Joseph, Mary (with Jesus)
rejected at the Inn

This is something I felt the need to write and have sent to a few friends so far. Feel free to share.

December 8, Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of God

Dear Friends, Members of the Society, Pastors and Media,

As we wait and watch for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, it is a good time to be aware of the poor, marginalized and rejected. Jesus’ first rejection came when he was still in his mother’s womb, when there was no room for them in the inn. In the Gospel we learn how Jesus dealt with rejection and how we can follow his Way, like in the Beatitudes and Matthew 25. The Way is simple, Do the Works of Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.

Some criticize the works of mercy as band aids and not making real systematic change. However, Jesus, Dorothy Day, Gandhi, St. Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther King Jr., St. Ignatius of Loyola have proven that works of mercy and resistance can spark structural change.

Here in Milwaukee a few of us have been trying to effect structural change in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP), since over the years we believe it has lost track of the main Mission of the Society, person to person encounters with those in need doing the works of mercy. Whereas 99.9% of local SVDP conference budgets go to needs of poor only .03% of the Central Council budget, operated by central staff, goes to direct services, works of mercy by the conferences. In fact, the local conference need to pay Central Council store 100% of retail price for donated clothing and household items and new beds, a much greater amount than they receive back from council. The Central Council now owns five properties with only one, Thrift Store on South Side, serving the conferences and main mission and bringing in revenue to the Central Council. Now with the multi-million dollar development of Thrift store in the suburbs the Central Council budget is projecting a greater deficit than ever, money which will come from trust funds for the poor, as all money in SVDP is owned by the poor.

When some of us who have been speaking up for years against this structure that hurts the poor build unsustainable bureaucracy we were marginalized by the few staff and members in control and recently two of us were suspended without any hearing from the Society.

A certified letter I just received from a lawyer who claims to “represent the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Milwaukee (Milwaukee Society)” says the “Milwaukee Society will use all means available to it” to prevent me from participating any activities of the Milwaukee Society, attending meetings, trespassing property of central office or making home visits for conference to people in need.” The suspensions and certified letters were not talked about at any board or council meeting and copies were sent only to the President whose recently election is being challenged, the Executive Director, appointed by the Present and the Finance Director who is appointed by Executive Director.

In a day and age when we are becoming more aware of cultural and institutional racism the ‘Milwaukee Society’ stands out as a white controlled organization who claims to know what is best for Latinos and African Americans in poverty stricken neighborhoods. The million dollar investment in a thrift store in a suburb, even if it does eventually produce a profit, to be used for poor, will just be band aid for problems of poverty and race. A much smaller investment for a ‘sustainable’ thrift store doing the works of mercy’ in North Central Milwaukee could have a structural impact on the community.

Do not be afraid of rejects or marginalized, the poor, black and Latinos. Call for structural change in the Milwaukee Society, change President, Executive Director and Finance Director and a full and independent audit of the Society which is long overdue.

Above all, I ask you to be generous in giving time, talent and money to present St. Vincent de Paul conferences in Milwaukee, not to Central Council or office. A list of structural flaws in the present Milwaukee Society are attached with this letter.

For more information or a needy SVDP conference near you contact me. I speak as an individual and hopefully a Cry for the Poor and you.

May you share in the graces and blessings God only gives to the poor and marginalized,

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