Letter from a Grateful Mom

Pope Francis has revitalized a ‘Vatican Almoner,’ a centuries old position of someone to hand out alms.  Well, the Pope has nothing on the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.  We have our own Almoners – you, our most generous parishioners.  The almoner’s duties are two-fold according to the 13th century organization established for papal charity – carrying out acts of charity and raising the money to fund them.  Together, OLMC Conference members and OLMC parishioners – are a very effective almoner team.

Recently, our conference ‘adopted’ a family.  We have never been able to do this in the past, but your generosity made it possible.  A mother and her two young children recently moved into an empty apartment.  They had been homeless for many months and were thankful to be able to sleep on the floor in a safe, warm place.  With your help, we were able to furnish her home and ensure a very blessed Christmas for them.  Her heartfelt letter of thanks is above.

St. Vincent de Paul’s Sunday collection takes place on the fifth Sunday of every month that has five Sundays.  In 2014, your opportunities to donate will be on March 30, June 29, August 31 and November 30.  If you can’t give at that time, a donation can be put in an envelope labeled St. Vincent de Paul and dropped in the collection basket or the poor box at the back of the church.  Thank you for all you do for St. Vincent de Paul!

The above message is reprinted with permission from OLMC's St. Vincent de Paul Conference.