SEATTLE – Outreach to the Latino community in King County is highlighted in an episode of “Our Faith in Action: Today’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul,” airing Feb. 9 on the EWTN Global Catholic Television Network.
Along with SVdP conferences in New York and Kentucky, Episode 19 features the Divine Providence Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Seattle-King County.
“We wanted to share this particular story because it highlights the good work being done for the Latinx community in Seattle by the Society,” Jill Pioter, SVdP national director of marketing and communications, said in an email.
“The Divine Providence Conference realized they could serve the Latinx community, who might need help with education, legal paperwork and other areas where not having English as the primary household language might be a barrier,” she explained.
The “Faith in Action” series follows its members, known as Vincentians, on their spiritual growth journey through service to people and families in need, where Vincentians bring friendship and aid to neighbors in need, the organization said in a press release. Service may also include food pantries, assistance with rent and utilities, and innovative health care, financial and mentoring programs.
“The home visit is the cornerstone,” said Mirya Muñoz-Roach, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Seattle-King County. “We go to them and listen carefully. That’s the mission of St. Vincent de Paul … opening the doors wide and believing in the people,” she said.
Ten years ago, SVdP Seattle-King County listened to the needs of the growing Latino community in King County and in the Catholic Church, Muñoz-Roach said, considering what SVdP’s response would be to their needs.
The Seattle-King County Council drew inspiration from Blessed Rosalie Rendu’s work with children and families, Muñoz-Roach said. (Blessed Rosalie was a Daughter of Charity in Paris who worked with the SVdP founders, teaching them how to serve the poor with respect and compassion.)
The result was Centro Rendu, which provides Spanish-based programs to protect, support and defend Latino immigrant families through education, social services, legal advocacy and leadership development, she explained.
Since its creation in 2013, Centro Rendu has served more than 15,000 families, Muñoz-Roach said. Today it has locations in Kent, Renton and Burien, and recently began offering services in Tacoma in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul Tacoma, Pierce County.
The episode of “Our Faith in Action: Today’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul” featuring St. Vincent de Paul Seattle-King County, is scheduled to air on EWTN Global Catholic Television Network on Feb. 9 at 2:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. (Pacific time).
All episodes will be available on the Society of St. Vincent de Paul U.S.A. website beginning Feb.13.
You can find the episode under its original title, “Helping Friends in Need Find Success,” or on the EWTN schedule as “Recognizing the Diversity of Those in Need.”
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