Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal benefit society for men over the age of 18 formed to render financial aid to members and their families.

Our parish Knights of Columbus Council, #13762, meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month in the Sacristy at 7:00 pm.

Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare and public relief works.

St. Vincent de Paul Society

The St. John Parish Chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul society helps those of our community who need food, clothing, rental/housing assistance and other basic needs.
Members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society respond to requests for assistance.
Food baskets are distributed to the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society participates in the annual Advent Giving Tree through which parishioners provide gifts for those in need.
To support our St. Vincent de Paul Society food items are collected weekly, and a monthly envelope is provided for parishioners to make donations.
 

Meetings of the St. Vincent de Paul Society are held on the Third Monday of the month at 7:00 pm in the Sacristy.



SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL                                                                                            ARCHDIOCESAN COUNCIL OF ST. LOUIS
PARISH PULPIT TALK 2020
Thank Father Rich for allowing us time to update everyone on the SVDP activities during this past year, especially the affect CORVID-19 has had on our resources and help to our Neighbors in Need (NIN).
If you aren’t familiar with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul…We are a Catholic lay organization dedicated to helping people in need.  We help in a variety of ways…Housing and furniture, clothing and food, utility and prescription drug assistance, car repairs and more.  We help everyone, regardless of religious beliefs.  REQUIREMENT IS THEY LIVE WITHIN OUR PARISH BOUNDARIES.
Like all of us St. Vincent de Paul has had it’s share of challenges.

• Loss of food drives which was overcome by the generosity of the St. John’s Knights of Columbus and our parishioners donating to the “40 cans of Lent”.
• We received $2000 in grants to purchase perishable and frozen food to keep our pantry open.
• Loss of our annual Golf Tournament.
• Luckily we were able to obtain $10,000 in Grants to off-set the loss of revenue from the Golf Tournament.  These grants helped us to help our Neighbors in Need with utilities, rent, and medications.  Many of the families we helped had loss their jobs or had reduced hours because of the CORVID-19 virus. 
• Walk for the Poor is another major fund raiser-we were able to collect $5342.  Even though it was $600 less than last year we were very grateful for the donations.
• Thank you for filling the truck for the SVDP thrift store.  This helps us to give vouchers to our families to purchase clothes, household items or furniture at no cost to them.
• This year we had to make a decision on how to handle our Giving Tree for our families.  It was decided we would NOT give presents, but gift cards to the families to buy gifts for their children.  This was to protect our vincentians, our parishioners (so they would have limited time in stores), and the families.  The gift cards we are requesting are Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and Game Stop.  Purchasing the gift cards from SCRIPT is helpful two fold (helping our families and helping our parish).  If you purchase gift cards for SVDP let the SCRIPT volunteers know and they will get them to us so we can give to the families.

Now we are requesting more help from you. 
Due to the increased number of requests for help  we need more individuals to become Vincentians.  We need help in the pantry, to contact Neighbors in Need to help with their requests, workers at special events (Boy Scout Food Drive, Christmas basket distribution, and food drives (when they are again started).  We meet monthly on the 3^rd Monday at 7:00 pm.  Presently, we are meeting at church after the Patriotic Rosary because of social distancing.  Please pick up the flyer in the pew for more information, speak to one of the Vincentians after Mass, or leave your name and phone number on the clip board in vestibule at table and a Vincentian will get in touch with you OR attend our next meeting on Monday, November 16, 2020 at Church @ 7:00 pm  
Thank you for your time, talents and contributions.   SVDP would not be able to help our Neighbors in Need if it was not for your generosity.

Jesus told us in Matthew 25: “Whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did it for me.”  The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a wonderful way to put that into practice-to bring your Faith to Life.