Notre Dame
Port Alberni, BCIn 2005 Notre Dame Conference aggregated. The membership at Notre Dame seems to be holding at 28. Not everyone is fully active but they do participate where and when they can, and some are on leave because of family and health reasons. The Rosary is said before all meetings begin and the Spiritual reading helps reflect on Jesus' love for the poor. The newest members have begun a Caring ministry in which they visit the sick, lonely and newly bereaved. This has been found much needed inNotre Dame's parish community and is very well received. Although regular meetings are only once a month, the Caring committee meets every Friday after mass to just touch base for about an hour. It is a very spiritually rewarding ministry.
Notre Dame manages 442 home visits to: 180 families, 372 children, and 144 single adults, providing food hampers when needed. They also acquaint the visit recipients with the many resources in the Valley.
Some of the other needs provided are:
Food and gasoline vouchers
Clothing and shoes
Purchased milk and diapers
Gathered and delivered furniture
Helped with moving
Paid for bus fare out of town
Transportation for a doctor's visit out of town
Provided transportation
Emotional help and guidance for another going through legal aid
Paid for car repair
A one-day car insurance
Hydro bills as well as helped to conserve hydro and gas costs by Providing plastic for windows
Paid for storage costs
"Notre Dame had a very successful World Food Day Awareness Walk in Port Alberni. Special thanks to the Catholic school curriculum including the teaching of the charitable works of SSVP. One of our Vincentians speaking to them about poverty and our works, and the Particular Council who provided us with the banners, pamphlets and bracelets delivered by Allen Cuthbertson. All of the students and teachers at John Paul II Catholic School participated with their own signs and enthusiasm along with several members of our conference and some parents (one of which has joined our Society). It was also filmed by our local Shaw TV crew and was shown on our local station for a few days. You can see it on the SSVP web site. God blessed us by halting the rain while we were out and we all had fun. Fr. Marek lead us all in prayer before our walk, and afterwards the children brought all of the food that they had been gathering during the week and that day down to our food locker in the basement of the school. They are continuing to bring food, placing it in the box at school."
--Dorothy Taschuk, President, Notre Dame Conference