Introducing Our New Director of Conference Formation

I’m Karen O’Keefe and I joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in February 2023 as the new Director of Conference Formation!  What is that job, you ask?  I support and coordinate the 57 Conferences which are groups of Vincentian volunteers at our local Catholic Parishes!  In 2022, over $2.3 million dollars of desperately needed aid was distributed to individuals in our community by more than 800 Vincentian volunteers through our Parish Conferences.  As a Licensed Social Worker with a background in mental health, homeless services, and addiction, I’m thrilled to join this astonishing network of neighbors helping neighbors.  

As one of our first initiatives, our Pittsburgh office partnered with the SVdP Eastern Region Formator from Philadelphia who joined us for two full days of a “train-the-trainer” course on Orientation for new Vincentians Volunteers.  Pittsburgh now has six formators prepared to offer robust trainings grounded in Catholic Spirituality to any new volunteers seeking to serve the poor! 

Money, prayers, and people are all needed to sustain our vital work!  If you feel called to help the poor directly in service, please call me at 412-321-1071 X1203 to learn more about becoming a Vincentian Volunteer!  We need you!  You would join an incredible legacy of 171 years of aid to the poorest in the Pittsburgh area!  Thank you and God bless you for providing materially, spiritually, and in gift of self, to our most needy neighbors in the Pittsburgh area!