On Saturday 24th September, SSVP had a diocesan group gathering at Kinnoull Monastery. It was the first time since Covid that we all managed to get together. All conferences in the diocese were represented and we were lead in prayer and reflection by Sister Maria Robb, who is SSVP National Spiritual Director.
Bob Corrieri, President of St James Conference gave this report on the day:
“The day was facilitated by Sr Maria Robb who is the national spiritual advisor. It was a fantastic and inspiring day which gave us a great deal to think about and upon which to reflect.”
“She highlighted the importance of prayer. Without prayer we are just social workers, we are not social workers from the Catholic Church. Visits are the core of our work and they are important perhaps the most important part of our work and service. Remember our motto, Serve in hope. We must not forget that we are missionaries in that we are often the face of the Church to those whom we serve. Without face to face visits we may miss the real need or further underlying need. We service in the hope that we make a difference and perhaps give hope to those in need.”
“Sister highlighted a story about Blessed Frederic Ozanam. As a student while speaking about the poor he was asked what do you actually do for the poor? In response to this he took a bucketful of coal to a poor man and left it at his door. He was then asked what did that do, it gave him coal but what was his underlying need. How often have we said amongst ourselves, “I saw “Y” down the street, I spoke to them; they were fine.”
“Over lunch I spoke to her about a person whom we had met and had been referred to us from this visit by talking and listening to what this person had to say we uncovered a whole series of problems. Without that face to face contact, without that conversation and time we spent talking to the person we would not have uncovered a number of other areas with which we could be of service and help that family. Through that conversation and listening we got beyond the immediate need into deeper needs.”
“Sister also highlighted that the Church in England and Wales had carried out a survey on poverty and need and the finding was that the biggest need was loneliness. With the shortage of Priest we can be of service to the Parish through supporting the Priest with visits. We are not replacing pastoral visits but perhaps the service we give is freeing Priests up to do other things, to visit others, simply by doing some follow up visits especially to those who are lonely. Through this we give an example to other we witness our Faith and most importantly we help and are servants to those in need, no matter what the need.”
“The other aspect which we have perhaps missed as a conference is that of expressing what the spiritual reading has meant to us and I would like to introduce, as is the case in many conferences a short period of shared reflection on the spiritual reading. Perhaps we can start at the next conference meeting by the reading of a quote from St Vincent:
‘You will find out that Charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the full basket. But you will keep your gentleness and your smile. It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humored. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting master you will see. And the uglier and the dirtier they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them.’― St Vincent De Paul”