By Nikki Rajala
Father Mark Innocenti, pastor of St. Andrew Church in Elk River said, “I saw a St. Vincent de Paul group in action about seven years ago. They helped someone in need that I knew of. I was very impressed with how they handled the family with care and compassion and walked with them to help them in the best possible way. They visited their home and spent time with them to get to know their needs on a deeper level. I wanted this for our parish!”
His vision became reality at Mass on Oct. 14-15, when the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Andrew Elk River Conference, officially went live. Their helpline was made public and the Vincentians began to accept calls to assist neighbors in need. (See box.)
According to the Rule of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: “Vincentians serve anyone in need. We seek out those who experience exclusion, adversity, suffering, or poverty, whether it be material, emotional, or spiritual. We offer assistance regardless of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, criminal justice status, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, age, or physical handicap.” [Rule 1.3-1.5: III:8]
St. Andrew’s kickoff follows much preparation, said Tony Williams. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is the first in the Diocese of St. Cloud.
He said, “About two years ago, Father Mark asked my wife Jeanne and me if we’d be willing to learn more from the St. Vincent’s conference at St. Michael’s [in St. Michael, Minnesota]. I said I’d think about it.”
Jeanne felt differently. She said, “I had recently retired from nursing and wanted an opportunity to help others meet their basic needs, but most importantly to give them hope and to see the face of Jesus through me. I believe the Holy Spirit was working through Father Mark when he asked us to join the St. Michael conference.”
They attended a meeting at St. Michael’s where they met others from St. Andrew’s whom Father Mark had also asked. Twelve of them joined the St. Francis of Assisi Conference in St. Michael/Albertville, which is part of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Tony was asked to be vice president.
Integrating as full and active members, they studied the rules of guidance, the structure of the society, the purpose and scope and the relationships within Catholic networks in addition to how to conduct personal encounters with their neighbors and what public and private resources were available in the community.
“Neighbors in need may fall between cracks with government programs and not get served. Many are just one unexpected expense away from a financial crisis, from missed work due to extended illnesses or caring for other family members or car repairs. Some struggle with addictions and homelessness. Vincentians are resource people who suggest possibilities,” Tony said.
When the group was fully prepared, they began responding to neighbors who didn’t have groceries for their small children, neighbors being evicted, neighbors with serious illnesses and limited ability to pay for expensive medicines.
“Every community has people in circumstances not of their own making — they get sick or fight cancer or break bones. They can’t get food stamps or don’t qualify. We help them out of those crises,” he said.
“Sometimes they required assistance from specialized staff to manage their money or restructure their lives. Other times they just needed someone to listen and could straighten out their problems themselves. We are there for them emotionally, financially, spiritually.
“And it was what my faith needed — the Holy Spirit impacts our lives if we’re willing to listen,” Tony said.
In June the group met with Bishop Patrick Neary, who endorsed organizing a St. Vincent de Paul Society in the St. Cloud Diocese. Then they met with Kateri Mancini, director of Social Concerns for Catholic Charities in the St. Cloud Diocese, so as not to duplicate services.
The archdiocese, with up to 20 Vincentian societies, has full-time staff available to assist. They relied on Ed Koerner, director of the archdiocesan council, who helped set up the conference as a 503c corporation with a tax number and they legally incorporated July 11, 2023. Koerner assisted with administrative and logistical tasks — organizing an accounting system with audits and checks and balances, bank accounts and authorities, linking the help line phone number to an intake person and creating an email address.
“By default, I was appointed president,” Tony said. “Without the structure of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, I don’t know how we’d have tackled all this.”
Each of the 12 took on responsibilities — Jeanne and another woman became membership and training coordinators.
Others developed the resource manual for Sherberne and Wright counties, listing services for individuals or families, such as Catholic Charities food shelves, county services, places for used clothing, private assistance and Elevier Women’s Center in Elk River.
Jeanne said, “I believe in the mission of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. We are self-funded which means the conference members do fund-raising activities to carry out our mission and bring awareness for those in need.”
In September, members participated in a Friends of the Poor Walk fundraiser with the conference in St. Michael/Albertville. They might also receive money through individual donations, occasional grants and parish budgets. No funds come from the parent St. Vincent de Paul organization.
During the kick-off, the entire parish was introduced to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
“We asked parishioners to join our conference, to grow into a vocation of spirituality, service and friendship. We also asked them to donate or to offer ‘in-kind’ services — car or home repairs, trade skills — to help us help others at no or low cost,” Jeanne said.
Tony said, “While this might sound emotionally draining, the reward is the knowledge we’re doing something positive to change a neighbor’s life in a good way. It can be complicated, but also exciting, because guidance from the Lord changes your perspective on life. This has been an amazing faith experience.”
Father Mark said, “St. Vincent de Paul is not only compassionate but also systematic in their process. I am so grateful to the members of our parish that have taken this on. I see it as God’s work to those in need and an integral part of the mission of this parish.”