Welcome and Who We Are

St. Vincent de Paul Parish is a sacred community where all are welcome. The New Sanctuary Committee is just one of many ministry opportunities happening here. This web page will give you information about the NSM committee. Please let us know if you have questions and/or if you want to join us. All are welcome! Currently (December 2024) our monthly meetings are usually the 2nd Wednesday of each month. You can get more information by talking with some of our members; Paul Witte, Gene Cleaver, Nora O’Neill, Diana Thompson, Lenny Thompson, Dorina Pena, Alice Foley, Siobhan McVay, Dan McVay, Geoff Beatty and Patricia Kohler. For general questions please email us at NSM@saint-vincent-church.org. We created a one-page information sheet to give you more information. Click here to read it.

Purpose/Mission Statement

Welcome immigrants, advocate on their behalf, collaborate with like-minded people and organizations to welcome the stranger. We are called to act with justice. We are called to love tenderly. We are called to love one another, to walk humbly with God.

Immigrants Make America Great
Zechariah 7:9-10 9 “This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

Three Basic Principles of Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration

    • First Principle: People have the right to migrate to sustain their lives and the lives of their families.
    • Second Principle: A country has the right to regulate its borders and to control immigration.
    • Third Principle: A country must regulate its borders with justice and mercy.

    For more information click this link to United States Conference of Bishops (USCCB) website. Catholic Social Teaching on Immigration and the Movement of Peoples

    Pope Francis unveils sculpture dedicated to migrants and refugees in St. Peter's Square 2019

    Father James Martin: What does the Bible say about refugees, migrants and foreigners?
    This video is three minutes and 50 seconds long.

    Some History of the New Sanctuary Movement Committee

    Where we are now is bult upon those who came before us. You can get a glimpse of our history by reading the following items from our past. Thanks to those who have shown us the way.

    The New Sanctuary Movement Committee at St. Vincent’s Church is an outgrowth of the Social Justice Committee. We work collaboratively with the local New Sanctuary Movement organization to address problems and advocate for solutions.

    Hebrews 13:2 >Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
    Hebrews 13:2 >Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

    What We Have Done

        • Walking with brothers and sisters from other cultures during difficult times.
        • Speaking out and asking to change policy and laws.
        • Assisting with basic food, clothing and shelter needs for individuals and families.
        • Supporting persons in Sanctuary.
        • Contributing to legal fees and other costs.

    Events/Activities/Fund Raisers

        1. Appeal for funds for food truck
        2. A vigil of prayer was held at St. Vincent on August 11, 2021
        3. Co-resettlement team – Mishkan Shalom Reconstructionist Synagogue and St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church Resa Rudney Award Honorees April 2023
        4. Go Fund Me Campaign May 2024
    James 2:1-4 “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
    James 2:1-4 “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

    St. Vincent’s NSM Committee Newsletters


    Kindred Spirits


    “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not wrong him. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as one of your citizens; you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt…” Leviticus 19:33–34

    These are organizations/allies we associate with.


        1. New Sanctuary Movement Philadelphia, 215-279-7060, https://www.sanctuaryphiladelphia.org/
          New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia builds community across faith, ethnicity, and class in our work to end injustices against immigrants regardless of immigration status and express radical welcome for all. One program called Accompaniment has a photo that includes our own Paul Witte (Aug 2024). You can read their 2023 NSM Annual Report. They have a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/nsmphilly/ 
        2. HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) ,215-832-0900, https://hiaspa.org/
          HIAS Pennsylvania supports low-income immigrants of all backgrounds as they build new lives in our community. Through immigration legal services and an array of social services, we work to address their needs, defend their rights, and advocate for their equitable inclusion in American society.
          2020-2021 Report at >https://hiaspa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/HIAS-PA-2020-2021.pdf 
        3. Welcome Home, 267-968-3254, https://welcoming-homes.org/
          Mission statement: Welcoming Homes matches refugee and asylum-seeking young adults with safe homes and caring families. Our families have room in their homes and in their lives to provide a residential environment with opportunities for basic human needs met in a restorative atmosphere.
      1.  


    Romans 12:9-13: “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. … When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.”


    Will You Join Us?

    We usually meet monthly to mobilize in support of individual immigrants as well as policy initiatives that lift up their human dignity. New members are always welcomed. Email contact: NSM@Saint-Vincent-Church.org. We created a one page information sheet to give you more information. Click her to read it..