Our group of Young Vincentians
was formed in March 2017 as part
of an initiative from the Halton Particular
Council to create Youth Conferences
in the region. Our most
important goal is to spread our Vincentian
charisma to young people,
for them to learn that they do not
have to wait until they are older to
help people in need. At the same
time, this initiative helps to keep
our ministry young, infusing it with
the ideas of our young members as
Frederic Ozanam wrote:"If it is helpful for young people to meet friends and brothers, it is essential for the Society to recruit its members among the Youth. Fourteen years ago, the Society was born: it must not get old as its founders grow old and charity becomes a routine practice. Youth is useful for their audacity, even for their imprudence, for the new ideas they bring, for the works which we had not thought of."
The Young Vincentians from Saint
Matthew includes a group of children
from Catholic and public
schools between the ages of 10 and
14 years old. During their first year
in our ministry, the children have
organized two bake sales, one to
benefit Food for Kids Halton and
the last one to help the SSVP North
of 60 project. They have also run
Lenten drives at their schools allowing
our conference to help our
neighbours in need by providing
them with comfort food for Easter.
This year they are also organizing a
piano recital at our Church in June.
We hope that our Young Vincentians get as much as they are giving and that they learn that through their work of helping others, they are not only satisfying a shortterm need, but they are also helping develop peaceful and safe communities for the future by working in the name of Jesus. Carla Calitri, Youth Advisor |
