Ruth Garcia is a Young Adult from North Aurora, Illinois, and has been a Vincentian for over a year. She joined the Society through a family friend’s invitation and has not looked back. She is currently a member of an Adult Conference and partakes in personal encounters. She is fluent in Spanish and can connect with the Spanish-speaking community. Ruth’s zeal is not just evident; it’s contagious; she fully understands the importance of being the hands and feet of Christ, ensuring that our Friends in Need feel seen and loved. Her sincerity is evident when she says, “Let me go where I am needed and make an impact in my community.”
Her gift of chatting has propelled her into many great opportunities and observations on how to better serve those in her community. Her desire for serving others in her parish, especially connecting the elderly and youth is notable. She has several ideas of how to intertwine and connect both age groups with simple yet effective methods. She sees that many young people feel isolated, especially after high school, so when they are young adults, it is difficult for many to feel like there is a community supporting them. With that in mind, she also sees there are elderly who are also feeling isolated and lonely, so Ruth thought of a possible solution: her church could potentially start a group that allows for a time once a month where younger people have the opportunity to interact and socialize with the elderly and let each other know that “they are not alone.”
Furthermore, she wants to start a single-mother’s support group within her Adult Conference so that there can be a community of people, of friends, who are there to encourage and uplift one another in their journeys. Her care for others is evident, and her continual desire to spread joy and work through barriers are exceptional qualities that will carry her far in her Vincentian vocation.
Ruth also has a few ideas related to media content, like spotlight podcasts on various Vincentians or special works in her area and podcasts that promote the wonderful works of the Society. Ruth’s creativity and resourcefulness were evident when discussing her various goals and thoughts on how she can better serve, not only our Friends in Need, but her fellow Vincentians and parishioners.
Although she’s only been a Vincentian for a little over a year, Ruth says this about her fellow Vincentians, “They are so welcoming, so kind, and they are teaching me a lot spiritually, teaching me how to show kindness with actions and deepen my faith. They taught me to be led by the Spirit and have faith.”
Guided by a heart for service and a calling to make a difference, Ruth has dedicated her time, talent, and prayers to bettering her service to those in need and ultimately, the Kingdom of God. Her unwavering dedication is truly inspiring, and her commitment to growing in holiness and service is a shining example for all of us.