Author: Teresa Stack

On Monday, March 17, the “Luck of the Irish” will be at the SVdP Orland Park Thrift store with 50% OFF THE ENTIRE STORE in celebration of 10 years at this location!

Also included in the 50% off sale, is our Vinnie’s Treasures Boutique. The Vinnie’s Treasures Boutique includes higher end and vintage items.

Kelly Cole, Orland Park Store Manager, said “I’m excited for our 10-year anniversary sale! We have such a huge variety of items in our store from vintage to modern and everything in between. I feel this is what makes our store particularly unique.”

Kelly and the rest of the staff look forward to seeing everyone on Monday to celebrate! The store will also be having a donation drive for our Friends in Need. For every donation made, your name will be added to a balloon as a generous supporter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Friends in Need program. If you cannot make it to the store, but would still like to donate, click HERE.

Thank you for your support!

We are excited to announce that onTuesday, March 18, our SVdP Libertyville Thrift Store will be featured on WGN TV, Channel 9, “Around Town” segment with Ana Belaval between 7:55-10:00 AM.

If you do not have “Live TV” because you only use a streaming service, you can watch off your computer by going to www.wgntv.com. Once you are on their website, you’ll see LIVE NOW on the top left corner. Click on that and you’ll be able to watch the show off your computer.

We are so blessed to have this opportunity to talk about our mission, our two thrift stores, and how the Society is making an impact in Cook and Lake counties!

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is thrilled to announce its first-ever Vinny’s Treasures Clearance Sale, taking place at Sacred Heart Parish, at the Parish Center East entrance, located at 8245 W. 111th St, Palos Hills, IL 60465. This exciting event will be held from Friday, September 27th through Sunday, September 29th, with shopping hours from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily.

The Vinny’s Treasures Clearance Sale is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to shop for a wide variety of items, including antiques, home goods, glassware, toys, artwork, holiday décor, fashion, accessories, and fur coats. With an extensive collection of new and used goods too numerous to list, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for unique treasures or great deals, this sale promises incredible bargains priced to sell quickly.

Don’t miss out on the chance to find hidden gems and support a worthy cause. Proceeds from the sale will go towards helping those in need within our local communities.

Dear Vincentians, It is with a heavy heart that I inform you our fellow Vincentian, Roger Playwin, former SVdP National CEO, passed away this morning in Michigan. In 2013, Roger stepped down from his duties at SVdP after 10 years of dedicated service to those in need. During Roger’s time with SVdP, a leadership program (Invitation for Renewal) was created. A strategic plan was also implemented that had some 100 objectives. At the end of five years, 80 percent of those objectives were achieved. These are just a couple of Roger’s biggest accomplishments during his time with the Society. Roger was a friend to many and was dedicated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He will be missed by many. During this difficult time, please keep his wife, Sue, and his family in your prayers. God Bless, Harry Ohde Volunteer CEO / President Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago ADC

St. Vincent de Paul’s very own LaVerne Horgan, Food Pantry Director, from the Church of the Holy Spirit Conference, was nominated by a fellow food pantry volunteer for “WGN’s Remarkable Women 2024”. Nominations began in November 2023. To be nominated, WGN was looking for someone who has made a tremendous difference in the community as a positive example of self-achievement or exhibits innovation, creativity or entrepreneurial spirit.

We are excited to announce that LaVerne is one of four finalists! LaVerne had no idea until she was contacted by WGN to inform her that she was one of the four finalists. WGN came to the food pantry, did some interviews and recordings and will be featured on WGN Channel 9 tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, on the 4pm news segment.

LaVerne said that she appreciates being nominated, but that the show should include all of the food pantry volunteers that show up week-after-week. She wanted to make sure all these volunteers were recognized. When we asked LaVerne for a list, she was quick to reply with a list of those who make this food pantry happen to help those in need.

On behalf of LaVerne and SVdP Chicago, thank you to all these amazing volunteers for their dedication and commitment to the Church of the Holy Spirit Food Pantry:

John & Mary Backstrom, Bob Blinn, Shirley & Leon Blum, Pat Bongiorno, John Cason, Dan & Mary Daniels, Gary Dindia, Mike Enger, Carol Feo, Jim Freeman, Anita Galvan, Michael Glennon, Daniel & Janet Green, Tom Griffin, Dennis Grogan, Joanne Gryn, Bill Gulik, Sheila Gummerson, Gloria Hagg, Susan Huber, Jan Jenrick, Erika Lechuga, Teresa Lope, Burke & Mary MacDonald, Pam Majors, Diane Malkowski, Larry Manzella, Angelica Mata, Rich & Jan Matusiak, Jane McCauley, Mary Memhardt, John & Sharon Mennella, Nancy Moulton, Lois & Ray Mular, Ken & Sharon Ogorzalek, Kathy O’Mahoney, Karmen Ramirez, Dennis Riley, Domingo Salgado, Joe Schmidt, Rainier Seriosa, Kathy Sicklesteel, Mike Stadler, Dorothy Sternisha, Mary Stevens, Jane Szczesniak, Bob & Linda Tracy, Karen Willden, and Sandi Wrjtak.

We look forward to seeing Laverne on TV tomorrow. Once we have a link to the segment, we will share it.

Congratulations Laverne!

You are cordially invited to join us this Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 3:00 pm at St. Daniel the Prophet Church, 5300 S. Natoma Avenue, Chicago, IL 60638. We are very grateful that Father Gerry will be presiding over the mass. 

Spirituality is a core value for Vincentians. The opportunity to come together for prayer and fellowship strengthens our bond as an organization. We will be honoring those near and dear that have journeyed home to our Lord with special memorial mentions. In addition, we will also be presenting awards to an individual or group for all they do for the Society and our Friends in Need.

We look forward to seeing everyone at our Annual Memorial Mass! 

Since 1857, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago has been helping countless Friends in Need throughout Chicago and Cook and Lake Counties and your support couldn’t be more important!

During this season of giving, there is still time to donate to our 2023 Annual Appeal and make a difference in someone’s life. Giving to those in need is simple and easy. Decide which option below works best for you, and make your tax-deductible donation before December 31, 2023.

To donate with a credit card, visit our secure website by clicking on the link below:

https://stvincentdepaulchicago.networkforgood.com/projects/210764-annual-holiday-appeal-2023

To donate by mail, make your check payable and send to:

Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago

12731 S Wood Street

Blue Island, IL 60406

Please note in the “Memo” section: 2023 Annual Appeal

As you consider end-of-year giving, we humbly thank you for making the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Chicago a part of your giving plan.

God Bless and Happy New Year,

Dear Vincentians and Friends,

Christmas. For many of us, the preparation for this joyous event begins the day after Thanksgiving. We run to the stores to buy piles of gifts for those we love. We spend hours searching for the perfect gift, wrapping it in colorful paper, all to see our loved ones smile on Christmas morning because we demonstrated how much we love them with our choice of gifts.

The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas are overflowing with Christmas parties with friends, family, and co-workers; Christmas card writing; baking platters of Christmas cookies; decorating our homes with all our treasured memories from Christmases past; and for us Vincentians, trying to make sure every family that comes to us will have enough food to eat, gifts to share and a warm home to celebrate our Lord’s birthday.

But, year after year is all this holiday busyness disrupting our inner silence and unbalancing our Spiritual peace? How can we grow in God’s love if we are not spending quiet time with Him as we await His arrival? This is the gift of Advent, taking time to grow in our relationship with God as we wait for His arrival. Just like Jesus, we should spend time away from the hustle and bustle that the Advent season has become. “In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12

So, during Advent season, I hope you found your way to God’s heart through silent prayer, felt His mighty love, and rested in the warmest place to celebrate the most perfect gift ever received: the birth of our Lord. Now that was a demonstration of love to make you smile.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Harry Ohde

Pictured from L to R: SVdP Volunteers Dan Moore, Tom Lazuka, June Fidanza, Mike Fischer and Elizabeth Wakefield. Photo credit: HF Chronicle

With the holiday season in full swing, many people have been generously donating coats, winter clothing, toys and so much more for those in need.

On November 19, Elizabeth Wakefield, SVdP Board Member, was the Project Coordinator of a Turkey Dinner giveaway, which was the first project for the group of combined parishes – St. Emeric, St. Anne and St. Joseph. These three parishes have now formed to become St. John Neumann. At this event larger families received turkey dinners and turkey breasts with gift cards to purchase the trimmings for smaller families. This event had 45 families sign up to receive dinners and would feed a total of 129 people. The food for this event was donated by the Chicagoland Italian American Charitable Organization.

At present, SVdP’s regular food pantry was on hold because of the parish transition, but she hopes it will resume at St. John Neuman at some point.

Elizabeth was happy to report that many coats and Christmas stockings have been donated at both the St. Anne and St. Emeric food pantries to help those in need as the weather gets colder and we get closer to the holidays. Money received from St. Joe’s has been going to purchase gift cards for needy families.

Great job Elizabeth and thank you to all the SVdP volunteers involved in this community project to help our Friends in Need.