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Inspired by Gospel values, the
Society leads men and women to join together to grow spiritually through
prayer and acts of kindness, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in
word and action, and to serve the poor directly, person-to-person, and to
have a deep concern for them. Society members known as Vincentians are
dedicated to serving the poor and needy through practical acts of charity.
Society volunteers work through
local conferences, which are grouped under a central council. Our
Cathedral conference, which is a part of the Bethpage Central Council, has
been active since1939. For over 60 years the St. Agnes Conference has
been blessed with strong support from our pastors.
During the 2001/2002-year, 467
individuals in our village and nearby areas have been served and our members
have logged 3,157 hours of service. The St. Agnes Conference works
with the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and Parish Outreach to serve the
poor regardless of their religious affiliations.
Our conference has distributed
clothing and Christmas toys, even delivering to one needy family on
Christmas morning! We have been fortunate to have good people who
provide the resources so that children can have proper clothing for school,
First Communion outfits and Thanksgiving baskets. The Central Council
maintains a furniture store in Garden City Park where we can order beds,
kitchen sets, living room chairs etc. for those in need. Clothing and
food vouchers redeemable at local supermarkets are also made available to
those that cannot afford the necessities of life.
The St. Agnes Conference also
maintains the food bins located in the vestibule of the Cathedral, where
donations are then brought to our parish Outreach program for distribution.
In addition to these activities society members have also assisted in
helping the poor with filing income tax returns and other government forms.
Home visits are at the heart of
the Society’s work. Members, working in pairs, visit families and
individuals in their homes to assess the client’s needs and to provide
available assistance. Not everyone is comfortable with this aspect of
service; however there are other paths of goodness members can follow.
In the fall the Society hopes to start a program of visiting local nursing
homes to spend time with those in need of some companionship and
conversation.
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