends!! Just get in touch if this fits the bill for you!!

If you browse the Saint Vincent de Paul headquarters website, you’ll read the words ‘compassion’ and ‘care.’ Putting these words into physical action was at the heart of Blessed Frédéric Ozanam’s vision for the society, which he founded in 1833. It is noteworthy that these two words rarely feature in reports from the trouble spots of our world today.

As we now begin preparations to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, Christ our Lord, let us reclaim and take personal ownership of these two words of peace. Let’s introduce them, and associated actions, into our daily vocabulary and interactions with our friends and communities. Then, just let the Holy Spirit do the rest.

The SVP Team supports the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) by visiting our brothers being held in the Harmondsworth and Colnbrook detention centres, in our borough. To prevent these brothers of ours becoming homeless when they are released into the community, the JRS have recently set up Amani House. They now need to turn this house into a home, though, and are appealing for all sorts of items. If you are having a clear-out, why not check what is needed! And, if helping the JRS is something you’d like to get involved with, then just get in contact with your SVP Team and we’ll explain what we do for them. It is incredibly rewarding.