Deacon Christopher Stark takes over as head of society’s Detroit chapter

DETROIT — One word in particular keeps popping up when Deacon Christopher Stark talks about the Society of St. Vincent de Paul: conduit.

A conduit for charity, a conduit for service, a conduit for fulfilling the Christian mission.

As the recently named executive director of the Detroit chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Deacon Stark hopes to bring his 23 years of business expertise to the organization that offers hope and relief for thousands of people across the six-county region.

“This mission of St. Vincent de Paul is to be a conduit for an active, engaged Christian Catholic of expressing faith in a loving, caring, collaborative way centered in charity and love,” Deacon Stark said.

As a permanent deacon at St. Thomas More Parish in Troy, Deacon Stark was looking to expand his ministry after working 23 years in the business world at Kelly Services.

Then one day after Mass, a St. Thomas More parishioner invited him to coffee and told him of the organization’s need to fill the executive director position after Bill Brazier announced his retirement.

“My first experience as an adult with St. Vincent de Paul was during my formation in becoming a permanent deacon,” Deacon Stark said. “I grew up at Guardian Angels Parish in Clawson, and there always was a St. Vincent de Paul truck there. In my family, there was always a sense of contributing to society, always giving from ourselves, and St. Vincent de Paul was the conduit for that giving.”

Deacon Stark’s work with the St. Vincent de Paul chapter at St. Lawrence Parish in Utica, where he completed his diaconal internship, impressed upon him the efficiency and great sense of impact behind the Vincentian mission.

“What St. Vincent de Paul means for southeast Michigan is a kind, welcoming, helpful person in touch with Christ, who wants to make the world a better place to be because of their faith and what they’re called upon to do,” he said.

Still in the transition process and working close with Brazier to learn the day-to-day work of the operation, Deacon Stark said the local chapter already is a tight ship, but says he looks forward to growing the mission.

“First, I need to better understand how efficient we are,” Deacon Stark said. “Ninety-three cents of every dollar goes to a person in need, and maintaining that level is a priority.”

Deacon Stark said another part of his mission will be to make sure “every Vincentian has a more profound relationship with Jesus” in order to relate the work of helping families with rent, car payments, utility bills and other forms of material aid with the core message of the Gospel.

“It’s just a long line of everything, the things that don’t make the evening news, but change lives in a positive way,” Deacon Stark said.

As a husband and father of three, Deacon Stark said he wants to see St. Vincent de Paul encourage more parents to involve their children in giving.

“As a dad, I’ve learned to lean on the witness of my parents, reflecting on that witness when I had questions,” Deacon Stark said. “As a kid, I remember having to go dig out clothes in the closet and hating it. But that’s what my parents prioritized, and that’s what I remember. If going to church becomes a priority for you, then your kids will prioritize going to church. If giving is a priority for you, your kids will follow in your footsteps.”

As people’s lives get busy, volunteering time and treasure can be taxing, Deacon Stark said, but the work of St. Vincent de Paul in ministering to Jesus on the streets is irreplaceable.

“We’re offering a conduit for people who want to give, but don’t know how. That touches the hearts of individuals,” Deacon Stark said. “It’s easy to get caught up in budgets and money. But this is about individuals who give and individuals who receive help. It’s Jesus helping Jesus.”