As the local Vincentian family gathered in parishes throughout the diocese last weekend to mark the Feast of St. Vincent de Paul on the 350th anniversary of his death, the work he inspired them to do went on just as always.

In Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle, for instance, where the conference is also celebrating the 26th anniversary of its establishment, the call went out in the bulletin for items to help stock a food pantry run by Vincentians where the need is steadily increasing and “the shelves are very low and bare.”

After Mass – where the 60-plus member volunteer corps served as ushers, readers, presenters of the gifts and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and received a blessing from their pastor, Father Andrew Jamieson – parishioners began responding to the need at once.

On their way in to a social in Hoffman Hall planned by SVDP members to thank parishioners for their constant support, many stopped to purchase supermarket certificates that will benefit the conference.

The table, like notices in the bulletin, is a fixture after all weekend Masses in Holy Eucharist said volunteer Susan Carey. She mans the table every fourth week after the 10:30 a.m. Mass, motivated by a desire to contribute support to the conference.

“St. Vincent de Paul gets five percent of the proceeds every week,” Carey said. “That’s a real help.”

That’s especially true in these tough financial times when the number of those in need is on the rise said Father Jamieson and Frank O’Brien.

After mass, standing outside the social hall, Father Jamieson spoke of how the St. Vincent de Paul Society members throughout the world “continue Jesus’ mission to help the poor. We’re just so blessed to have so many Vincentian men and women here carrying on the mission.”

Father Jamieson said that during this economic downturn, “it’s exciting to see how this parish responds when St. Vincent de Paul asks.”

O’Brien, president of the Burlington District Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society which includes 23 parishes and former president of the Holy Eucharist Conference, spoke of the ongoing effort to help as the calls increase.

Figures show that over the last three months, there has been a significant uptick in the numbers of families using the food pantry, O’Brien said. The number has increased from 56 families in June to 60 in July to 70 in August.

“It is getting worse and worse, especially for the young and elderly,” said O’Brien. “You know, a lot of people, when they come to this area say, ‘where are the poor.’ Well they are here. People live in the woods. They live in trailers and they are barely making it.”

O’Brien said that aside from the food pantry, the Vincentians also help with a wide range of assistance including utility and shelter costs. A new initiative is to assist families at the beginning of the school year, he said.

“To break the chain of poverty, you need to assist with school. We provide supplies, shoes, hair cuts. It’s key to breaking the cycle.”