SVDP conferences in the diocese gather for spiritual renewal festival
By The East Tennessee Catholic
The feast of St. Vincent de Paul was commemorated on Sept. 28 when Society of St. Vincent de Paul conferences from around the Diocese of Knoxville gathered for a festival at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut.
Jim Moretti, president of the diocesan Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council, invited Father David Mary Engo, OFM, and Father Doug Owens to speak at the council festival, which was held the day after St. Vincent de Paul’s feast day.
Those attending the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council festival gather for a group photo before Mass at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on Sept. 28. (Photo courtesy Ray Chan)
The council festival is an opportunity to bring together for spiritual renewal and friendship the nine St. Vincent de Paul conferences that serve in the Diocese of Knoxville, according to Ray Chan, president of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. John Neumann Parish.
Father Engo serves as parochial administrator of Holy Cross Parish in Pigeon Forge, and Father Doug Owens serves as pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville and has served as a vicar general for the Diocese of Knoxville.
“Both of their talks were excellent and well-received by the 100 or so Vincentians in attendance,” Mr. Chan said.
The 2024 festival was special because it marked the 10th anniversary of the diocesan council and also it marked the feast of the patron saint of the society.
The St. Vincent de Paul Council and its individual conferences are volunteer lay organizations typically associated with parish churches. Each year, a conference is invited to host the annual festival and make available its church and facilities.
“This year it was St. John Neumann’s turn,” Mr. Chan said, “Why are we here? It boils down to trying to follow God’s commandments.”
Mr. Chan offered 15 commandments given to the faithful by God, starting with the primary 10 and ending with Matthew 25, where the Son of God separates the sheep to His right and the goats to His left.
“To the sheep, He says, ‘Blessed are you, for when I was thirsty you gave Me something to drink, and when I was sick you cared for Me. The sheep then asked, ‘When did we give you something to drink, and when did we care for you when you were sick?’ Jesus replied, ‘Whatever you did for the least of these you did it for me,’” Mr. Chan said.
When Mr. Chan first took part in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, he remembered the words of Bill Migley, who served as national senior vice president of the southeast region for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
“Bill said the primary purpose of the society was holiness, not charity. Following God’s commandment isn’t always easy, but working alongside like-minded friends in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul makes it easier,” Mr. Chan said.
Father David Mary Engo, OFM, parochial administrator of Holy Cross Parish in Pigeon Forge, is shown with Society of St. Vincent de Paul members Jim Moretti and Cindy Chan during the SVDP spiritual renewal festival at St. John Neumann Parish. (Photo courtesy Ray Chan)
“Starting off the festival at St. John Neumann, Father Engo celebrated Mass to commemorate the feast of St. Vincent de Paul. Blessed Frederic Ozanam founded the society in 1833. He named the society after St. Vincent de Paul and placed it under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Interestingly, the first meeting for the St. Vincent de Paul conference at St. John Neumann was on the feast of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, 2007,” Mr Chan said. “Fittingly, the first hymn sung at this festival Mass was ‘Hail Holy Queen.’”
Deacon Shawn Ballard, who serves at St. John Neumann and is spiritual director for the parish’s SVDP conference, assisted along with altar servers from the Tiny Saints, a youth group from St. John Neumann Parish.
Mr. Chan explained that Father Engo, the Franciscan priest from Holy Family Parish in Pigeon Forge, spoke of the similarity between the Franciscans and Vincentians in that both organizations serve the poor.
“The difference, however, is the Franciscans dress like the poor, wearing the familiar brown habit made of wool, no shoes, and possessing nothing that would be described in today’s terms as flashy or sharp,” Mr. Chan pointed out. “He shared his prior experience in working with the homeless, gangs, and the poor in the Philadelphia and New York areas. He also described the times he met Mother Teresa. He remarked that while Mother Teresa’s face was lined with wrinkles and her toes were crooked, when you looked into her eyes, you saw the most beautiful person.
“Father Engo was privileged to have spent time in adoration with Mother Teresa. He shared a valuable lesson that he learned from the sainted nun. When a Sister from her Missionaries of Charity expressed uncertainty and frustration in wondering if what she was doing was really helping, Mother Teresa told her to always remember these five words. Uttering each word, she put her fingers together, “YOU—DID—IT—TO—ME,” forming a beak with her fingers. Then with her fingers, she sharply poked the Sister’s head, and said, ‘This is not our concern!’ After all, isn’t Mother Teresa also known to have said, ‘God does not require us to be successful, only faithful.’”
Father Doug Owens, pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville, speaks to members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Diocese of Knoxville during an SVDP spiritual renewal festival at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut on Sept. 28. (Photo courtesy Ray Chan)
Father Owens, reminiscing to 2015 when he became the pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City, shared his experience in starting a new Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference there. Bishop Richard F. Stika encouraged the move, and calls for assistance would come into Father Owens’ office.
“Today, St. Thomas has a vibrant St. Vincent de Paul conference that is generously supported by the parish,” said Father Owens, who also oversees a vibrant SVDP conference at All Saints.
Observing the meeting room where the festival was held, Father Owens remarked that while the festival was well attended, the number of people present was only a small percentage of the population within the diocese.
Father Owens recognized the work done by St. Vincent de Paul conferences, such as making home visits as part of the one-neighbor-at-a-time project.
“Father Owens expressed gratitude for those who participate in the home-visit ministry. In providing relief to our neighbors, he reminded all that the society should try to abide by the Catholic principle of subsidiarity, that is, SVDP should help those who need help but guide and encourage our neighbors-in-need to become more self-sufficient,” Mr. Chan said.
During the festival, recognition was given to Deacon Mike Gouge, who was instrumental in establishing the Society of St. Vincent De Paul in the Knoxville area. Just after the Diocese of Knoxville was formed, Deacon Gouge established the first SVDP conference in 1989 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Deacon Gouge, who died on July 11, also helped form the SVDP conference at St. John Neumann in 2007 and was the spiritual director for the conference at St. John Neumann and the diocesan-wide council until his illness. Anita Gouge, Deacon Gouge’s wife, attended the festival to receive recognition for her husband’s contribution to the Society of St. Vincent De Paul in the Diocese of Knoxville.
Mr. Moretti said one of his goals is to expand the number of SVDP conferences within the Diocese of Knoxville. There currently are nine active SVDP conferences among the 51 parishes within the diocese.
“There are opportunities for other SVDP conferences to help serve the poor. The diocese covers a big area. Knox County alone is over 500 square miles, but yet there are only two active conferences in Knox County: St. John Neumann and All Saints,” Mr. Moretti said. “As Jesus has said, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.’ Father Engo reminded those in attendance that some of Jesus’ harshest comments were directed at those for not helping the poor.”
“The people in the society serve Jesus in the poor and help each other get to heaven. What could be more important? You can point to the crucifix in church and say that all we have is from Jesus and all we do is for Jesus. When people say, ‘thank you,’ you can tell them to thank Jesus,” Mr. Moretti concluded.
