St. Vincent de Paul NKY celebrates patronal feast day with the commissioning of four new presidents

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Northern Kentucky filled St. Pius X Church, Edgewood, in celebration of its patronal feast day and to commission four new conference presidents. Father Ross Kelsch, spiritual advisor to the St. Vincent de Paul Council, and pastor, St. Thomas Parish, Ft. Thomas, celebrated the Mass and presided at the commissioning. Vincentians from across the Diocese gathered with the leadership of St. Vicent de Paul NKY filling the pews of St. Pius X Church to celebrate together the legacy of charity left by their patron.

The work of Vincentians is not easy, often requiring home visits to those who live in a poverty unknown to many, and who have called upon the charity of St. Vincent de Paul for help. It is the role of Vincentians to answer that call, and to go provide what aide they can.

“Today, as we gather from all of our different parishes, our different communities, our different areas that we serve, I look around and see people who have answered that call,” said Father Kelsch. For those Vincentians who make home visits, Father Kelsch said, “There’s a moment that many of you know very well. You are standing outside someone’s door … you know a little bit about what’s going on, but probably not much … you don’t know how long they sat with their phone in their hand before they finally called. How embarrassed they might feel about having to make that call, how many nights they have been awake, wondering what to do next.”

Painting a picture of the hope that Vincentians bring through their work, Father Kelsch said, “You may never know how many times God has used your presence to answer someone’s prayer.”

This work, the one of hope and charity, is not solely the work of the St. Vincent de Paul NKY Conference, nor does it belong to the hands of the Vincentians that carry it out. Father Kelsch reminded those gathered that the work belongs to the Lord.

“We’re not perfect. God didn’t call us because we had all of the answers. He called us so that it would be clear that the work is not ours, but his,” said Father Kelsch. “You show up so that a person knows they haven’t been abandoned, someone knows their name, someone has listened, someone cares enough to take them seriously and to help how we can … that’s how love takes practical shape.”

“We aren’t called to solve every problem,” he said, “and we can’t. But we can bring the people we serve to the one who can.”

Following his homily, Father Kelsch commissioned four new council presidents — Joyce Eiben, Mother of God Parish, Covington; Kay Mudd, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Falmouth; Michael Lauer, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, California; and Richard Calchara, St. Patrick Parish, Maysville — instructing them to always live out this mission of hope and charity in the name of the Lord.

Two more conference presidents for Holy Cross Parish, Covington, and St. Timothy Parish, Union, will be commissioned at a later date.