Training Programs

The Southwest Texas Council is charged with the responsibility of conducting essential formation and training activities to develop its members' Vincentian Charism, Mission, and associated skills. A Formation Training Team has been formed to carry out this charge. Team members are certified formators and skilled Presentations.

Conferences or Districts are free to organize courses. 

Rosie Abreu coordinates training courses at our Central Council Office. She will match a formation team with the host Conference and course needs. 

In an effort to provide easy-to-use training materials for XERO, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Southwest Texas Board of Directors created a XERO Training Boot Camp video (see below) as well as eight (8) in-depth training videos (located on the left).

You can access these videos by simply clicking on the arrow located inside the video. Below we also have Xero Standard Operating Procedures; these documents give step-by-step instructions for Xero. We recommend the Treasurers of each conference print these documents out and put them in a binder to reference back to the steps for doing all the entries in Xero. 

Checklist for Xero End of Month Routine

How to Set up Two-Step Authentication
How to Add Contacts
How to Open Xero Accounting
How to Enter in Gift Cards and Vouchers
How to enter in Non-Cash Goods
How to Receive Money
How to Spend Money
How to Review Your Data Entered
How to do a Reconciliation
Tracking Categories
Xero Monthly Duties 

Basics of Vincentian Membership - Ozanam Orientation - (6 Hours)

An orientation about the Society of St Vincent de Paul, its mission, membership, organization, and how the mission is carried out.  THIS COURSE IS MANDATORY FOR THOSE SEEKING ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP. 

Topics Covered:

• Scope of the Society's Works
• History
• Member Spirituality and Other Qualities
• How the Society is organized and functions
• Review of Poverty
• "Going to the Poor" Home Visits

(limited to 35 attendees)

Encountering our Brothers and Sisters - Home Visits and Other Meetings with the Brothers and Sisters. (3.5 Hours)
  
Formation workshop for engaging in "person to person" activities. Presented are Vincentian ways, methods, and blessing of encountering those we serve in whatever way the Conference chooses, especially the home visit encounter.

Topics Covered:
 

• Forming the Spirituality of the person to person encounter
• Understand and applying our Mission, Rule, Core Elements, and Values to the encounter process.
• Understanding the Conference Role in the Home Visit Process
• Applying Systemic Change tools to Encounter Process
• Understanding home visit as our person to person relationship to those served
• Process to secure family stability in the family you visit

 
Spiritual Advisor Formation (3.5 Hours)
An interactive course helps Spiritual Advisors understand their role in the Spiritual Formation of the members of a Conference, District or Diocesan Council. Special emphasis is placed on the Spiritual Advisors own Vincentian spirituality, communication skills, organizing spiritual activities.

Topics Covered:
 

• Some of the Basics of our society
• Spirituality - What is it
• Who is our God - Discovering it
• Communications - Knowing ourselves
• Spiritual Advisors - Skills and practices

 
 
Joy of Charity and Advocacy - A Conference Revitalization and Transformation Course (Conference Members Only) (3.0 Hours)
An essential interactive workshop with Conference members to better understand the mission of the Conference in serving those brothers and sisters served. Special emphasis is placed on forming the Vincentian vocation, spirituality of members, and the Conference as a whole. It is recommended an audit measuring how the Conference meets the standards of a traditional Conference precede this course.

Topics Covered:
 

• Understand a Vincentian Vocation
• Renew the Vincentian Spiritual Charism
• Renewing the Conference as Community in Service
• Becoming an Advocate for the brothers and sisters served

 
Mentoring the Conference Invitation to Serve Program (Time is determined by the needs of the Conference)
The National Council has developed a comprehensive process for recruiting new members for a Conference. The Archdiocesan Council Formation Team is well acquainted with the process and is willing to mentor any Conference interested in using it. The time and assistance will be determined by the Conference and Team. Conference or District Presidents can contact Rosie Abreu to make arrangements.
Coming Soon..................
A two hour forum for First Year Conference Presidents. An opportunity to understand their roles and get acquainted with other Presidents. In group discussions, the Presidents will have the opportunity to discuss issues they face and exchange ideas. The Council's Formation Team will facilitate these forums.
FORMATION AND TRAINING TEAM MEMBERS
 
Mary Esther Jockers - Certified Formator
Joe Ortega - Presenter & Certified Formator in Training
Mary Ann Pena - Presenter
BJ Polk - Certified Formator
Juan Ramirez - Presenter & Certified Formator in Training
Any Active Vincentian is welcome to join the team and begin a training process to conducting training.