This summer, three young Vincentian Youth from our province, one from Niagara and two from St. Mary's in Greensboro, along with five St. John's students, headed to Sydney Australia for “FAMVIN 2008“ and World Youth Day. Katie Stegle, from Niagara University, and Quynh Nhu Luu and Cong Viet Le of Greensboro traveled as pilgrims representing the Eastern Province. It's a big expense to send young people that far, but this note from Katie answers the question, “Why invest in this event?”
“I cannot begin to explain to you how life changing the Pilgrimage to FAMVIN/WYD was. The people I met and the events that occurred each day were so incredible that I know God was present. Not only did I learn a lot about my faith, but I also learned about myself. I truly had a spiritual reawakening. It was amazing to be surrounded by people with the same values and beliefs. The people I traveled with from St. John's were welcoming, by the second day I felt as if I had known them my whole life. There was truly a divine intervention with the events that occurred during the two weeks. I could go on and on for hours. I just wanted to thank you for making this all possible; it was an experience of a lifetime.”
The goal of these experiences is to bind young people more closely to the “family.” Helping them see themselves as “young Vincentians” is a sure, however long-term, vocation strategy. Whether or not they choose the vowed life, their experiences help them hear more clearly the call of Jesus to follow him. With so many good inclinations and truly holy desires, young people need these experiences to help them make sense of their inner callings. Mary Frohlich, RSCJ, in a recent reflection on catholicsoncall.org, wrote,
“The difficulty of discernment lies in the fact that we have so many different desires, at so many different levels of our being, and it will never be possible for all of them to be fulfilled. The wonder of discernment, on the other hand, is the discovery that God’s call to us truly is an invitation to joy. God’s own desire is that our deepest desire – the desire to live in pure and holy love – will be radically fulfilled. Our God – Abba, Jesus, and Holy Spirit – has paid the price to open the way for us. Now it is our turn to seek that way with our whole hearts!”
Next summer, on the weekend of July 10-12, 2009, we'll be sponsoring “Vincent Experience 4,” celebrating the American legacy of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Start thinking NOW about which young adults would profit from being with their fellow Vincentians for a weekend of formation and joy. As many times and ways that you can think of, invite the young to be part of the “family.” You'll be of great help to these young people in their seeking of God's will for them.
