Working, Praying, and Living in the Spirit of Vincent DePaul

Past Newsletters

April 2009

Radical Waiting
by Robyn Haas

Robyn works at North Grand Neighborhood Services, an outreach of Sts. Teresa and Bridget Parish in North St. Louis. She directs Angel Baked Cookies, an enterprise that enables area youth to run their own cookie baking company.

It's almost three o'clock; time to walk across the street to the kitchen in the church basement. Wait for the kids to gather; some eating pizza rolls, others putting their heads down for a two-minute nap. Soon they're all here—all five of my of my Angels.

“Who wants to read?” I ask.

After our reading, some jump right in with a comment and a quick laugh. Others need a little more prompting to speak up.
One thinks hard—you can see it all across his face—and finally shares his musings. How surprised you'd be to hear what this teen-aged boy, a senior in high school, growing up in a neighborhood with more than its share of drugs and gangs and violence, has to say about himself and about the world. We close, as always, by joining hands around the table in prayer.

"Dear God," someone starts, "thank you for today." "Thank you for bringing us to another day."

"Thank you for my family."

"Be with everyone who doesn't have food today, or somewhere to sleep tonight, 'cause it's cold."

"I wanna pray for my cousin, who was in a car crash yesterday." "For my grandma, who's getting worse." "For everyone at this table."

"Keep us safe today." "Amen."

Then we're up, and off. Another baking day begins for us, the employees and staff of Angel Baked Cookies.

I wonder, sometimes, where my Angels will be and how they’ll be doing in a year, in five years. Working with high schoolers is new to me, and I’m still getting used to the challenges they face. Will this one catch up to her grade level? Will that one make it through four years at the University of Missouri for the degree in accounting she dreams of? Will they all get good jobs? Have healthy families?

How will my Angels do later in life? For that matter, where will I be in one year, or five? My future isn’t much clearer to me than theirs are. I can’t picture what my life will be like in five years—I don’t even know yet what I’ll be doing in three months when my GVV year is up.

This not knowing is something I often don’t handle well. I feel somehow irresponsible if I don’t have things figured out and prepared for ahead of time, which makes these transition times even more stressful.

What I’m realizing, though, is that I don’t need to have it all figured out. In fact, I can’t know ahead of time how it’s all going to work out. My job is not to know all the answers; it is simply to be, as Mother Teresa says, a pen in the hand of God.

It’s commonly said that we should “pray like it all depends on God, and work like it all depends on us.” What seems like a more fitting challenge, however, is a friend’s reversal of this thought: pray like it all depends on you, live like it all depends on God.

My worry and stress won’t help anything—what will help is to pray; to pray like mad, like everything depends on it. By giving my worries to God in prayer, I can live moment by moment, secure in the conviction that He will take care of us all.

This “radical attitude toward life,” as Henri Nouwen calls it, can make this necessary waiting a life-giving process. When I truly live in the moment, my waiting is transformed from a burden of idleness into an active openness. And that, my friends, is a wonderful thing.

To support these hardworking young adults, you can purchase Angel Baked Cookies by visiting their Web site at: http://www.angelbaked.org

With Grateful Hearts, We Thank Our Donors!

At the end of March, we concluded our Fourth Annual Matching Gifts Appeal, one of two major fundraising efforts that we undertake each year. Our goal for this appeal was $10,000, which will be matched by the Gatekeepers, a special group of donors, along with the Sisters of Mercy Health Ministry.

Because of you and your generous response, we exceeded our goal! THANK YOU for helping the GVV program continue to serve the poor and pass on the mission of St. Vincent DePaul to young adults!

An Anonymous Vincentian
Maryilyn Abkemeier
Arvo & Suzanne Aulik
Eugene & Florence Bachmann
Richard & Ann Barbaglia
Rev. Charles Barthel
Larry & Amelia Berra
Delbert & Agnes Bohnert
Jim & Peggy Brinkmann
Wally & Nina Bryans
Mike & Sheila Burton
John & Mary Ann Capellupo
Rev. Lawrence Christensen, C.M., and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish
John & Jennifer (GVV 03-04) Courtney
Patrick & Janet Cromien
Denny & Susan Cuddihee
Daughters of Charity of Meramec Residence
Rev. Louis Derbes, C.M.
Thomas & Patricia Dinkins
Mary Ann Faust
Ted and Penny Fiedler
Jack & Carolyn Fogarty
Rev. Jerome Fortenberry, C.M.
Steve Fowler
Rev. Louis Franz, C.M.
Rev. John Gagnepain, C.M.
Theresa Giudici
Br. Dave Goodman, C.M.
Donald & Patricia Hagen
Bill Heyde
Rev. Thomas Hinni, C.M., & the Vincentians of Lazarist Residence
Ralph & Joan Hoffmann
Louis & Mary Holtmann
Ed & Margaret Jardon
Chris & Tom Jones
Br. Paul Joseph, C.M.
Helen Kassing
Gary & Virginia Kirwin
Roy & Mary Kuhn
Robert & Emily LaBarge
Martha Lane
Rich and Tammy LaPlume
Christy Leming (GVV 03-04)
David & Elaine Leming (Parents of GVV 03-04 Christy Leming)
Ken & Marian Lemp
Bob & Fran Lenhart (Parents of GVV 01-02 Sarah Lenhart Wiederkehr)
Jeff (GVV 01-02) & Rebecca Maciej
Marsha Lintner
John & Margaret Lottes
Rev. Felipe Martinez, C.M.
Mark & Maureen Mattingly
Rev. Jack Melito, C.M.
Jerold & Karen Mueller
Rev. Ed Murphy, C.M.
John O’Leary & Jeanette Scalise
Sr. Kathy Overman, D.C., and the Daughters of Charity of the Jacobson Residence
Paul Payne
Nelson & Sylvia Perez (Parents of GVV 05-06 Nelson Perez)
Maureen Rauscher
Frank & Pat Rebholz
Sr. Mary Rochlage, R.S.M., & the Sisters of Mercy Health Ministry
Rev. John Richardson, C.M.
Sharon Ryan
Elizabeth Sain (GVV 02-03)
St. Vincent DePaul Society—Holy Infant Conference
St. Vincent DePaul Society—St. Gerard Majella Conference
St. Vincent DePaul Society—St. Margaret of Scotland Conference
Bill & Mary Lou Schicker
Lonnie Schneider (Mother of GVV 01-02 Nichole Schneider Purvis)
Halbert & Jean Sullivan
Carrie Tucker (GVV 07-08)
Sue & Tony Tumminia
Joe & Kathy Vitale
R.A. Weilbaecher
Gerald & Joan Wentzel
Grace Whalen
Rev. Robert Zimney, C.M.

Tributes in Honor of:

Carrie Tucker (GVV 07-08)
from Linda and Mike Backs, her parents

The marriage of Suzette Smith
(GVV 05-06) and Nathan Thompson
from Briana Colton (GVV 05-06)

The Mark Kramer Family
from Rev. Martin Culligan, C.M.

Rachael Edelen (GVV 04-05)
from her parents, Don and Jo Ellen Edelen

Fr. Tom Esselman, C.M.
from Janel Esker

Robert and Mary Flick
from Mary Flick

Thanksgiving to the goodness of Providence
from Rev. Philip Floersh, C.M.

Fr. Art Trapp, C.M.
from Gerry Hartel

Rev. Carl Schulte, C.M.
from Paul Heidemann

The marriage of Suzette Smith
(GVV 05-06) and Nathan Thompson
from Clare Lassiter (GVV 05-06)

Christopher and Jennifer Bickhaus (GVVs 06-07)
from Tom and Cheryl Parrett, Aunt and Uncle of Christopher

Our parents
from William and Susan Phillips

Mary Frances Mayfield
from Elaine Pinar

Fred and Marie Rottnek
from Fred Rottnek

Fr. Art Trapp’s special birthday
from Jim and Geri Ryan

The Vincentians of Arsenal Street
from Nathan and Suzette (GVV 05-06) Thompson

Mary Lou and Bill Schicker
from Tricia and John Thiel

Fr. David Nations, C.M.
from Robert Vondera

Tributes in Memory of:

J. Hubert Blessing
From Lavella Blessing

William Morton
from Suzann Barry

Edward and Kathleen Croak
from Rev. Thomas Croak, C.M.

Cecelia Filippini
from Jeremy Dixon, C.M. (GVV 03-04)

Donald Mendrala
from Ed Guth

Coach Ray Meyer
from Rev. Jay Jung, C.M.

Kenneth Killian
from Janet Killian
John Griffith
from Bob and Emily Meyer

Joe Rodriquez
from Larry Volk

Michael Dosen
from Joe and Becky Vucko

Anthony Wagner
from Steve (GVV 00-01) and Sarah (GVV 01-02) Wiederkehr

Fr. John Campbell, S.J.
from Kellie Willis (GVV 02-03)

We also sincerely thank our donors who have asked to remain anonymous. If we have inadvertently omitted your name from our donor list, please accept our sincere apology AND let us know so that we can correct the error in our next newsletter.

We need your help to expand our
ANNUAL GVV GOLF TOURNAMENT!

Please consider sponsoring a hole, donating a prize, or joining us to play!

MONDAY, June 1, 2009
$100.00 per player
Normandie Golf Club
$100.00 Hole Sponsor
Four-person scramble
11:00 A.M. Lunch
Call 771-1474 for info!
Noon Tee-Off
Dinner & Prizes to follow

Call 771-1474 for more information.

More Thank Yous to Our Donors!
The names listed below are those generous people who made donations after our December newsletter and before the beginning of our Matching Gifts Appeal in January. Thank you for your help! YOU make the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers Program possible.

Allan & Donna Bambao
Don & Dorothy Barry
Rev. Charles Barthel
Delbert & Agnes Bohnert
Sr. Julie Cutter, D.C.
Phil Delano & Mary Englebreit
Eugene & Rita Esselman
Charles & Ann Gappa (Parents of GVV 01-02 Elizabeth Gappa DeBoo)
Robert & Ann Golterman
Paul Heidemann
Br. Richard Hermann, C.M.
Robert & Janet Maciej (Parents of GVV 01-02 Jeff Maciej)
Michael & Margaret Martin
William Phillips
Rev. John Richardson, C.M.
Steve & Becky Roarick (Parents of GVV 01-02 John Roarick)
Toshio Sato (GVV 04-05)
Bill & Mary Lou Schicker
Rev. Charles Shelby, C.M.
St. Vincent DePaul Society—Mary Queen of Peace
Halbert & Jean Sullivan
Philip & Karen Theoktisto (Parents of GVV 08-09 Katie Theoktisto)
Tricia & John Thiel
Gerald & Joan Wentzel
Grace Whalen
Rev. Robert Zimney, C.M.

Tributes in Honor of:
Denny Cuddihee
from Mike and Katy Kapilla

Stephanie Demarest (GVV 03-04)
from Charles and Nancy Demarest, her parents

Molly Jacob (GVV 03-04)
from Cathy Jacob, her mother

Rev. Bill Rhinehart, C.M.
from anonymous donor

Susan Shine
from Tom Shine (Parents of GVV 02-03 Christine Shine Woody)

Tributes in Memory of:

Emma Cucco and Rose Berra
from Larry and Amelia Berra

Nina and Milt Kassing
from Nina and Wally Bryans

Bill Jacob (Father of GVV 03-04
Molly Jacob)
from Cathy Jacob, her mother

Joseph A. Thiel
from John and Tricia Thiel

Special Thank Yous to ...

· The two wonderful people who donated the printing of our Vinnie for Life cards AND the St. Vincent DePaul holy cards that were included in our Matching Gifts Appeal.

· The Schicker Family for the use of their beautiful farm for the GVV winter retreat.

· The Knights of Columbus, Council 12323, of St. Catherine Laboure for paying the personal stipend of one volunteer for an entire year!

You are all a blessing to the GVV program. Thank you!

Butterfly Metamorphosis
by Katie Theoktisto

Every step we take in our lives is a step into uncertainty as was my joining this program, by moving to a new city and state—far from the comforts of what I had always known.

I applied to the Gateway Vincentian Volunteer program with an intent and a hope to grow in my journey with God. What I didn’t expect, and perhaps should have, was to experience the most intense “growing” as an adult I had yet to do.

Working at St. Louis Catholic Academy has immersed me in a culture I thought I knew, but I soon realized how much more I had to learn. Every morning I am greeted with smiles from children ages 3 to 13 years. I am surrounded with the loving faces of 184 students. It is for these loving faces I attempt my best at whatever task is laid in front of me. It is because of these children and their families that I will continue to follow my dreams long after the school year is over.

I can look back on when I first came to the school. I barely knew the staff, the students, and most of the city where I would spend the next ten months of my life. I was nervous and uncertain about how well I would fit into my new job and how well I would fit into the school itself.

Over the past six months, my relationship with the children
and their parents has grown tremendously. It is quite an experience to go into a grocery store and hear the greeting, “Hi, Miss Katie!”

My growth has not only come from the relationships formed at my worksite, but also from the relationships formed within my community, as well as the relationships with other people I have met throughout St. Louis.

Community has given me an insight into my personality and my interactions with others, as well as provided me with a strong support system that I have sought much solace from. I hope to be able to take the experiences and life lessons I learn throughout the year and apply them to all my future endeavors and relationships.

I think we all have a period in our lives where we think we have “grown up,” or that we have reached the top of the mountain and the rest of our journeys will be less taxing.

But we are all still continuing to grow and continuing to climb the mountain we call life. As Fr. Jeff Vomund, pastor, once told St. Louis Catholic Academy, “It’s great to stop on your path in life to see how far you have come, but it’s even better to look at how much further you have to go.”

Dear Friends,

Once again, this newsletter is filled with the names of our donors—how blessed we are to have so many to thank! Your generosity allows the Gateway Vincentian Volunteers program to continue serving the poor and spreading the mission of St. Vincent DePaul to young adults. We are so grateful for your partnership in this effort. You made it possible for us to exceed our goal for the Matching Gifts Appeal, which began at the end of January and concluded at the end of March.

We are also thankful for the support of the Midwest Province of the Congregation of the Mission over the last nine years and for the many Vincentian priests and brothers involved in the GVV program. Next year we will celebrate the 10th year of the program. Our board is already beginning to plan a special event!

Thank you again for all you do to support the GVV program. We and the Vincentians here pray for you often.

The Gateway Vincentian Volunteers
Program Board of Directors

Fr. Ed Murphy, C.M., President
Mr. Rich LaPlume, Vice-President
Ms. Tricia Thiel, Treasurer
Mr. John Capellupo
Fr. Jim Cormack, C.M.
Janel Esker
Martha Lane
Sr. Mary Patrice Murray, D.C.
Fr. David Nations, C.M.
Sr. Kathy Overman, D.C.
Nichole Purvis
Fr. Joe Williams, C.M.
Jim and Geri Ryan, Directors

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Gateway Vincentian Volunteers
2912 Arsenal Street
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) - 771-1474
Toll free: (888)-771-7220
Fax: (314) - 771-2410
email: gatevol@aol.com