Yangebup Parish Priest Fr Dat Vuong and SVDP Fremantle Regional President Ben Ziegelaar welcome the newly joined personnel of the Society on Saturday 8 September. Photo: Matthew Lau.
By Matthew Lau
The Fremantle region of St Vincent de Paul Society held its annual commissioning Mass at Mater Christi Church, Yangebup Parish on 8 September.
Six new members were formally introduced into the regional group after Parish Priest Father Dat Vuong concluded his homily.
The Mass was followed by a social gathering in the Parish Hall, where awards were presented to recognise 15 long-serving members who have reached milestone years of affiliation with the charity.
In WA, Vinnies has 75 parish conferences, 1120 conference members, 50 shops, 2000 volunteers, 189 staff, and supports more than 40,000 Western Australians each year.
The Fremantle region is comprised of seven conferences: Yangebup, Beaconsfield, Palmyra, Hilton, Bateman, Spearwood, and Willetton.
Ben Ziegelaar has been Fremantle Regional President for the past four years, and a member of SVDP for over 20 years.
“These gatherings are important as members celebrate that St Vincent de Paul Society is much bigger than a single conference,” he said.
SVDP has a worldwide presence and in WA provides support in many areas including emergency relief, housing assistance, energy support, financial counselling, refugee assistance, Vincent Care residential, kids’ camps, youth work and shops.
“In the Fremantle region we are primarily involved with emergency assistance which includes food, energy, housing, and financial counselling referrals,” Mr Ziegelaar added.
“Besides bringing important services to the community, each conference is its own family – providing members with support, friendship and a spirituality based on action and prayer.
Mike Miller has been elevated from Vice President to President of the Willetton conference.
“I am just a figurehead; it’s the good work of the people of Vinnies who make such a difference in our communities,” Mr Miller said.