Home visitation is the core work of the St Vincent de Paul Society and is a way by which people can be supported and encouraged to take control of their lives.  It allows Vinnies members the privileged opportunity to enter another’s home and life, to accompany them as they move forward.

This week we hear from Elizabeth, a volunteer with St Vincent de Paul Deepdene & Balwyn Conference as she reflects on her experience with a recent home visit.

The Weight of Two Bricks

Kate is a diminutive size 8.  She has a pretty little garden with year-round colour: Zygocactus in Winter and Pelargoniums in Summer.

Inside her cottage is spotless.  Pride of place on her kitchen bench are three photos: her sons Bill and Sam posing in their new clothes for their First Eucharist, and the third is Father Bob Maguire who baptised them.

Father Bob helped Kate a lot over the years, and in a sense still does, because down behind the 7-Eleven, where Kate sometimes treats herself to coffee and chocolate, there is the Father Bob Pantry that gives away a few emergency groceries.  Kate hates needing charity, but Bill has become a knife wielding ice addict who menaces his Mum for money. 

Kate’s neighbours aren’t very neighbourly and don’t want to get involved, but phone the police when they hear her screams.  For a while Kate enjoyed using an iPad until in a rage Bill smashed it.  Bill is 27 and has 3 children, all in foster care.  He has done time, but Kate laments that prison is no cure for his addiction.

We listen to Kate’s harrowing story and give her supermarket and Vinnies store vouchers.

As we leave, she tells us “The weight of two bricks has come off my shoulders“.

All donations to our Christmas Appeal are gratefully appreciated.  To donate to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal,  you may like to take a tag from the Advent Giving Tree or use the QR codes below or complete the donation form here.  To learn more about the works of St Vincent de Paul visit Vinnies.

It’s your compassion and support that makes our work possible.  Financial donations play a critical role in sustaining the Society.  The annual Vinnies Winter and Christmas appeals are the primary local fundraising activity of our Conferences. 

Our Conferences are always looking for new members to assist in our work.  If you are interested in joining or finding out more about our works, please contact the Conference President(s) via the Parish Office.

Once again, we thank our fellow parishioners for their prayers and generous support for our work throughout the year.

Camberwell Conference QR Code

Deepdene & Balwyn Conference QR Code

Surrey Hills Wattle Park Conference QR Code

Published: 15 December 2023