The St. Vincent de Paul Truck will be parked in the driveway next to the school, 2713 Mesta Street. Truck hours are: Friday/June 19th 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm; Saturday/June 20th 8:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday/June 21st 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

 Items Accepted: Book cases, Chairs, Rocking Chairs, Chest Drawers, Clothing, Computers (Four years old & newer), dishes, garden tools, TV's 19" & under, End Tables, Small Working Appliances

 A list of items that Will Not be accepted will be posted at the truck and here.  (see below)

 If you have larger items or items in question you can call 412-321-1071 and schedule a pickup.

 The St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to thank everyone for their support.

Recently, a group of students asked questions about St. Valentine St. Vincent de Paul Society. During the past month, the St. Valentine St. Vincent de Paul Society received some news of their past history from Ed Schoepflin, a resident of Indian Harbor Beach, Florida. Ed is now 88 years of age and is a brother of Marie Schaad, our former organist.

A St. Vincent de Paul Society was formed in St. Valentine Parish in 1935 with James Heger, Sr., Ed Schoepflin, Charles Meyers, Alex Stemnock, William D. Alcorn and Adolph Bendot as members. They met each Sunday after Mass in the tiny dug-out furnace room in the original frame church. The poor box would yield $2 or $3 from the two Sunday Masses. Food was purchased from Tony Knaus grocery store at the corner of Brightwood Road and South Park Road. Clothing was obtained at the St. Vincent de Paul Warehouse then located in the Hill District. At one time the Society received 100 25-lb bags of flour which was distributed to the needy. The Society predominately served the mining community of Coverdale. After the disastrous fire in July of 1942 which burned down our frame church, the group disbanded. The Society reorganized in 1955.

The first St. Vincent de Paul Conference was organized in 1833 in Paris, France by Frederic Ozanam and his companions. They sought to continue the work of St. Vincent de Paul. The Conference of Charity had these rules:

1. To bear witness to Christ and His Church and to inspire people to work for the good of humanity.
2. To bring together men of good will, to assist them by good example and to fulfill His precept by showering the love of God in the person of their fellowmen.
3. To establish a personal contact between the members and those who suffer and to bring to the latter the most efficacious and brotherly aid possible.

The first American Conference was the District of New York, instituted in 1857. The Pittsburgh Conference was started on March 9, 1891.

The Organization chart of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is:

1. Council General, 112 countries are represented.
2. U.S.A. National Council comprising 42 Diocesan councils.
3. District Councils- 265 District Councils in the U.S.A.
4. Conferences- There are over 4300 Parish Councils in the U.S.A.
5. Pittsburgh Council is divided into 11 District Councils and 103 Parish Conferences with 94 of these being active. Here in St. Valentine Parish we try to continue this great work by your generous donations to the Poor Boxes in church. Next week we will conclude our short history by explaining the work of St. Valentine's St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The St. Valentine St. Vincent DePaul Society was organized in 1955 and joined the Council of Pittsburgh in 1957. St. Val's S.V.D.P. is composed of 14 active members who meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesday if of every month except In June and July when they meet on the 1st Tuesday. Special meetings are called when necessary. Due to the type of information discussed, the meetings are not open to the public.

St. Valentine has its own food bank in Frawley Hall. Food for this work is purchased or donated from the Pittsburgh Food Bank at about 10 cents a pound. We also receive food from the Thanksgiving Food Collection, from the CCD and School students and faculty; also from T.O.G.A. and from parishoners.

We receive our income from the Poor Boxes, the Thanksgiving Day Collection and from generous donors.

St. Valentine St. Vincent de Paul is composed of our Spiritual Director, Father John A. Harvey, Pastor; 14 active members- 8 men and 6 women; 22 associate members who are sometimes "on call" and many contributing members who give donations to the Society.

The meetings start with prayer and a reading from Scripture, the secretary's report, the treasurer's report, president's report, and each member reports on his activities for the Society since the last meeting. The Spiritual Adviser gives a short report and words of wisdom.

In 1998, we made 564 contacts, helped 27 families, visited 146 people, and disbursed $25.649.

All this has been accomplished due to your donations and help in the Poor Boxes. Thank you one and all!

Many fine men and women have served the Society throughout the years. Please pray for our deceased members and for the living members.