As an annual donor to the Society of SVdP, Justin Luzar is, in a lot of ways, your typical Vincentian.   Justin, who lives with his wife and two children in Scott Township, is a member of St. Raphael the Archangel parish.   He learned about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul when the church’s organizations had a ‘get to know us’ session after Mass one Sunday.    But he liked the idea of the work done by the SVdP people because they were “directly involved” with those they served.   As he put it, they were “down in the trenches” dealing with the needs of people.

Prior to that day, however, Justin was inspired by the biblical verse “those to whom much has been given, much will be required (Luke 12:48).  That made him think about all the blessings that he has, some of which he feels he earned, but many, he realized, were the result of circumstances into which he was born which were inherently much better than many others.

After that Sunday about 15 years ago, he ventured into the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and began contributing to our work.   Since then, two particular cases have left a lasting impression on him.   

One, had to do with a poor single woman who said she needed some furniture.  When he went to do the home visit with her, he found that she lived within a world that he could never imagine or relate to.   A world surrounded by extreme hardship and violence that saw her son killed in a shooting and others in her family suffering the same or similar horrors.   It opened his eyes to just how terrible and hopeless the world of poverty is, even beyond the obvious lack of money.

The other case was, some would say, milder, albeit also potentially devastating.   He visited a young couple who had all the niceties that he and his wife enjoyed in the suburbs – their own home, good jobs, and two cars.   What was jarring in this case was that when the husband’s mother took ill, he lost considerable income having to work less in order to tend to her.   Then his wife got laid off, and before they knew it their world was hanging on tenterhooks.    It jarred him that these friends in need “were just like me in many respects”.   He learned that hardship can strike at any time.

And, as with most Vincentians and conferences, Justin and his conference struggle with the dilemma of how to allocate limited funds.  Not all needs are equal and not all friends in need can be helped by a conference.   That is one reason that Justin believes that ‘twinning’ between conferences is such a great idea.   The greater good, he feels, is the ultimate goal in the Society’s mission.  

Unlike many Vincentians, Justin is not retired and yet he devotes whatever valuable time he can to the work of SVdP.   He also does not keep the light of his service to God under a basket, but instead he and his wife share the work that he does, along with their other charity efforts, with their children.   In doing so they hope that their children will be inspired to do the same kinds of things when they grow up.

To those considering whether to join in and become a member of a SVdP conference within their church, he urges folks to simply take the first step and go from there.   It may be resources that can be offered, or it may be time that can be shared.   But simply thinking about it alone, he says, won’t make it happen.   In the end, it’s the few, in this world, who end up doing what accomplishes so much!

The staff at the Council office of SVdP recently welcomed student intern, Dominique Jetter, as she joined them in their work.  Dominque is a freshman at Nazareth Prep High School, which is affiliated with and operated by the Holy Family Institute of Pittsburgh.  

Nazareth Prep High School was founded about ten years ago and it currently enrolls about 100 students.  The school requires that all students in grades 9-12 participate in an internship one day a week throughout each of their high school years.   Those internships may be served in both the corporate and the non-profit sectors within the greater Pittsburgh area.   The school even provides transportation for students to and from their internship sites.

The coordinator of the program, Randy Lheureau, says that students are graded at the end of the year for the work that they have done.   However, the goal is to have them learn and understand the various skills and abilities that they will need in whatever career interests they eventually pursue.   Things like good communication skills, the ability to meet deadlines and expectations, and general overall growth as young people entering the working world.

Dominique will be working on a variety of things in the main administrative office, but so far has been assisting with the many phone call messages from friends in need who contact the office seeking assistance.  Receiving those calls, she then directs people to the appropriate conferences with the hope of obtaining some help.  In doing so, she is learning many of the skills that will eventually help her as she moves through life.  She says that she is enjoying what she does and is even ‘having fun’!

Our best wishes to Dominique and to the Nazareth Prep program.   If anyone has any further interest or questions about it, feel free to contact Randy, who will be happy to speak with you.  He can be reached directly at the school at 412-307-0230 x1395 or Lheureau.randall@nazarethprep.org.

As the leaves turn brilliant shades of red and gold and the air grows crisp and cool, November arrives with its unique charm and significance. It’s a time when we come together to reflect on our blessings and show our gratitude.

Thanksgiving, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States, is a holiday dedicated to giving thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. It’s a time when families and friends gather to share meals and express their gratitude for one another. In a similar spirit, November is a time for all of us to pause and reflect on the many things we are thankful for, both personally and as part of our larger community.

November provides the perfect opportunity to extend our gratitude to those in need. It’s a month when we can turn our thankfulness into action by making donations to causes and organizations that make a difference in the lives of others. Your support and generosity can have a profound impact on those who may be less fortunate.

Why November?

Historically, November has been associated with the harvest season. Farmers and communities gather their crops, and it’s a time to share the abundance with those who may not have enough. The holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving and continuing through December, fosters a sense of generosity and goodwill. It’s a time when people are more inclined to give.

As we count our blessings, we also recognize the importance of helping others in need. November’s reflective spirit reminds us of the value of sharing our good fortune. November 28 is Give Big Pittsburgh, and we invite you to express your gratitude through generosity. Whether it’s volunteering your time at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul or making a financial contribution towards our mission, every act of kindness counts!

Your donation at any time during this season of giving—whether during Give Big Pittsburgh or directly to us through mail, online, phone, or another giving vehicle—fuels our assistance and outreach programs and sustains our activities in service to our neighbors in need. If you feel moved to give financially today know that your contribution makes a significant difference.

Many people consider making end-of-year charitable donations in November to maximize their tax deductions for the current year. This can be a win-win for both donors and recipients. Many in our community give stock, make grants from Donor Advised funds, or make Qualified Charitable Distributions – all of which are more “tax-smart” than giving cash. For more information about tax-smart giving, please contact your financial advisor, or Director of Development Jennifer Thoma at jthoma@svdppitt.org or 412.321.1071×1204.

Whether big, small, or somewhere in between, everything we have is from God and when we share it generously, we mirror the heart of Our Heavenly Father who gives without measure. As Catholics, let’s embrace this spirit of stewardship and continue reflecting God’s love through our actions.

Have you been enjoying the beautiful fall colors this year? I marvel and contemplate the good Earth God so lovingly created for us! If we pay attention, nature can reveal much about God’s ways, which are always higher than ours! (Isaiah 55:8-9). As our landscapes transform from lush greens to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows, we are reminded in a gentle and beautiful way that the Earth and all life within it are transitioning. The busy, long, bright, warm, days of summer are now in the past. The crisp, cool air of fall signals preparation for the coming of a dark, still, and quiet winter. 

Just as the change of seasons in nature is inevitable, so too are the changes of seasons in our life. One of the reflections that has been on my heart during this change of season is that of the story of Martha and Mary (Luke 10: 38-42). In this passage, Martha is active and busy! She occupies herself with the practical daily tasks of caring for herself and those around her by attending to the very real physical needs of life. What a beautiful gift it would have been to physically prepare a meal or sleeping place for our Lord Jesus and His disciples! Yet, we see that it is Mary who has chosen the better part. What is she doing? Simply sitting at the feet of Jesus! Her state of physical rest allows her attention to focus solely on Jesus. This posture and place surely allow for profound spiritual growth and deepening in personal relationship with Jesus. And how wonderful that this “better choice” of Mary is still available to us each day!

As Vincentians, we are called to many Martha-like moments. We are busy, working hard to ensure our neighbors have food, clothing, housing, heat, and all their basic needs met. What a beautiful gift of self-giving to those around us! Particularly, in our Vincentian charism, it is not only neighbors and friends we serve. We see the face of Christ in the poor! (Matthew 25:37-40). Despite the 1,990 years since Christ’s death and resurrection, we still care for the very real and ongoing physical needs of the body of Christ on Earth as we care for the physical needs of the least of our brothers and sisters. This is AMAZING and BLESSED work! It is truly a calling by God! However, it is not the only way to know and serve Him. We are all called to have both Martha and Mary moments in our lives. 

As the physical seasons change and move towards physical dormition, it provides an opportunity to reflect. What is your current season in life and where is God calling you? Have you had many Mary-like moments of just sitting with the Lord in stillness recently? As nature transitions towards the silent and still season of winter, could God also be calling you towards a season of more moments of just being at rest in His presence? Intentionally creating silent space, both exterior and interior, simply to spend time together with the Lord, is a beautiful spiritual work! By sitting at the feet of Jesus we come to better know and trust Him who is Love itself. This will only deepen our Vincentian spirituality and allow us to better serve in charity our friends and neighbors!

Bethany Smith has always had a heart for serving others, but when a friend told her about the SVdP program at Duquesne University that helps the homeless, she got a chance to put that to work.

Arian Hajihassani decided to focus his career after school on cancer research to help persons with the same disease that afflicted his mother.  But while he tends to his studies with that goal in mind, he also fulfills his innate desire to help others by tending to the homeless within his local community.

Each Sunday night these co-presidents of the SVdP program, along with their fellow students who volunteer to participate, venture into the world of the homeless in Pittsburgh’s downtown area.  

Bethany and Arian have found that they have been inspired by the long standing SVdP program in this area.   Bethany says it “has opened my eyes to the experience of homelessness and the various struggles that they face”.  Through his experience, Arian has come to understand “how homelessness removes opportunities for the basic things most of us all enjoy and take for granted”; a roof over our heads and a bed to sleep in, for sure.  But also, the chance for adequate medical care, money to buy things we need, personal hygiene items, simple food needs, and even to be treated in a civil and humane manner by others.  They have come to see these people as fellow human beings who most often suffer from circumstances beyond their control. 

Arian says that his faith has reinforced his sense that he has been “called to do this”.  He notes that the Bible points us to do such things and that the words and actions of Jesus direct us to help the needy.  Bethany says that aiding the homeless has brought her closer to Jesus as she encounters Him in each person they serve.  And these students are often moved by the faith of the needy who often ask if they can pray for the students who help them. 

The SVdP program is sustained solely by its means of support through Duquesne University.  However, Bethany and Arian feel that, in a better world, more people would come to see the many homeless and their needs more clearly.  Their hope is that, in doing so, people would be moved to help this ministry further through donations from beyond the limited resources of the school.

So, each Sunday night, give some thought and prayer for all the homeless and for those students who venture out to provide them with a little help and a lot of love.  Maybe we will all be inspired by their example!

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