Zach Macera is a young Vincentian from Virginia Beach, Virginia. His Vincentian journey began at thirteen, and now, four years later, as a senior in high school, he continues to serve as the Vice-President of the Youth Conference at his parish. He was the first President of the young Vincentian Conference, where he helped coordinate and plan service projects. While still very much involved in planning and organizing, his zeal for serving others is evident and certainly has a positive impact on his community. Zach explained why St. Vincent de Paul is so essential in his life, “I like the community, and I think it is a great way for us to help others. Our leader, Nancy, I really like her as a mentor, so it is just a great community and culture.”
In addition to his leadership within the Vincentian community, Zach’s commitment is further demonstrated through hands-on service. The service projects he has helped organize and plan include staffing the soup kitchen, which the young Vincentians serve once a month on a Saturday, and helping clean the Hope for Life vans once or twice a year. Most recently, he helped coordinate a service project called “Stuff the Truck,” a clothing drive for those in need.
Understanding the importance of serving others, Zach expressed how he sees Jesus in those he serves, “I think especially at the soup kitchen because we actually get to interact with people who directly need us, you can just see the state that other people of the community are in that you usually don’t see everyday, and I think it is really cool to see and understand those are God’s children, too.” Zach also mentioned the significance of having a conversation with those his Conference serves and how valuable it is to sit with them and listen to or play with the kids at the soup kitchen. Zach’s thoughtful actions build a community of welcome, allowing those he serves to feel loved, seen, and dignified.
Not only is Zach very involved with the service aspect of St. Vincent de Paul, he also focuses on the essential element of spirituality. He is the football captain at his local high school and always emphasizes the significance of prayer and Catholic culture within the team. He also mentioned getting involved in college and staying connected to St. Vincent de Paul by joining the Adult Conference at his parish and potentially starting a Youth Conference at his university.
Zach’s servant-leader heart is evident, and his desire to serve others is a beautiful witness to our Christian calling to seek and find the forgotten. His calm and quiet yet organized and humble demeanor inspires action, and his future endeavors will certainly bring the light of Christ to those he meets.