Vincentian Marian Youth: Forming Young Hearts Through Service, Prayer, and Mission

A WORLDWIDE FAMILY OF FAITH AND SERVICE

Imagine being young, full of energy, and searching for a purpose bigger than yourself. Now imagine discovering a movement that invites you to transform your life by serving others, walking with Mary, and living the Gospel in the spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul. That’s the heart of the Association of the Vincentian Marian Youth --a worldwide family of young people dedicated to faith, service, and love in the Vincentian charism.

ROOTED IN A LIVING TRADITION

From the very beginning, Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac, the founders of the Vincentian Family, had a burning love for the Blessed Mother. They instilled that love into their sons and daughters, passing it on like a torch of faith through the generations. It was through a humble young woman, Saint Catherine Labouré—a farm girl from Fain‑les‑Moutiers, France—that God chose to shine this light even brighter.

When Catherine entered the Daughters of Charity in 1829, she could not have imagined the mission Mary had in store for her. Through the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin, Catherine was entrusted with two great tasks: spreading devotion to the Miraculous Medal (as we learned about last week) and helping give birth to what would become the Marian Youth Association. To her spiritual director, Father Aladel, she relayed Mary’s words: “The Blessed Virgin wishes to give you a mission… You will be the founder and director of a Confraternity of Children of Mary.”

GROWING INTO A GLOBAL MOVEMENT

What began as small groups of girls in schools and workshops guided by the Daughters of Charity soon blossomed into a movement that protected, supported, and uplifted the poor—especially young factory workers who were most vulnerable. Before long, the association welcomed boys and young men as well,

creating a vibrant community of faith‑filled youth. By 1870, less than fifty years after Catherine’s vision, there were already 338 thriving centers across the globe—in Europe, the Philippines, Lebanon, Africa, Egypt, and South America.

INSPIRED BY MARY, LED TO CHRIST

At the heart of the Association is Mary herself, Mother of the Church and servant of the poor, who always leads us to Christ. Members of Marian Youth are invited to see her not just as a distant figure, but as a living model: a woman who believes, a woman who prays, a mother who guides, and a servant who pours out love on those most in need.

A VINCENTIAN WAY OF LIFE

One chapter of the Vincentian Marian Youth is not far from our God Minute chapel in St. Louis, MO. Erin Urhahn, now Program Coordinator for the Vincentian Marian Youth Southeast Missouri (SEMO) shared her experience of serving the poor and growing in praying in VMY SEMO:

My first experience encountering someone living in poverty was in 2021 at a food kitchen in Memphis, Tennessee. I was on Operation Overhaul, an annual mission trip led by Vincentian Marian Youth Southeast Missouri, when a man in a winter coat and sock cap walked towards me, asking me my name and age. I tried to look busy doing work. Just moments ago, I was handing him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, smiling and wishing him well. When he wanted to converse with me shortly after, I tried to ignore him and pretended like he didn’t exist.

As I was moving away from him, I whispered my name and my age. Under my breath I mumbled, “Erin and 17.” I heard him reply, “When you turn 18, happy birthday.” I kept walking away wondering why I did not ask him his name or wish him a happy birthday too? I was at a food kitchen, trying to minister to those in need, when this man started ministering to me! He took the chance to know me and to affirm that my life was occasions worth celebrating.

After Operation Overhaul in 2021, I was confiding in my friends at VMY SEMO about my experience. I wanted to go back to that man. I wanted redemption. I wanted a second chance to give him the time of day he deserved. I wanted him to feel seen. Because I joined VMY SEMO and participated in their mission trip, I had begun to recognize the dignity of those living in poverty.

I spent more time with VMY SEMO, learning about the Vincentian charism and service to the poor. VMY SEMO offers junior high and high school youth groups at St. Vincent Parish in Perryville on Tuesdays, Ste. Genevieve Parish on Wednesdays and St. Agnes Parish in Bloomsdale on Sunday. They meet quarterly for a ‘Service on Saturday’ project that involves helping those in need in the community. Every year on the second week of June, they go on a mission trip called Operation Overhaul. This involves traveling to a different city within the United States to serve a community that could use a helping hand. The first Operation Overhaul was in 2004 in West Virginia. This year, 150 people from the Southeast Missouri region traveled with VMY SEMO to Racine, Wisconsin to celebrate the 21st Operation Overhaul. Recently, VMY SEMO has expanded their young adult programming to include pilgrimages and service retreats overseas. In 2023, a group of young adults from VMY SEMO attended World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal. This year, VMY SEMO went to Nairobi, Kenya to help their brothers and sisters in Christ recruit for VMY Nairobi.

Through events and programming, VMY SEMO helps young people develop the Vincentian Charism by first exposing them to the many realities of poverty. There is a false conception that poverty is simply the lack of physical needs. But after ministering to those in need, I came to understand that poverty oftentimes comes with addiction, isolation, depression, and/or rejection from society. I suddenly had the desire to help in any way possible.

After I was exposed to those living in poverty, VMY SEMO started teaching me the power of prayer. Being a Marian organization, VMY SEMO has a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. On Operation Overhaul, after the long days of service work, students have the opportunity to walk together and collectively pray a rosary for the intentions of the day. VMY SEMO offers long-time members the chance to enroll in a six-month Marian Consecration Process where they can commit their life to Jesus through the intercession of Mary. It is through the intercession of Mary that members of VMY SEMO can come to deeply understand the life and works of St. Vincent de Paul.

Now, a short four years after the 2021 Operation Overhaul in Memphis, I have the opportunity to serve as the Program Coordinator of VMY SEMO. I’ve witnessed the conversion of young hearts through service like St. Vincent and a love of the Blessed Mother, like I had.