Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Newmarket Conference

08/26/2026

08/22/2026

Three women were sexually assaulted in Markham over the course of just one week.

This is frightening and our response cannot simply be to tell women to be more careful!

Women should not have to change their routes, avoid walking alone, watch the clock, or constantly look over their shoulders just to feel safe in their own communities.
They deserve to feel safe. At home. At work. On our streets. In every part of their community.

Sexual violence is not just an individual problem. It is a community issue, and creating safer communities requires all of us to take it seriously, speak up when we see harmful behaviour, challenge attitudes that normalize violence and make prevention part of the conversation.

We stand with the women who were harmed and with every survivor of sexual violence.

Safety should not depend on how careful a woman is. It should be something our communities work together to protect.

08/22/2026

Embracing Our Common Home

St. Francis of Assisi saw all of creation as a gift from God, calling the sun, moon, animals, and the earth his brothers and sisters. His example invites us to see creation not as something to possess, but as something to protect for future generations.

"Praised be You, my Lord, through all Your creatures." - Canticle of the Creatures

08/19/2026

Many hard-working taxpayers have a jaundiced view of social programs based on the commonly held premise that people should get what they deserve, no more and no less, where society defines what they deserve.
Jesus challenges his followers to a more compassionate approach, see people's authentic needs, and be generous in helping them meet those needs to the extent that we are able. See today's gospel on the labourers in the vineyard - Matthew 20:1-16.
Sometimes the need is for a fishing rod, but in the meantime people still need a fish to eat. The labourers in the vineyard who only worked one hour had the same need for a day's wage as those who worked all day.

Image credit: This image is owned by Donatella Cinelli Colombini, an iconic Italian winemaker and estate owner in Tuscany, Italy.

08/06/2026

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed.”
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

08/01/2026

Anytime we use our sacred writings to justify acts of exclusion, rejection, and hegemony we are neglecting justice, mercy, and love. By doing so, we deploy our holy scriptures to do more harm than good, causing us to fall into the same hypocrisy that Jesus condemned.
—Randy Woodley, quoted by Fr Richard Rohr O.F.M

The Indigenous theologian Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley considers Jesus’s criticism of certain religious leaders in his day and how they interpreted Scripture:

05/17/2026

04/16/2026

Volunteer Appreciation

Thanks to all the SSVP volunteers who work throughout the year in supporting those in need throughout the Newmarket/East Gwillimbury area. Your time and efforts are fantastic. Not only do our Members deliver good food boxes and food cards, but they also provide assistance for families with children in applying for the Canada Learning Bond, and also give direction to individuals as to where to get tax assistance.

Special thanks to our Bingo volunteers for fundraising at Bingo World and Gaming Newmarket. This opportunity, given to us by Newmarket Charity Gaming Association, has really helped us in continuing our community support.

It is important for us to be part of Charitable Gaming.
Every play supports charities like ours!