Please enjoy reading our latest newsletter for March 2025.
News
Lenten Litany of Fasting & Feasting
As we enter the Lenten season this Ash Wednesday, we try to journey with Christ in the desert. During this time we deny ourselves of certain things so that we can eliminate the many distractions of the secular world in order to be more focused on Our Lord and Savior. We make sacrifices and deny ourselves in an attempt to draw closer to the Son of God. We fast as appropriate to our health that we may experience in a small way what Christ experienced in his suffering and death. Likewise we abstain from meat on Fridays and from other things such as bad habits. However, Lent is not just a time of fasting. It is also a time for feasting. We feast on those things that show our love for God and for the people He places in our lives every moment of the day. Do not deny yourself of feasting on those things that Our Heavenly Father wants from us. The following is a partial list written by William Arthur Ward of that which we should fast from and feast on. Consider these things as just a beginning. Add more as the Holy Spirit guides you during this Lent.
• Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.
• Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
• Fast from anger; feast on patience.
• Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
• Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
• Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
• Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
• Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
• Fast from idle gossip; feast on silence with Jesus
• Fast from instant gratifications; feast on self-denial.
• And finally, fast from sin; feast on the abundance of God’s mercy.
May you draw ever closer to the Risen Lord and be blessed in his love for you.
Pax et Bonum,
Deacon Larry Maijer
Our first newsletter of 2025
Dear Vincentian Donors and Volunteers.
Greetings and welcome to our new newsletter! Through the newsletter we can help each other get closer to God through serving our neighbors in need. It will also assist us in spreading the story of our Prince of Peace Conference activities. We provide assistance locally, in zip codes serving southern Hall County and northern Gwinnett county. It is truly neighbor helping neighbor. In 2024, we helped 453 families, (895 people), with rent, utilities, transportation costs and other needs thanks to generously provided contributions. In addition, our pantry provided food each month for over 1918 individuals. Does the work of St. Vincent de Paul at Prince of Peace matter? Yes! Our food pantry gets many visits from people in need. One car in line visibly stood out, since it was a police car! When he got to the head of the line, he explained that he had just come from the home of an elderly woman who had no food. He knew about our pantry and the hours we were open. The pantry workers loaded up his squad car and wished him well. SVDP, Prince of Peace recently helped a mother and her adult son. The son took Family Leave from his job to care for his mother who had a stroke. She couldn’t be left alone, and their home care arrangements fell through. He left his job; depleted their savings and sold off many of their personal treasures just to make ends meet. They called SVDP, Prince of Peace, and we were able to get the power turned back on, pay the water bill, and provide food. Without the help of SVDP, they would have remained hungry and cold. Fortunately, they now live a more stable life.
Beginning in January, 2025, SVDP, Prince of Peace no longer has a dedicated monthly collection at mass. Instead, we are included in the “Outreach” envelope, which includes three other ministries at the parish. Because we have to share the monthly envelope, donations to SVDP have decreased. Please support our mission to help the poor in our area by making a donation. You can write a check payable to St Vincent de Paul and mailing it to:
SVDP
℅ Prince of Peace Catholic Church
6439 Spout Springs Rd
Flowery Branch, GA 30542
Parishioners can still make their contributions using the new monthly envelope, but please check the box for SVDP and make the check payable to SVDP to indicate your intentions. Thank you for your faithful support.
God Bless.
Weather Update
Due to the poor weather conditions, our food pantry will be closed on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
Weather Update
Our food pantry will be closed on Friday, January 10, 2025 due to the Storm. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
2024 Giving Tree Thank You
Thank you to everyone who helped make our 2024 Giving Tree a HUGE success. Thank you to all the caseworkers who contacted their neighbors in need to get their wish lists and then contacted them again to give them their pick up date, etc.
Thank you to so many Vincentians who helped empty Pods, organize gifts/gift cards and distribute them over two days. As a result, 92 families will get an extra-merry Christmas.
Thank you to all our donors for your gifts, to help families celebrate Christmas with ease.
One of the stories from the Giving Tree:
One young mom came to pick up gifts for her four kids and was moved to tears when she saw all the presents in the bag. “I thought I was going to have to give my kids the worst Christmas ever. This has just been a bad year for us. THANK YOU!!”
Saint Vincent de Paul Prince of Peace, wishes you all a Very Merry Christmas and a great New Year.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Dear Lord, as we gather together to recognize that all we have is a gift from you, and it also requires the collaboration of human hands. We thank you for all our Vincentians, and also all those who offer their time, talents, and gifts, joining in our ministry of bringing healing, hope, and compassion to all those in need. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Happy Thanksgiving!!
Our Annual Giving Tree is up!
The ornaments on the tree list specific gifts that children in need in our community are requesting. Parishioners, or local friends, can take an ornament off of the tree, buy the gift and return it under the tree by the date listed on the ornament. If you would like to give towards a gift card, or make a donation to help future neighbors in need, scan the QR code below. Thank you for your generosity! The tree is located in the Narthex of Prince of Peace Catholic Church (6439 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542).
