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MINUTES OF THE CENTRAL COUNCIL OF THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL, ARCHDIOCESE OF JOS HELD ON SATURDAY 17 MARCH 2001 AT ST. MICHAEL’S CHURCH,
ANGULDI A. OPENING: The meeting began at 10.40am with opening prayers led by the President. The spiritual reading was taken from the SVP booklet of spiritual readings page 11 entitled “The Life of Charity” – Acts 2:41-47 – The Pentecost Conversions. Comments Included: - Today Christianity is not practiced as in the early days – even the church seems to have forgotten the issue of giving abundantly. Instead, churches are preaching God is for giving all blessings. - The case of St. Louis Parish Church starting a fund for assistance to recently retrenched workers in Plateau State was given as a practical example. - Christ chose virtually illiterate people to be his apostles and they were only 12. The number of SVP members is not the most important issue but the quality and commitment of members being ready to sacrifice time, possessions and knowledge. Charity is measured not by what one gives, but by what one has left after giving. A traditional saying illustrated the point – “if you give out something and it does not pain you, the person receiving it will not appreciate it.” The time spent for working for the poor is not time lost. After death, on facing judgement, there is no opportunity to return to try again. Whatever we do, do it sincerely. - Part of the discussion point – “does our timidity our fear of the rainy day inhibit our generosity?” may be linked to the reading of 11 February 2001 from “The Word Among Us,” which asked – “who really wants to embrace a life of poverty, mourning and hunger? as food for thought. The President summed up the comments with the statement – Trust in God and continue to give out as the need arises. B MINUTES – The Secretary read out the minutes of 20 January 2001, which were adopted on a motion by Bro. Pwol, seconded by Bro. Audu after the following corrections: a) Page 1 B – line 2 ‘Dremkwap’ should read ‘Diemkwap.’ b) Page 2 (iv) line 2 delete ‘St. Michaels’ Anguldi’ and substitute ‘UMCC, Kuru.’ c) Page 3 D (a) parag. 2 line 3 after ‘1988’ add ‘the incorporation of the SVP as an NGO is important but…’ change following ‘It’ to read ‘it.’ C MATTERS ARISING: a) Annual Reports: Eight conferences were to pay N100.00 fine each for late submission. Two conferences St. Williams, Zawan and St. Josephs’ B/Ladi paid at the meeting. Members were again reminded to submit reports in time and that yearly, by the November meeting, the accumulated annual report for October of the previous year to September of the current year should be submitted by individual conferences in addition to any overall report by the Particular Council President. b) Condolence Visits: The two visits to UMCC Kuru and St. Mary’s’, Hwolshe had been made. The President emphasized that several members had not paid the condolence levy, so in future, if a conference lost a member and the conference’s condolence levy was not fully paid up, no central council condolence disbursement would be made for a visit to the family of the deceased member. The names of conferences owing condolence levies was read out as follows: St. Moses, St. Matthews (Giring), St. Mary’s, St. Kevin’s, St. Sebastian’s, St. Joseph (Du), St. Thomas (Shen), St. Finbars, St. Williams, St. Josephs’ (B/Ladi), St. Jarlaths. Some payment was made by St. Williams and St. Josephs (B/Ladi) and the balance by CIC (Zawang). c) Assistance for Fire Incident at St. Murumba’s: The EXCO of J.C.C. had categorized all conferences into three groups to pay a minimum sum each of N500.00, N300.00 and N100.00 according to the group as listed below: N500.00 – from St. Theresa’s, St. Louis, OLF, St. Michaels, (Nass), St. Josephs (Vom). N300.00 – from St. Monica’s, Good Shepherd (Unijos), St. Finbar’s, St. Jarlaths’, CIC (Zawang), St. Michaels’ (Anguldi), St. Matthews (Giring), UMCC, Kuru. N100.00 – from St. Josephs, (B/Ladi), St. Mary’s’ (Hwolshe), St. Moses, St. Sebastine, St. Josephs’ (Du), St. Thomas (Shen), St. Williams (Zawan). The two conferences – St. Gabriel’s’ (Rikkos) and St. Kevin’s (A/Rogo) were omitted because they had not been functioning during the year. N2,000.00 was collected from payments made by eight conferences and handed to the President of St. Murumba’s conference. Those who paid were St. Louis , St. Joseph’s (Vom), UMCC, St. Michael’s (Anguldi), St. Josephs’ (B/Ladi), St. Williams, St. Moses and St. Mary’s’. D. OTHER LEVIES: Names of conferences owing other levies were given: St. Joseph (B/Ladi), UMCC, St. Michaels’ (Anguldi), St. Moses, St. Matthews’ (Giring), St. Jarlaths’, St. Moses (Shen), St. Murumba’s and St. Joseph (Du). Three conferences that had paid all dues and levies – St. Louis, St. Joseph (Vom) and CIC (Zawang) were applauded. E. ROTATION OF JCC MEETINGS : It was agreed that an additional meeting be held on Saturday 30 June 2001 and CIC (Zawang) volunteered to host. F. JOS METROPOLITAN COUNCIL MEETING: JCC Secretary reported briefly on the main points of the meeting as follows: I.
JMC Board Meeting: was held on the evening of Friday 8
March 2001 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Parish Hall – Two main issues
were discussed: ii) Endowment funds began in December 1998, so by 2001 each conference should have paid for three years. 2. General Meeting: (a) General: four out of six central councils were present – Bauchi and Jalingo were not present. The representative of the Bishop of Maiduguri, Fr. Ejin, addressed the meeting then the President of the JMC gave his address. Some discussion were as follows: - On JMC’s suggestion that the SCP council be an official part of the Federal Government’s Poverty Alleviation Programme, a member wondered if that amounted to drafting in politics. - Hausa translation of SVP literature was still not produced so a four-member committee was set up to take action by the next JMC meeting. - Re Council or Conference President being away for a long period on official assignment, members were reminded that the Vice-President should carry on the meetings, or if need be, an election held for a new President. 3. Individual council reports – Gombe had 8 conferences with 10 new members during the year. Yola had 12 conferences but their report was for 7 of them. Three were new conferences and four had been aggregated. Maiduguri had 14 conferences but only 7 reported in time while two submitted reports later. Jos had 23 conferences and 2 youth conferences but reports were from 21 conferences. 4. Other Issues: Poorer conferences should explore funding from other organizations. - National Council had acknowledged all contributions received from Central Councils. The next meeting of National Council would be 26-29 April 2001 at OLF Cathedral, Kano. - Finance – balance before the meeting was #33,654.00. Collection at the meeting was N37,816.00. All outstanding dues should be paid up for the National Council meeting of April. (g) Questions/Comments on JMC meeting report - Bank Account – After a long discussion it was agreed that if it was convenient for an individual conference to keep a bank account and still always have their funds accessible it might do so. - SVP literature – the English items are still needed by conferences. They were advised to enter these on a list for the JCC President to arrange for printers to produce copies. (D) The Financial report was given as in the attached sheet. (E) ANY OTHER BUSINESS a) A former Treasurer of St. Louis conference who is now the foundy President of the SVP conference at Jckohi in Abuja was looking for financial assistance to start off activities. It was suggested that Abuja Central Council which is quite should be approached. However, individual conferences and members in Jos Central Council could assist as such as they were able. b) Updating the prayer leaflet to include items like the Petition Prayer would be taken up by the JCC EXCO. c) President of CIC Zarmaganda Particular Council officially reported the death of the Sr. Anna Chuwang President of St. Joseph Du Conference in February 2001. she had been ill for a long time. St. Moses President informed members of the death of the son of their former Treasurer Mr. Choji. Condolence levy for two deaths would be required from conferences by the next JCC meeting of June 2001. d) President of St. Michaels’ Anguldi thanked JCC for choosing their conference to host the meeting. Anguldi community is very happy with SVP and again thanks the former JCC President for his donation of bundles of zinc to roof the church. e) The President, Vom Particular Council thanked JCC for coming to St. Michael’s Anguldi. He had thought more conferences would have attended since St. Michael’s was chosen as the most central of the conferences in their Particular Council. f) Questions: - A member asked whether any conference suffering by the loss of a member should not send a letter to the JCC President for circulation to other conferences, this was agreed and the JCC Secretary directed to circulate a letter to all conferences when the President is notified of a death of a member so that a Mass can be said. - An enquiry was also made about the need for an SVP ID card especially when an SVP member while traveling may find oneself in dire need of assistance and might want to identify oneself to a Catholic Parish Priest. However, there was a note of warning that although a true story might be accepted for assistance, at National Council it was felt that the SVP badge might be renewed rather than have an ID card, which might be abused. The example was given of some people duping a Parish priest or an SVP conference so there is need for great care. F. ATTENDANCE: Those present were 16 members and 2 observers from 10 conferences as listed in the attached attendance sheet. Apology was noted from Bro. J. Kaigama JMC President and Sr. R. Agur JMC Treasurer. G CLOSING: Bro. Ajibo of St. Murumba’s moved for adjournment at 1.07 pm seconded by Bro. Nash of St. Williams’, Zawan. The President led the closing prayer after which food was served by members of St. Michael’s, Anguldi who were thanked by Bro. Diemkwap of St. Louis on behalf of the Council. President Secretary
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