Our Lady of Grace Conference

Meeting of Thursday 31/03/2016   

Since our last meeting our Vincentians have undertaken a total of 22 visits to people in the local community, providing support and companionship to the housebound, helping with shopping and giving out Easter grants to those in need.       

After the opening prayers members discussed various matters including travel arrangements for the Festival at Thornleigh.  The funds available, initial plans for the Holiday grants and various other matters were also discussed.

The meeting ended with prayers for the repose of the souls of two parishioners who had sadly died and for the people of Belgium following the recent tragedies there and for an end to strife.

Using the second Eucharistic prayer for reconciliation we pray:

“Gracious God, in the midst of conflict and division we know it is you who turn our minds to thoughts of peace.

Your spirit changes our hearts: enemies speak to one another, those who were estranged join hands in friendship, and nations seek the way of peace together.

Your spirit is at work when understanding puts an end to strife, when hatred is quenched by mercy, and vengeance gives way to forgiveness.

For this we should never cease to thank and praise you.”

Our Lady of Grace Conference

Meeting of Thursday 10/03/2016

Since our last meeting our Vincentians have undertaken a total of 26 visits to people in the local community, providing support and companionship to the housebound, helping with shopping and giving flowers and a card to a lady who celebrated her 91^st birthday.  Members also supplied transport, kept in touch with people by phone, gave clothes to families and distributed small grants to those in need. 

After the opening prayers members discussed various matters including the district meeting, which members had attended.  A phone call was also received during the meeting informing members of the sad death of a parishioner.

The meeting ended with prayers for the repose of the soul of the parishioner who had died that day and for God to provide support and comfort for all those in the parish visited by the SVP.

Using the prayer of Saint Ignatius of Antioch we pray:

Receive in tranquillity and peace, O Lord,

The soul of your servant

Who has departed this present life to come to you.

Grant her rest and place her in the habitation of light,

The abode of blessed spirits.

Give her the life that will not age,

Good things that will not pass away,

Delights that have no end,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Lady of Grace Conference

Meeting of Thursday 11/02/2016

                                                                                                                           

In the past two weeks our Vincentians have undertaken a total of 22 visits to people in the local community and care homes, providing support and companionship to the housebound, helping with shopping and undertaking with other tasks.  They also supplied transport so elderly parishioners could attend a funeral at Our Lady of Grace church and so they could go shopping, kept in touch with people by phone  and distributed small grants to those in need.

                                                       

After the opening prayers members discussed the various matters including the documents that were to be donated to the new archive, the vacant post of president for the District Council and what would happen to the district if the post remained unfilled.

The meeting ended with prayers for comfort for those in the parish who are bereaved and all who had asked for prayers.

Oh God,

Comfort those who are bereaved and all who need your help and support, strengthen them with hope and breathe peace into their troubled hearts.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Our Lady of Grace Conference

Meeting of Thursday 28/01/2016

                                                                                                                           

In the past two weeks our Vincentians undertook a total of 18 visits to people in the local community, providing support and companionship to the housebound and helping with other tasks.  They also kept in touch with people by phone and distributed small grants to those in need.

                                                       

After opening with prayers members discussed the Salford Diocese archive for the Central Council, with one older member talking about some of the work done in the past.  The importance of ensuring safe disposal of confidential material was also emphasised

The meeting ended with prayers for our own intentions and for a parishioner whose funeral was due to take place shortly.

“Stay with us Lord on our journey.”

Our Lady of Grace Conference

Meeting of Thursday 14/01/2016

                                                                                                                           

Over the Christmas and New Year period our Vincentians undertook a total of 112 visits to people in the local community.  They delivered Christmas cards and presents to the elderly and families, provided support and companionship to the housebound, helped with shopping, and paying bills and distributed grants to those in need.

                                                       

At the meeting the outcome of the collection at all masses before Christmas and the District Council minutes were discussed.   Correspondence had also been received from OLOG Conference’s twin in Andhra Pradesh, India and arrangements were made for a response.

Prayers at the end of the meeting were offered for three parishioners who had sadly died.

Using the prayer of St Ignatius of Antioch for those who have died we pray:

"Receive in tranquillity and peace, O Lord, the souls of your servants who have departed this present life to come to you. Grant them rest and place them in the habitations of light, the abodes of blessed spirits. Give them the life that will not age, good things that will not pass away, delights that have no end, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Our Lady of Grace Conference

Meeting of Thursday 19/11/2015

                                                                                                                         

Since our last meeting our Vincentians have undertaken a total of 12 visits to people in the local community.  They have provided support and companionship to the housebound, helping with shopping, and distributing grants to those in need.   

                                                       

A short discussion took place regarding the Christmas parcels for the elderly and needy families.  The Central Council minutes were also discussed and plans made for the next District Council meeting, which OLOG Conference was due to host.  Arrangements were also made for a collection to take place at all masses on 06/12/2015.

Prayers at the end of the meeting were offered for the people of France and those who had committed the atrocities in Paris.

We pray with Pope Francis, who offered his own prayers for Paris at mass and said:

, "We pray for the victims of Paris - so many of them - and we pray also for the perpetrators of such cruelty, that the Lord might change their heart."

Our Lady of Grace Conference

Meeting of Thursday 05/11/2015

                                                                                                                           

Since our last meeting our Vincentians have undertaken a total of 10 visits to people in the local community.  They have provided support and companionship to the housebound, helping with shopping, and distributing clothes, bedding and money to those in need.   

                                          

On Saturday 31/10/2015 the annual mass for the sick and housebound was held, followed by lunch for all those attending.  Transport and refreshments were arranged by members of the SVP, children from St Monicas assisted at the mass and helped serve refreshments and the music was supplied by OLOG band.  Everyone enjoyed the occasion and a number of donations were also gratefully received.

Prayers at the end of the meeting were offered for the intentions of those present and two parishioners who had just died.

As Saint Francis de Sales says:

Be at Peace
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms.

Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering, or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.