From Transition to Transformation
On Easter 2024, the Transition Committee announced the vision and goals they were charged with as a collaborative:
"The committee’s charge is to create a plan by listening to one another’s thoughts, ideas and strategies, as well as other Councils across the country who have undergone consolidation of conferences, and to learn from their wisdom and experience."
Since then, the committee has met with leadership from other SVdP Councils nationwide to learn from their successes, gathered extensive, useful resources for the library you find below, and presented the results of these explorations at several SVdP Board and Council meetings.
In Fall 2024, we now move from transition to transformation, as we ready our Conferences to look inward, meet in fellowship, and support one another.
We invite all Vincentians now to begin the process of discerning prayerfully how we will navigate the challenges ahead as one unified Society.
"We learned that our new Parish Families are filled with wonderful people, and we are very blessed to join with them for our worship and ministry in assisting neighbors in need. Enthusiasm for our faith and our vocation will help to bring us together through Partners in the Gospel. While change can be difficult, there is great potential for SVdP and all the ministries in our parishes."
(Pictured) A Special Gathering of 3 Conferences: Assumption St Bridget, St Catherine of Siena, and Our Lady of the Lake.
To reach the Transformation Committee with questions or concerns about Partners in the Gospel, please email us:
Resource Library
View a collection of resources from the Transformation Committee, the Archdiocese of Seattle, SVdP National, and SVdP St Louis.
"The Care and Feeding of a Pastor"
We want our Pastors to see and to know Vincentians as engaged parishioners that are a source of Christ’s Light and Love inside and outside the Parish community. The overall goal with the Pastor is to create a harmonious relationship that builds trust and a deeper collaboration where he sees and senses the Spiritual benefits of a thriving conference in his Parish.
→ Download this resource.
"Seven Duties of Conference Presidents"
Following Christ’s example, the Presidents at all levels of the Society endeavor to be servant leaders. They provide an encouraging atmosphere in which the talents, capacities and spiritual charism of the members are identified, developed and put to the service of the poor and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The President of the Conference or Council will have special responsibility for promoting Vincentian spirituality. - The Rule
→ Download this resource.
"When Presidents Meet"
Discussion at Council Meeting on Discerning Together:
- How can we open ourselves to the revitalization and renewal through the changes in our Archdiocese?
- How can we leverage our members’ strengths, while preparing ourselves to address the weaknesses?
- How can we organize and prepare ourselves to best serve our neighbors?
→ Download this resource.
"Resolving Conflict in Conferences"
Conference meetings are intended to be “mutually fulfilling” gatherings where members joyfully share their experiences, grow in faith and make plans to serve others. Sometimes, however, members do not always agree on how to go about these activities and the meetings are far from mutually fulfilling. Managing meeting conflict is almost never at the top of any Conference president’s list of favorite undertakings, but it doesn’t need to be a negative experience. In fact, sometimes it can be healthy and help your Conference grow. Here we share a few tips to better prevent and manage conflict within your Conference meetings.
→ Download this resource.
"'Phase Zero' Parish Handbook"
While Partners in the Gospel has a clear vision, the path to reach that vision will be determined by the parish family community. Through listening, dialogue, and discernment, each parish family will use a synodal process to chart its future, a future as unique as the people who make up that community. To make this happen, we need to take things slowly, wading in step by step, at the Holy Spirit’s invitation.