Thursday, September 7, 2023 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Workshop Block 1

1.1  Our Cultural Beliefs. May we know them. May we live them. – Marge McGinley & Terri Zenobio

There is a little nugget of synergy found in our Rule called the Cultural Beliefs. This workshop will dive deeper into these beliefs and energize those who attend to embrace them and bring them back to their conferences with renewed zeal, so that these beliefs can strengthen and sustain our ministry to the poor.

Marge McGinley
National Formation Committee Chair

Marge comes to us with over twenty-five years of parish ministry experience combined with fifteen years of casual relief hospital chaplaincy and twenty years of care of the poor in the community of Mt. Holly, NJ. Marge holds a certificate in Ministry to the Bereaved, and a Certificate in Parish Administration from the Diocese of Trenton. Her Clinical Pastoral Education was accomplished at Cooper Medical Center in Camden, NJ. Her B.A. of Human Services further compliments her ability to recognize the social issues and family dynamics in every setting. Marge has been recognized by Burlington County as an Outstanding Woman of the Year in Social Service for her work with the marginalized population of her community.  Marge currently serves as a part time Hospital Chaplain, a District Council President, and the National Formation Committee Chairperson.  

Terri Zenobio 
Director of Vincentian Services
Diocesan Council of Rockville Centre

Terri Zenobio is Director of Vincentian Services for the Diocesan Council of Rockville Centre, New York. She has been with the Society for eight years supporting the Extension and Formation efforts of the 63 Conferences in the diocese on Long Island. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the College of the Holy Cross, her Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston University and a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Notre Dame. Terri was an active member of the National Youth and Young Adult Committees and now serves as the Vincentian staff liaison to the National Formation Committee. After a career in various nonprofit organizations, she feels blessed to have discovered this charism and vocation as she collaborates with her colleagues in the Central Council and the 1400 Vincentians who assist neighbors in need. 

1.2  Presented in Spanish: Nuestras Creencias Culturales - Conozcámoslas.   Vivámoslas.  (Our Cultural Beliefs) - Let us know them. Let us live them.  -  Sonia Burgos & Martha Montoya

Hay una pequeña semilla de armonía en nuestra Regla que se llama Creencias Culturales. Este taller profundizará en estas creencias y animará a los asistentes a adoptarlas y llevarlas a sus conferencias con fervor renovado, para que estas creencias puedan fortalecer y sostener nuestro ministerio con los pobres.

Sonia Burgos

Sonia Burgos is a true representative of Vincentian charism. She illustrates the three essential elements of spirituality, friendship, and service in all of her interactions with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Sonia was introduced to the charism over 30 years ago while doing missionary work with the priests of the Congregation of the Mission. Having been a Vincentian volunteer at the parish of St. Martha’s in Uniondale for over 8 years, Sonia has served as the President, the Treasurer and the Friends of the Poor Walk Coordinator at her parish Conference. This September she will complete her second term as the District Council President and Vice President of the Diocesan Council Board.

As a servant leader, Sonia has first and foremost been committed to formation. She is an Ozanam Orientation presenter. She is an expert home visitor and a tireless advocate for those neighbors in need she encounters. Sonia has spoken from the pulpit at several parishes inviting others to join the ministry, and then subsequently, mentored Vincentians at other conferences. Sonia has represented the Diocesan Council at many SVDPUSA National Assemblies and participated in the National Council’s Invitation to Renewal leadership program as well.

In May 2023, Sonia was honored with the "Volunteer Vincentian of the Year" award by the Diocesan Council of Rockville Center, Long Island, New York.

Martha Montoya

Martha Montoya has a degree in Educational Administration. She studied courses on "Spirituality" for 4 years at the Institute of St. Mathew’s, Dix Hills, New York. She is currently a member of the Conference of Our Lady of Loretto in Hempstead in the Diocese of Rockville Center, Long Island, New York.  She has been a Vincentian for 8 years. She served 6 years as Conference President. She has participated on several occasions as a Presenter of the Ozanam Orientation, as well as in workshops for training other Vincentians. She attended the Invitation for Renewal and this year she participated as a Trainer at the National Level.  She is a servant leader that continues to look for ways to animate this charism and brings a great faith to her service in this ministry.

1.3  Survival to Success: Lessons Learned That Can Lead to a Sustainable Housing Model – Bob Hartzheim & Dave Ringle

Getting Individuals into permanent housing is the solution to homelessness, but the process requires different steps and a different mindset. Fon du Lac, WI started with a traditional shelter model that has transformed into a CoC-based program.

Dave Ringle in Juneau, Alaska realized the emergency COVID shelter was no where near as effective and works to transition individuals from shelter into housing, with a new set of challenges.

Bob Hartzheim

Bob is a member of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and has been active in St. Vincent De Paul for over 20 years. Bob a Vincentian has done home visits since he first joined St Vincent’s. He became Vice President of Fond du Lac Council in 2013. He became Council President in 2016 Fond du Lac Council operates a successful resale store, runs The Getting Ahead program, supports a Food Pantry and recently opened our new homeless shelter. This project is a joint project with The Solutions Center. The Council and St Vincent’s is well known in the community as the place to go for help. His desire to help in leadership led him to serve as Treasurer and later as Vice President of The Archdiocesan Council in 2019. He recently joined The National Housing Task Force. 

Bob returned to school after returning from his time in service. He was awarded the Army Commendation medal twice. Bob earned a CPA certificate, CGMA and CIP designations. Bob retired from his business in 2016.His work with St Vincent’s is his calling and where he belongs. Doing home visits is a true calling. Contact:  [email protected] 

Dave Ringle

1.4  Cultivating Leadership Skills While Recruiting and Retaining Vincentians – Connie Steward & Sandy Figueroa

This interactive presentation will begin with tips on recruiting and retaining Vincentians and move to cultivating leadership skills among our candidates. What does, "Give them something to do" actually mean? The presenters will give the participants a chance to share their best practices and issues in developing leadership among the candidates we recruit.

Sandy Figueroa

Connie Steward

Connie Steward has been a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for 15 years, currently serving as President of St. Monica Conference in Houston, TX. She also serves on the Board of the Galveston-Houston Archdiocesan Council, and she is the Spiritual Advisor for District 1. Connie recently completed formator training for Ozanam Orientation. In 2021 she was appointed Co-Chair of the SVDP African American Task Force.

With over 45 years of dedicated service to St. Monica Catholic Church, Connie was recognized as a Living Legend in 2019. With over 30 years of active membership in Knights of Peter Claver, Ladies Auxiliary, she was exemplified into the meritorious 4^th Degree Ladies of Grace of the Knights of Peter Claver. In Connie’s professional career, she spent 32 years in the oil and gas industry as a Human Resources Specialist. Connie has been a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated for 56 years. In March of this year Connie was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. She and her husband, Bruce, have been married 52 years and they have two sons, two daughter-in-laws and four grandchildren.

1.5  Understanding the Rule – Tom Fahl

The Rule – we hear the term used on many occasions; and yet, there are so many members who have not taken the time to read the Rule.  Who Vincentians are and what we do is laid out for us in the Rule.  The history of the Rule will be presented with a description of the various sections of the Rule.  Time will be provided for comments, questions, and answers.

Tom Fahl

Tom Fahl has been a member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee since 1971. He is a past president of St. John Vianney Conference and has been Spiritual Advisor to St. John Vianney Conference for the past 15 plus years. He served as Waukesha County District Council Vice President in 1987 and Waukesha County District Council President from 1993 to 1999. From 1999 to 2005, Tom served as President of the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Council. From 2005 to 2011, Tom served as National Vice President for North Central Region. Tom was Chair of National Governance Committee from 2011 to 2021 and a Member of National Board of Directors from 2005 to 2021. Tom has presented many workshops at National and Regional Meetings over the years. He is currently a Member of the National Governance Committee.

Thursday, September 7, 2023 - 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
Workshop Block 2

2.1  Spiritual Advisors – Companions on the journey with your Conference and Council Members – Marge McGinley & Rita St. Pierre

Creating and supporting an environment of welcome so all can discern where God is leading them in their Vincentian vocation.  Learn how to identify future leaders in your Conference/Council and how to mentor and guide their discernment in growing and accepting the Divine calling to servant leadership.

Marge McGinley
National Formation Committee Chair

Marge comes to us with over twenty-five years of parish ministry experience combined with fifteen years of casual relief hospital chaplaincy and twenty years of care of the poor in the community of Mt. Holly, NJ. Marge holds a certificate in Ministry to the Bereaved, and a Certificate in Parish Administration from the Diocese of Trenton. Her Clinical Pastoral Education was accomplished at Cooper Medical Center in Camden, NJ. Her B.A. of Human Services further compliments her ability to recognize the social issues and family dynamics in every setting. Marge has been recognized by Burlington County as an Outstanding Woman of the Year in Social Service for her work with the marginalized population of her community.  Marge currently serves as a part time Hospital Chaplain, a District Council President, and the National Formation Committee Chairperson.  

Rita St. Pierre
National Formation Committee Member

Rita is a founding member of a conference in RI and its Spiritual Advisor for 15 years. She was the RI Council president for one term.  She currently is the NE regional co-spiritual advisor and is an assistant lead formator for the NE region.  She was named to the National spirituality committee in 2016.  

2.2  Presented in Spanish: Consejeros Espirituales - Compañeros de Viaje Con Los Miembros de la Conferencia y Del Consejo  (Spiritual  Advisors - Travel Companions with Conference and Council Members) - Aldo Barletta, Deacon Jess Blanco, & Margarita Galindo

Crear y apoyar un ambiente de hospitalidad para que todos puedan discernir hacia dónde Dios les está guiando en su vocación vicentina.   Aprende cómo identificar futuros líderes en tu Conferencia/Consejo y cómo guiar y orientar su discernimiento en el crecimiento y aceptación de la llamada Divina al liderazgo de servicio.

Aldo Barletta
Diversity Chair
North Sound District Council

Aldo was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and he came to the United States in 1991. He finished his degree in Electrical Engineering in 1995, and since then, he works for a company that designs automation controls for industrial machinery. At St. Mary's Parish in Marysville, WA, he is in charge of the website and he is a presenter at the Hispanic Charismatic prayer group. Married to Everlides, he has two children: Aldo and Mario. Aldo started by attending an Ozanam Orientation in 2012 and he is currently the Spiritual Advisor of the Conference at St Mary’s parish. He is a Formator, and the representative of the Western Region for the Hispanic-Latino Task Force national committee. Also, he is the Diversity Chair at the North Sound District Council, as well as at the Seattle Archdiocesan Council.

Deacon Jesse Blanco
Spiritual Advisor
Chicago District Council VIII

Deacon Jesse Blanco was ordained in November 2000. He has been a Vincentian since 2016. He currently serves as Spiritual Advisor for District VIII and St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds Conference. He is a member of the Spirituality Committee. When he first joined the Society, it was only to fulfill a box on his deacon covenant agreement. After a home visit, he was transformed in his heart for the poor.

Margarita Galindo
Spanish Formator
Diocese of San Diego

Margarita Galindo, who was born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, has been a Vincentian since 2004, she became one of the founding members of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Conference in San Ysidro CA, which, at that time, was the only Spanish speaking Conference in the San Diego Diocese.  The Conference conducts all meetings, work and services mostly in Spanish to better serve the majority Latino/Hispanic community. 

Since joining the Society, she has served two terms as Conference President, Conference Secretary, Conference Vice President, Spiritual Advisor and Vice President of the “St. Joseph the Worker” San Diego District Council, she served as a Member of the National Diversity Committee, Extension National Program, Chair of the Hispanic/Latino Task Force, and at the National Board of Directors.  Currently, Margarita is a Conference Vice-president, a Spanish Formator for the San Diego Diocese Council, Member of the National HLTF and chair of the translation team

2.3  How to Start a Charitable Pharmacy (Panel) – Host: Mike Pazzaglini; Panelists: Rusty Curington & Carol Irula

More Conferences & Councils are becoming interested in the possibility of starting a pharmacy. Join some of the current pharmacy programs as they discuss their programs, operations, successes, and challenges as they head into a post pandemic era with increased need due to changes in Medicaid and Immigration Laws.

Host:  Mike Pazzaglini
Executive Director 
Diocesan Council of Dallas

Michael Pazzaglini is the executive director for the Diocesan Council of Dallas, Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Michael was a program director with the IBM Corporation in Austin, Texas, and recently retired after a successful career spanning 35 years.  He brings with him extensive experiences in hi-tech development, project, process, and people management.  Pazzaglini has a masters degree in computer science and has completed the Institute of Managerial Leadership program.  As an active member of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul since 1997, he has served as president of the Society’s Diocesan Council of Austin.  He currently serves as the strategic goal leader on communications for the national council, which is focused on marketing, brand recognition and effective communications for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in the United States.

Panelist: Rusty Curington, PharmD, BC-ADM
Vice President of Pharmacy

Dr. Rusty Curington, PharmD, BC-ADM is the Vice President of Pharmacy for St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree and residency training from the University of Cincinnati College of Pharmacy where he serves as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy. Dr. Curington began his career with SVDP in 2008 as a student volunteer and transitioned into a staff role in 2013. Currently, Dr. Curington manages two locations of the Charitable Pharmacy with a third location scheduled to open in 2024. For his work in developing innovative, free clinical services, Dr. Curington was awarded the Cincinnati Business Courier’s 2022 Health Care Heroes Award and recognized in Cincinnati’s Forty Under 40 Class of 2022.

Panelist: Carlos Irula

Carlos Irula, PharmD, has been proudly serving uninsured Texans at St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy for the past 4 years. He is both the Pharmacist in Charge and preceptor at St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy in Dallas, Texas. Irula acquired his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe in 2014 before coming to serve in this role and previously worked as a pharmacy manager with Kroger Pharmacy.

His deep drive to serve those in need opened up this opportunity for him to provide life-saving medications free of charge for uninsured Texans. Not only is he committed to helping others, but he also works intensively on being both a devoted husband and a loving father of twins.

2.4  Revitalizing Conferences in communities that have experienced demographic changes – Cathy Garcia, Pam Matambanadzo, & Tom Matoushek

How do we meet the challenge of growing and revitalizing the Society while the Church is trying to respond to increasing secularization, a diminished number of practicing Catholics, a clergy shortage, and aging infrastructure that cannot be sustained into the future. Add to this the issue of shifting demographics: both economic and migration/refugees that change the very fabric of our communities and cities.

Cathy Garcia
Disaster Services Corporation

Cathy Garcia joined the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in 1999, after seeing a bulletin insert of a meeting for SVDP. She called Father Lawrence Matula and inquired about SVDP and this meeting. Father had explained the assistance of home visits and that is all Cathy had to hear.  She wanted to join because her Grandparents Santiago and Catalina Saucedo would take her when she was a little girl to home visits with SVDP. Cathy has been a Conference President, VP, Secretary for St. Robert Bellarmine Conference.  Her mentor was Edwin Petering, who invited her to be his proxy to a Mid Year meeting in Washington DC. He asked her to the Annual meeting and used the excuse that he couldn’t sit for very long for the business meetings. Cathy was so honored to be of service and agreed. Cathy has been attending Annual meeting since 2003. She didn’t know that Edwin Petering was forming her in Servant Leadership. Cathy has been the Council President of the Diocese of Victoria in Texas and currently appointed to VP of the Council. Cathy has served on the National Level of SVDP USA as a National Council Member. She was appointed to the MCD Ad Hoc Committee and involved in the creation of the MCD Handbook under Past National President Joe Flanigan. She served as the National Chair of the Multi-Cultural Diversity Issues and Initiatives for 6 years under Past President Sheila Gilbert. She currently appointed by National President Ralph Middlecamp to serve on the National Extension Committee.  

She was hired by DSC SVDP USA to work the Project Comeback Texas as a DCM Supervisor serving Wharton, Jackson, Victoria, Aransas and Nueces counties, overseeing 12 DCMs. In August 1^st, Cathy will supervisor the extended DCMP serving 10 counties in the Diocese of Victoria. Cathy served in 2010 as a DCM supervisor after Hurricane Alex in the Diocese of Brownsville and in 2013 was hired on by SVDP Disaster to work the ODRP after the 2013 Tornados in Oklahoma, in addition, assisted with the Texas Bastrop fires.

Cathy is married to Felix T for 29 years, they have three daughters, Felicia, Sky and Cynthia, Cathy has one daughter Lynda and in additional have two stepchildren Felix C and Misty.  In addition to the family structure she has 17 grandchildren. Cathy enjoys involvement in her parish and serves as served for more than 34 years as a Catechist, Extra Ordinary Eucharist Minister, is a member of the Guadalupanas, CDA member and is serving on the Pastoral Council. 

Cathy was honored to be asked by Bishop Brendan Cahill to be serve on the Convocation Committee for the Diocese of Victoria. Cathy is also a member of the Hispanic Education Project, Elks, SPJST and serves on the El Campo City Wide Thanksgiving Dinner Committee as the home delivery coordinator for more than 15 years.  

Pamela Matambanadzo
Liaison for Diversity
National Council, SVdP

Pamela Matambanadzo currently serves on the National Board and chairs the Multicultural Diversity Committee, which oversees the African American Task Force (AATF) and Hispanic Latino Task Force (HLTF). She served as chair of AATF prior to taking on leadership of the MCD. Pam is also member of the National Finance Committee as well as National Voice of the Poor Committee as co-chair of the North Central region VOP. Pamela is on the board of The Pope Francis Center Chicago (PFC), a special works of District IV, SVdP Chicago servicing people in District IV to help people transition out of poverty – Systemic Change. Her experience as a wealth management advisor allows the center to offer financial counseling. The Center prides itself in its ability to collaborate with other organizations in being need-centered to fully provide services for disenfranchised communities in Chicago. Pamela is responsible for the day to day operations and programs for the center.

Pamela has been a dedicated Vincentian since 2001 when she joined her conference at her home parish, St. Mary of the Lake in Chicago, where she is Conference President. Also serving on the parish council as well as being a Lector.

Tom Matoushek
Vincentian Growth & Revitalization
Archdiocesan Council of St. Louis

Tom currently serves as Manager, Growth and Revitalization for the Archdiocesan Council of St. Louis. Prior to that, he facilitated the rollout of a popular Conference data base to the 138 Conferences in the St. Louis Council. Tom has close to 30 years of experience in the Biopharmaceutical/Pharmaceutical industry in manufacturing, engineering, and project management capacities. He has been active in his parishes including Parish Council, chair of committees, lector, concession stand worker, fried chicken runner and many other activities. 

Tom has been blessed with a wonderful wife of almost 40 years, four great children and four adorable grandchildren. Contact: [email protected]. 

2.5  Understanding By-Laws – Mike Syslo

What are Bylaws?  Why do we need them?  Those questions and more will be answered in this workshop.   A good portion of our members don’t realize why they even exist; yet they are so important to what we do and how we are structured. All of the above will be explained.  Time will be provided for comments, questions, and answers.

Mike Syslo
Governance Committee Liaison

Mike has been a member of St. Vincent de Paul since 1983. Starting as a Conference member at Good Shepherd in Garland, TX, he served as Conference Treasurer and Conference President. He also served as Vice-President of the Dallas District Council.  In 1984, he presented the first Ozanam School in Dallas (first in over 20 years). Mike has been putting on Ozanam Schools and other training sessions for SVdP since. Mike has been a member of several Conferences in six Councils: Dallas, TX; San Jose, CA; Santa Rosa, CA; Eureka, CA; Phoenix, AZ and St. Louis, MO. Employed by the Society in 1990, he served as Special Projects Coordinator, Vincentian Life Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Dining Room Manager, Executive Director, Director of Vincentian Support Services, Director of Operations, and Associate National Executive Director. Until his retirement on April 30, 2015, Mike served as Senior Director of Governance for the National Council Office.  

Mike has written extensively on topics concerning the Society. He has presented workshops at many National and Regional Meetings. Mike has also served on multiple National Committees.  He was a member of the task force which developed Serving in Hope, the Ozanam Orientation Trainers Guide, the Invitation for Renewal Leadership Retreat, the Vincentian Pathway, and is currently Chair of the National Governance Committee. Mike is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Archdiocesan Council of Chicago. In addition, Mike serves on multiple committees in Chicago.

Regional Meetings

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM