Youth College Conference | SVdP Emerging Leaders

Welcome to College!! Continuing Vincentian Membership as a University Student

by | Oct 1, 2025 | College Conference, Young Adult Conference, Youth College Conference, Youth University Conference

by Genny

One big challenge that youth conferences within the Society of St. Vincent de Paul face is the constant cycle of students joining and graduating. In high school conferences, new members arrive as freshmen each year, while seniors who’ve been active for four years move on to the next stage of their lives. It’s a natural rhythm but can make it tough to maintain momentum and leadership. With a strong structure, clear communication, and solid record-keeping, these transitions can be managed. But for the students themselves, graduating brings a new question: how do I stay connected to SVdP once high school ends?

As efforts to establish more university-level conferences continue to grow, the goal is to eventually have an SVdP presence on every college campus. That would make it easier for young people to stay involved if they choose to transition to college life. But right now, that system is still taking shape leaving many of us, myself included, unsure of how to keep our connection to the Society alive.

Hi, I’m Genny, and I’m a sophomore in college. Back in high school, I was one of the founding members of the youth SVdP conference at my parish, and I have now been deeply involved with the Society for five years. But things got more complicated when I got to college. I now attend a small school with just 700 students, and only about 25 of us are practicing Catholics. On top of that, the campus already has several active volunteer organizations, and the nearest SVdP conference is over an hour and a half away. Not exactly ideal for one student without a car, right?

Your story might look a little different, but I’m guessing some of these challenges feel familiar.

So what can you do? How do you stay involved when your surroundings don’t make it easy?

The good news is that there are lots of ways to stay connected! It might take a little extra effort and creativity, but with some dedication, at least one of these options will work for you.

Join a Local Conference or Special Work

Is there a parish nearby with an active SVdP conference? Or perhaps a local SVdP special work, such as a thrift store or food pantry, where you could volunteer? These can be convenient and meaningful ways to stay involved. If you find one, reach out politely to learn about meeting times and service opportunities.

You may face some challenges. For example, adult conferences sometimes meet at times that don’t fit a college student’s schedule. Still, it never hurts to ask. Many groups are open to adapting when a new member shows genuine interest.

Part 1.6 of the Society’s Rule emphasizes adapting to a changing world. That means not only meeting the needs of those we serve in new ways, but also welcoming members where they are and helping them find a place in the Vincentian family.

YYAEL Vice President Zoie has been involved with SVdP nearly all her life and has been involved in many different ways. As she begins college, this is how she stays connected. Come back soon for another blog post about her experience!

Virtual Membership

Depending on how your home conference is run, you may be able to remain active from afar. Consider attending meetings virtually while at school, then helping with in-person service projects during breaks. According to the Rule, active Vincentians participate at least twice a month, so work with your group to find a balance that allows you to stay connected.

This is the option I chose! When most of my youth conference graduated high school, none of us went to colleges with local SVdP opportunities. So, we decided to transition to virtual meetings. During the school year we gather over Zoom to plan projects and grow spiritually together, and when we’re home on breaks, we serve locally in person. We also stay connected with other conferences in our diocese, so that we can virtually or financially aid them with projects as they come up. This has worked well for my conference and I’m so thankful we could connect this way.

Found a New Conference at your University

Another powerful way to stay involved- and to pave a path for fellow young Vincentians who will attend your college in years to come- is to establish a new SVdP conference on your campus. While it may feel intimidating at first, it’s absolutely doable.

All you need are a few friends who share your desire to grow in faith and serve others. Connecting with a nearby adult conference is also important; they can provide guidance, continuity, and support as your members graduate and leadership changes. This helps ensure that Vincentian charism continues to flourish on campus. If there is not a nearby conference though, you can still make it work as a stand alone university conference.

If this option excites you, resources are available to guide you. Visit our website at svdpemergingleaders.blog. For specific questions, you can email YYAEL@svdpusa.org.

YYAEL spiritual advisor Sarah is in the middle of this process right now at the University of Iowa. Stay tuned for a post about her efforts and experience!

College brings many changes, but it doesn’t have to mean stepping away from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Whether you join a local conference, stay connected virtually, or take the step of starting a new conference on your campus, there are meaningful ways to keep living out the Vincentian mission. Each path allows you to grow in faith, serve those in need, and remain part of a community rooted in charity and friendship.