Skip to content

the society of

Saint Vincent de Paul

Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. ML6

YOUTH

The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) was started by a group of young people in 1833, led by Blessed Fredric Ozanam, which is why we think it is vitally important to continue to have young people involved as well.

The Youth SSVP consists of 3 individual groups:

An SSVP group in a primary school.

An SSVP group based in Secondary schools with volunteers from S1-S3. 

An SSVP group based in a Secondary School with volunteers from S4-S6.

Each of the groups are coordinated and guided by a school staff member. It is for the pupils to identify the needs in their community, come up with ideas of how to help and make decisions about fundraisers and service activities.

The role of the staff member is to guide these discussions and assist the pupils to put their passion and ideas into action by keeping discussions within the realms of possibility.

However, the spiritual aspect of the group is as equally important as the good works that our young people carry out.

Each meeting begins and ends with a prayer. Faith in Action is a great way for our youth to connect their beliefs and values with service activities, and issues in their community can help to make their faith real, meaningful and relevant.

THE STORY
SO FAR

In 2018 the first Mini Vinnie Group, within the Airdrie Group, was established in St Edward’s Primary School. During the following 12 months a further 6 of our local primary schools set up Mini Vinnie groups resulting in a total of 123 commissioned Mini Vinnies.

  • All Saints
  • St David’s
  • St Serf’s
  • St. Aloysius
  • St. Dominic’s
  • St Stephen’s

 

Our MVs are a group of young people who live out the ethos of St Vincent de Paul by reaching out to identify and help those in need. They are quick to SEE where there is a need, THINK about how they can help and DO something about it in their school and local community. For example, they:

  • Set up a Friendship Group at lunchtime in school to help boys and girls to make new friends
  • Visited a Nursing Home to celebrate St Andrews Day
  • Visited Sheltered Housing, presented a Christmas Hamper, chatted with the resident and sang songs.
  • Led other children in praying the Rosary during the months of May and October.

Despite the restrictions during the pandemic our young Vinnies carried on regardless during this time and continued to put their Faith into Action albeit in limited ways. They joined and led a virtual Rosary for Peace, continued Collections for Foodbanks and held Toast Cafes to raise funds.

In 2021, we were delighted to have both a Junior and Senior Youth SSVP Group established in St Margaret’s High School. This now allows our young people to continue their journey of Faith in Action from primary school through secondary school and into adulthood if they so wish. Despite the many demands on young people our Youth Groups achieved great things in their first year:

• Supported Christmas Jesse Tree Appeal
• Organised Cake and Candy Stalls and Coffee Mornings for School Staff
• Raised funds to support Fr Walters ’Let the Children Live’ Charity.

The Senior Youth SSVP organised a Football Competition with St Ambrose HS in Coatbridge, a legacy which is being carried on within the diocese.

In June this year, the SSVP International President Renato Lima de Oliveira visited Scotland. We arrange for the President to meet our Mini Vinnies and Youth SSVP at Carfin Grotto, over 100 were present at the event. Each school set up a display to show the many great things they had been doing to Help Those in Need.

President Renato and Bishop Toal were both overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, determination and drive of our young people to help others.

One of the most of the impressive experiences working alongside our MVs and Youth groups is witnessing their incredible awareness of the many social injustices in today’s society and their great desire to try to do something to Help Those In Need. Linking our schools and parish Conferences is vital to allow the pupils to feel a true sense of belonging to the Vincentian family.
We must not forget our teachers who without their unwavering commitment to support and guide all of these young people the groups would not exist. A huge thank you to everyone!

All of our young people are a true inspiration to all of us in many ways.

They Are Our Future….. please continue to support them in any way you can.