VINNIES Shop West End staff, local conference volunteers and members of the community gathered for the blessing of the new Montague Road store on July 18. Dutton Park parish priest Capuchin Father Lam Vu led a “simple but effective liturgy”, blessing the store with many representatives from the St Vincent de Paul Society present. West End centre co-ordinator Debbi Engler ... Read More »
YOUNG Catholic Lachlan Dent lives his life by a simple ethos – give your time and talents to other people. The 22-year-old recently was awarded the top prize at the north Queensland Volunteer awards in Townsville for his work as a youth representative on the St Vincent de Paul Society State Council. Mr Dent gives his time to helping disadvantaged ... Read More »
ST Vincent de Paul Society’s Queensland chief executive officer Kevin Mercer is getting ready to sleep rough on the streets of Brisbane for the annual Vinnies CEO Sleep Out. One-hundred-ninety Brisbane CEOs will sleep on the streets of Brisbane the night of Thursday, June 20 in an effort to raise funds and awareness about Brisbane’s homelessness and homelessness services. $432,396 ... Read More »
FORMER St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland state president Brian Moore, who regularly wrote a column for The Catholic Leader, has died from a long-term illness. A Vinnies member for more than 50 years, Mr Moore held various roles as a Vincentian, including state president, senior vice president of the society’s state council, diocesan president Toowoomba and regional president in ... Read More »
THE 2019 Federal Budget continues to ignore Australia’s most disadvantaged citizens, St Vincent de Paul Society national president Claire Victory said. Ms Victory said the Budget, delivered by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, failed to address two dominant drivers of poverty and disadvantage in Australia – the soaring costs of basic housing and below-poverty-level income support payments. “We are disappointed this Budget ... Read More »
PAUL Finch had personal reasons for joining the St Vincent de Paul Society, just like thousands of others over their 125 years. Mr Finch lost his Ipswich home in the 1974 Brisbane floods and, inspired by the people who helped him in that difficult time, decided “it’s time to give something back”. But, for Mr Finch, a 40-year veteran of ... Read More »
AMONG any accolades or commendations that come Peter Maher’s way as he retires as Vinnies’ chief in Queensland none are likely to be more precious than a few words from one of his daughters. Looking back over more than 14 years in the chief executive officer’s chair, a comment from Peter’s daughter Belinda was up there among his most cherished ... Read More »
THE St Vincent de Paul Society’s new chief executive officer in Queensland can’t wait to “get out into the field”. Kevin Mercer’s been appointed to the role to succeed Peter Maher who is retiring. They will work alongside each other in transition until March 1 when Mr Mercer takes over as chief executive officer. Mr Mercer, whose career in Catholic ... Read More »
MORE than 1000 homeless and vulnerable people received emergency assistance from St Vincent de Paul volunteers in Annerley last year. The volunteers work to ensure that there is no one in the area who is without – at the bare minimum – food and water. One of Vinnies’ major initiatives is to help their client’s secure safe and affordable housing ... Read More »
The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You
