St. Vincent de Paul has identified many needy families in our community.
The holidays are fast approaching and we invite you to consider sharing your blessings with one of these families.
The commitment is to purchase a gift for each family member form a list of gift ideas/needs. Sign up now to help a family in need. Thank you!

For questions or to participate please call Melissa Romero (818) 640·1790 or Marylee Hrabovsky (805) 758·3294.

Also visit: St. Vincent de Paul, Groups, Outreach

Over 80 local parishes and 63 Catholic schools depend on funding from Together in Mission... your generosity makes all the difference.
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Together in Mission Update!

• Goal: $130,510
• Year to Date: $125,966 donated by 480 households
• Gap of $4,544 to reach our goal

​Each year every parish is asked to contribute to less fortunate parishes and schools in the archdiocese. Your donation will help our neighboring parishes teach and convey the Good News of Jesus Christ to thousands of students and parishioners. Your gift will be applied toward employee salaries, tuition for children, and assistance to families. Envelopes are in the church lobby.

With four million Catholics living in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles this opportunity exists to make a substantial impact in the neighborhoods that need it the most... when we work and give together in mission.
For more information visit​ ourmissionla.org
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​God has called us to build his church.

What will the students do?
Our elementary students, more than 100 of them, will be creating and wrapping beautiful gifts for poor, sick and suffering children in third world countries. Our Padre Serra third through fifth graders participate in this world wide outreach effort by filling shoe boxes with donated items, decorating the boxes and making a beautiful, personal card.

What they learn?
The children watch a DVD about this project and learn that not all children in the world have toys or pencils, or even an empty shoe-box.

What can you do as a parent?

• Bring a shoe-box and some donated items listed below.
• Stay and assist your child with this project if you are able to.
  
• Wrapping the boxes can be challenging and so any additional help is appreciated. Besides, it's a rewarding project to be able to do with your child.  
  
• Donate extra supplies, if possible.

Suggested Gifts:

• Toys:  small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch a Sketch toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), slinky, etc.
• School supplies:  pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, coloring books, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books etc.
• Hygiene items:  toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.
• Other:  Individually wrapped hard candy, lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, sunglasses, flashlights (with extra batteries), ball caps, socks, T-shirts, toy jewelry, hair clips, watches, small picture books, etc.

Please DO NOT include the following:

• Used items
• War-related items:  toy guns, knives, etc
• Chocolate, gummy, or perishable food items
• Liquids:  shampoo, liquid soap, lotion, bubbles, etc
• Medicines:  vitamins, cough drops, ointment, etc
• Breakable items:  mirrors, china dolls, etc

If you have any questions, contact the parish at (805) 482·6417 and ask for Christine at x349.

Ongoing simple fundraising opportunities include:

•  eScrip
  Simply follow this link to www.escrip.com and use Group Code 136559191
• Amazon Smile
  Shop Amazon like normal and Amazon will donate 0.5% to our St. Vincent De Paul.  Simply follow this link to smile.amazon.com/ch/27-1002110
• iGive
  Follow this link and shop your favorite stores!
• Ralphs Community
  Follow this link to register your Ralphs card

SVDP is open to both men and women who wish to grow in their faith by serving God and their neighbor.  Members are united in their efforts to conduct their ministry with compassion and confidentiality, while promoting human dignity and respect.  To learn more about volunteering, contact: Terri Korell korellhome@verizon.net
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From a current member of the ministry: 
"Being a volunteer is a blessing. It makes me aware of the blessings in my own life. Viewing the world through the eyes of the less fortunate keeps me grounded and more aware of the people around me. Our parish conference very special. The love and support we receive from our fellow Vincentians is wonderful and the service itself keeps faith in front of everything you do. Come and join us and count your blessings."

Every Monday food is bagged and distributed to families in need. Remember our friends and neighbors in Camarillo served by our food pantry. ​All the items you place in the boxes in church are taken over to our centralized storage at St. Mary’s Chapel on Sunday afternoon.

Leprosy Relief Rural Centre (LRRC) provides medical assistance to patients with leprosy and tuberculosis throughout the diocese of Salem at no cost. LRRC was started in 1956 when leprosy affected one in ten thousand people in the Salem district. The Centre has cured thousands of leprosy patients.

The centre is staffed to find those with leprosy, bring them in, and provide free medical care, The patients are diagnosed and if need be they are kept as inpatients also at no cost. In this way thousands of patients have been cured.

Since the leprosy cured patients are vulnerable to ulcers, mainly due to loss of sensation, LRRC imparts adequate awareness and training too on self-care management. It provides Micro Cellular Rubber Footwear and ulcer care materials. Patients with large ulcers may be hospitalized for a long time. Wherever possible skin grafting is performed for an early cure. Deformity is one of the most common problems for people with leprosy, so LRRC performs reconstructive surgeries to correct deformities in legs and hands so that patients can manage for themselves. Even now, LRRC performs 20 to 30 surgeries per year. The centre has rehabilitated several leprosy patients with self-employment, for example, some have been hired to clean and maintain the centre.

Since 1995, LRRC has also cared for tuberculosis patients. Patients are identified through saliva test, X-ray and treated with oral medications. Some patients need help getting nutritious food to help them get well quickly. We also have St. Joseph’s, a multi-specialty hospital with 70 beds caring for poor people from rural areas. We are conducting more than 20 cataract surgeries per month and we are treating diabetic ulcers also. We are providing free physiotherapy treatment to children suffering from syphilis and polio.

Our motto is quality medical care at affordable cost. We have a team of nurses who go to people’s houses, teach about the need for good health, and invite them for free diabetic and eye screenings and for free treatment for basic health care. We are providing total care to the leprosy and tuberculosis patients – all at no charge.

Obviously, the center needs financial support for all the medical care we provide. We depend solely upon philanthropic donors and well-wishers to be able to continue these free treatments. The center needs to renovate some old buildings which keep inpatients. Your generous contribution is greatly appreciated and allows us to continue the Lord’s work. I look forward to meeting you after the masses on July 14 and 15.

RAIN is a transitional housing program located in Camarillo, California.
Individuals and families across Ventura County who are in need of transitional housing as they begin their path to independence can find help at the RAIN Transitional Living Center in Camarillo. Home to more than 135 people each year, RAIN features 16 rooms for families, six single rooms, and several beds for people recovering from illness or injury following hospitalization. The average length of stay at RAIN is 8 to 12 months. However, some stay for more than a year while they pursue their path to self-sufficiency.
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• If you are interested in volunteering or doing a group project please contact please call (805) 388-3148
• If you have any further questions regarding our program please call (805) 389-3308
• If you know someone that may need the help of RAIN TLC, please call Homeless Services at (805) 385-1800
• If you would like to support the homeless families of RAIN, you can make a tax-deductible donation please send checks payable to:
  RAIN Communities, Inc.
  P.O. Box 1934
  Camarillo, CA 93011-1934

Help our school! St. Mary Magdalen School, transitional kindergarten (TK) through grade 8, earns money by collecting Box Tops. Each box top is worth 10 cents. This is an easy and great way to help our school earn money. Please collect your box tops and turn them into the parish office.

For years, our retreat leaders have volunteered their time (about 40 hours of preparation) and talent (years of experience sharing faith) for our Confirmation teens.

A little known fact, they also pay for room and board while many take time off work to help at the retreat. This year, we are hoping, praying and asking for help to offset the cost.

​Whatever is donated to our retreat leader fund will go into a pool to reduce, or even eliminate, the cost for our leaders to volunteer. The total cost for leaders this year is $3,000. Every dollar given will be humbly and gratefully received as a ‘thank you for your love and dedication to our young teens.’ Envelopes are in the church narthex. Thank you church.

A note from Katya Acuna in the Catholic chaplain’s office:
I thought I would show up and pick up an envelope with perhaps $200 worth of gift cards from Angel Tags. That would be more than enough to cover our Christmas dinner and mass expenses. Instead, there was over $1,400. This will cover pretty much ALL of our activities for 2018. Unbelievable! Padre Serra is such a wonderful, giving parish. Thank you for making this possible!!!

Immediate financial support will be provided through the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity.  The goal of the Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity is service to the "neediest of the needy” and those for whom no other resources exist and donations are tax deductible. 
 
These gifts can be made in three ways:

1. A simple envelope with your donation can be placed in the normal Sunday collection.
2. Checks can be made directly to:
   ​Cardinal McIntyre Fund for Charity
   3424 Wilshire Boulevard
   Los Angeles, CA 90010
   (for more information call: 213-637-7438)
3. Checks can be made out to:
   Santa Barbara Pastoral Region
   c/o Thomas Fire
   3240 Calle Pinon
   Santa Barbara, CA 93015

Also, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is providing support to the communities affected by the fires through Catholic Charities of Los Angeles and our local parishes and schools. A special fund has been established to help those impacted by the fires. Donations can be made at www.archla.org/fires.

There are also resources available from city and county agencies for those who are in the evacuation zones. You can find more information regarding where to get help if you are affected by the fires at the following links:
http://vcfd.org/
http://www.sbcfire.com/
http://www.lafd.org/
www.lacity.org