Katie LaLonde has virtually “cut her teeth” volunteering in our Food Pantry.  Katie has checked dates, stocked, cleaned the shelves and even scrubbed the floor of our Parish Pantry. Ms. LaLonde’s greatest endeavor is the building of our new Food Collection Box completed in December 2017 as her Girl Scout Silver Award project.
Katie, an eighth grader at St. Matthew School and member of Girl Scout Troop 4161, identified a need for a larger, more accessible and easier to transport method of collecting food donations.

Katie met with the Parish Office Staff, researched pantries on line, priced materials and worked on the design of the Food Collection Box. Additionally, she supervised and guided (7) people building, painting and installing the new Collection Center, investing (52) hours of her time in this undertaking. Our Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Parish Community are grateful to Katie for the beautiful and practical Silver Award Food Collection Center!
 

One of our fellow Vincentians, Mary Lehman, went to Texas, Wednesday May 27, 2015 to begin her journey to fulfill her vocation. Mary heard the special calling as a young girl, but was told to seek more life experience as she was only 16. Mary’s life journey included; marriage, motherhood, divorce, annulment, a second marriage, and widowhood.

Throughout the years Mary’s faith grew and on Pentecost 2014, she promised herself to poverty, chastity and obedience. She then began a search for an order of sisters that would take a more “seasoned” woman and was accepted by the Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour.
In June 2014, Mary moved to Chesapeake and became not only an active member of St. Matthew Parish but also a Vincentian. Although Mary did not have transportation, she tried to attend daily Mass, made frequent visits to our Perpetual Adoration Chapel, was an Assistant Catechist for Religious Education and worked in the SVdP Office. There seems nothing Mary would not do if asked!

On March 19, 2016, Sister Mary Bernadette of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Lehman professed her vows as an Eudist Servant of the Eleventh Hour in Tijuana, Mexico! Due to health reasons, Sister Mary Bernadette returned to Chesapeake in August 2016. Here she continues to offer up her suffering and prayers, as well as, her work with SVdP. Sister Mary Bernadette renewed her vows on March 18,2018 at St. Matthew Catholic Church.
 

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Society of St. Vincent DePaul St. Matthew Catholic Church Conference

Spiritual Advisor: Father John Abe

The Mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Inspired by Gospel values, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam, and patron, St. Vincent de Paul.

As a reflection of the whole family of God, Members, who are known as Vincentians, are drawn from every ethnic and cultural background, age group, and economic level. Vincentians are united in an international society of charity by their spirit of poverty, humility and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings and adherence to a basic Rule.

Organized locally, Vincentians witness God's love by embracing all works of charity and justice. The Society collaborates with other people of good will in relieving need and addressing its causes, making no distinction in those served because, in them, Vincentians see the face of Christ. Excerpt from the Society of St. Vincent DePaul national website, see link.

National website: http://www.svdpusa.org/Home.aspx

Membership

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul St. Matthew’s Conference welcomes all who want to serve.

Meetings are held twice monthly on Monday's or Wednesdays at 7:00 in the Parish Center Library. Meeting Check the churches calendar on the hompage for the next meeting.

Types of Membership

In the United States, there are three types of membership in SVdP: Active Member, Associate Member, and Contributing Member. 1. Active Members must belong to the Catholic Church, accept the Basic Principles or Charter of the Society, be accepted as an Active Member by a Conference and be enrolled in it. In addition, they need to take part in the life of the Conference to which they belong. Participation implies a reasonable degree of involvement in SVdP meetings, charitable activities, and religious observances. 2. Associate Members, like the Active Member, are affiliated with the Society by formal action of the Conference or Council with which the member will be joined. Associate Members include those who sincerely and publicly accept the Society's basic principles but may or may not belong to the Catholic Church. Associate Members are kept informed of the developments and activities of their immediate groupings, as well as the general progress of the Society, particularly in the local area or diocese. Associate members are invited to attend the general meetings and special observances of the Society. They participate, as they are able, in the charitable activism of the Society in their area. 3. Contribution Members require no formal action for enrollment. Recognition of such status is simply granted by the Society in acknowledging the financial donations of generous or regular contributors. Contributors are invited to be present at general and special meetings.

Service Projects

Personal Assistance to those in need including assistance with medical, rent, and utilities. St. Matthew’s Food Pantry Oasis Social Ministry – Shelter, Soup Kitchen, Thrift Store Wellness Resource Prison Ministry – Virginia Beach Correctional Facility Basilica of St. Mary’s Soup Kitchen Transportation to Mass Giving Tree Holiday Baskets Phillipines Medical Mission – Eyeglass and Hearing Aid Drive