Guest Columnist...

     She suffers from anxiety attacks making it difficult to hold on to a job.  She suffers from depression, has Leukemia and needs major surgery.  Her teenage daughter uses drugs, did not finish high school and lives with her alcoholic father.  She requested help with some overdue bills.  His wife left him and their three young children, taking the little money they had.  Because of a felony conviction he has had difficulty finding a job.  He requested help with his rent payment.  She has two young children.  She is in a Hazelden program for drug users and has been drug free for more than a year.  She recently had major surgery and will not be able to work for another four weeks.  Her father and brother are both dependent on drugs--she misses them, but is determined to keep herself and her children away from the drug scene.  She has no one to turn to.  She requested help with her rent payment.
     These are just some of the many faces of people living in our community whose current life situations are such that they are having difficulty taking care of themselves or their families.  Since October of 1998, the St. John's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul has been helping people such as these.  Financial assistance has helped pay the rent, utility bills, past due car insurance, medical bills and transportation costs.  Many have used our food shelf.  A list of social and government agencies helps them find other sources of help.  We are often their last hope.
     As stewards of your money, we carefully screen each request and offer assistance based on a face to face interview.  Fr. Bill has designated  the Thanksgiving collection as a source of funding for St. Vincent De Paul.  Please be generous with your donation--The Faces of St. Vincent De Paul live here in our community and need your help.  Please pray for all those in need.  If you would like to be an active member of the SVDP, meetings are the third Tuesday of the month.  Questions, please call Deacon Rod Palmer @651-639-0137.

Deacon Rod Palmer