Our SVP Conference (the official word for ’team’) at St Gregory’s was formally founded on 26th April 2016. That means that we are in our fifth year already! The rules of the global SVP society say that every five years we need to have a change of leadership. For us, this means that by 25th April 2021 we need to have a new president in place. A change in leadership is a great opportunity for:
On Monday evening we held our second monthly meeting online - and the turnout was 13 members - amazing! On top of that, the previous Friday, 1st May, it was the turn of our Young People’s SVP Team and they had an online attendance of eight, which allowed for a very productive monthly meeting too!
We are really blessed to have such great parishioners in the community and please say a prayer that the fruits of their labours will really flourish once this present pandemic passes. Our main actions at present are the Foodbank and the associated home deliveries, including prescriptions pick-ups. The new team of ’temporary’ SVP members helping us with all of this are fabulous and are another example of the silver linings to this passing cloud.
The response of the parish to the recent Foodbank appeal has just been amazing, and a simple ‘Thank You’ just does not seem enough!
It just goes to prove that even the cloud of a pandemic can have a ‘Wonder’-ful and ‘Awe’-some silver lining. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit have been exhibited so strongly by the parish, and at such an appropriate time of the year too! Your ‘Kindness’, ‘Generosity’ and ‘Love’ means that our less fortunate sisters and brothers now have ‘Knowledge’, ‘Understanding’ and ‘Hope’ that they are not forgotten and that they are loved.
Continue reading Overwhelming Response to the Foodbank Appeal →
Last Thursday was the birthday of Blessed Frederic Ozanam (b. 1813), the founder of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. The native of Milan started the charity as a 20-year-old student at the Sorbonne in Paris when his sense of social justice was awakened.
Earlier this year, we were blessed with the coming together of similar (and younger) students in our parish, who also wanted to do their part in addressing the social justice issues of their time. This team, which we call the “Young Persons SVP,” is now 12-strong and is mentored by some SVP members.
The SVP Team hope that you all had a lovely Easter weekend and wish you a very Holy Easter Season. As a team, we are continually blessed and energised by the amazing examples of true Christian witnessing that we see around us! Your support, through your prayers, your volunteering, your messages and your donations, is really tangible and real and it is very much appreciated. Each Saturday, your support allows us to not only continue to operate the Foodbank but to also do some home deliveries to our sisters and brothers who are in real need.