Dear Parish Family,

The Social Action Ministry is very excited to announce that St. Francis of Assisi has become a conference of the Knoxville District Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) and we are now recruiting members. There are currently nine active SVdP Conferences in our diocese; St. Francis will make the tenth.

St. Vincent de Paul is a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness, and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need. It is a calling to follow Christ and bear witness to His merciful love by embracing works of charity and justice.

Through two-by-two, person-to-person, contact and nourished in prayer and reflection, SVdP includes any form of help that alleviates suffering and promotes human dignity. Whether that means we’ll seek to offer a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a helping hand, financial help, or most important, much-needed prayer, we as a SVdP community will reach out to people in need.

You might say “Well, we already do that at St. Francis of Assisi” and you would be right. We do do much of that through the many ministries here at St. Francis. I can’t count the number of times I have asked for help from you—for money, for prayers, for donated food or goods, for volunteers—and you have always come through. Our parish is so generous and selfless (and I am so grateful) but joining St. Vincent de Paul is more than charity work. It is an invitation to serve God. Guided by the Holy Spirit, it is an opportunity to personally bear witness to God’s love out there—outside of church, outside of our families, outside of Fairfield Glade even—a chance to be “nourished in prayer and reflection” as the SVdP mission statement attests and to be empowered to love our neighbor in demonstrable ways.

This is a new journey for us. Those of you who have participated in SVdP activities in your former parishes, we especially need you. We need you to guide us in this new-to-us expression of Catholic Christianity. And if you are new to SVdP—as I am—you are very welcome too. We are looking for anyone who wishes to grow in friendship, faith, and service.  If you are seeking an opportunity to serve God by serving others in tangible, hands-on ways, please join us!

Training will be provided by the SVdP Knoxville District Council and we will hold an orientation as soon as it can be scheduled (I will email again as soon as I get a confirmed date from the District Council, likely sometime in March). I strongly encourage you to attend this orientation even if you are not sure about the contribution you can make to SVdP.  Who knows where the Holy Spirit will lead you? 
There is a sign-up sheet in Sheehan Hall, or for more information please contact me:


God bless you,
Mary Lampugnano (AKA Mary Lamp)