Students from the UC Davis Newman Center and The Vincentians of the Arc Youth Conference at the Food Distribution
The saying, “God places people on your path for a purpose,” couldn’t be more true, especially in our vocation as Vincentians. Recently, I attended the SEEK 2026 Conference in Columbus, Ohio, where I met three Young Adults from UC Davis who were eager to involve their Newman Center more in service. At the same time, my SVdP Youth Conference in San Ramon, California, we were searching for our next service project. Recognizing this shared mission, we partnered to organize a meal distribution at UC Davis, bringing our communities together in service!
By staying connected through calls, texts, and a shared planning document, we could delegate responsibilities leading up to the service project. My Youth Conference, the Vincentians of the Arc (VOTA) took the lead in providing most of the meal supplies, including ingredients for turkey sandwiches, pastries, and containers. Meanwhile, the UC Davis Newman Center advertised the distribution in their local community, coordinated the assembly and distribution site, and offered guidance rooted in their knowledge of the local area. With lots of coordinating (and praying!), everything came together smoothly, and we were confident in our plan.
When the day of the project arrived, our plan was put into action. After gathering at the Newman Center to assemble sandwiches and prepare the meals, we transported everything to a local park, where we handed out over 80 meals to our neighbors in the Davis community! By collaborating, we could live out our shared mission to serve Christ in those in need. Every meal, thoughtfully prepared with a hand-written prayer card, reflected the Vincentian spirit within us, and we engaged in hands-on service rooted in love, friendship, and prayer.
So many beautiful blessings came from this partnership. As Vincentians, we understand how essential partnerships are because by collaborating with others, we increase our ability to effectively serve our neighbors in need and share our mission of spreading hope and love. Working together not only enabled us to serve so many of our neighbors in need, but it also truly connected us as one family in Christ. This service project proves that young people in action, driven by a love for Christ and neighbor, can do incredible things. It also reminded me how God can use a small, unlikely interaction like Californians meeting at a conference in Ohio, and create something incredible out of it. So may we remain open and attentive to those God places in our lives, recognizing that even the smallest connections can help build His kingdom and strengthen our shared mission to love and serve.
Put it on your calendars! Two dates for Zoom gatherings have been selected.
First, a few members from YYAEL will be hosting a Conference Coaches’ Call via Zoom for all adults who help or want to help with Youth and Young Adults on Thursday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m. CDT. (Recording available using the QR code above!) We will have time for discussion and questions. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow Conference Caches and have some of your questions answered. We hope to see all of our Conference Coaches there and those interested in starting a Youth, Youth University or Young Adults Conference!
Second, a Youth and Young Adult Hangout will be on July 13 @ 7 pm CDT! All Youth and Young Adults are invited to join us in spirituality and friendship! Adults are welcome to join but this is a time for the Youth and Young Adults so please save your questions for Conference Coaches’ Calls. We are so excited to host the third YYA Hangout of 2025, so put it on your calendars and join us!
Emmanuel Bailly guided Frédéric Ozanam and his friends along their Vincentian pathway. As the leader of the University discussion group, the Conference of History—which later evolved into the Conference of Charity and ultimately the Society of St. Vincent de Paul—Bailly played a pivotal role in nurturing their mission.
Bailly owned a printing shop where students could gather to drink coffee, read the news, and engage in discussions and debates. His hospitality created a welcoming space for intellectual and spiritual growth. Though the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was started by college students, it was Bailly’s support, wisdom, and guidance—along with the influence of Blessed Sr. Rosalie Rendu—that allowed the organization to take root and flourish.
Young Vincentian conferences today benefit from similar mentorship roles. That’s where you come in.
“You have accustomed us to look upon you as the rallying point, the advisor, and the friend of young Christian youth. Your past favors have given us the right to count on future ones. Those you have done for me encourage me to hope for the same for my friends.”
– Frédéric Ozanam to Emmanuel Bailly, November 3, 1834
The Founding of the Society The founders of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul are often described as “six young college students and an older gentleman.” That gentleman was Emmanuel Bailly—though, at only thirty-nine years old, he wasn’t as old as they made him seem!
Bailly deserves recognition for his contributions to both the Society’s founding and the restoration of Catholicism in post-revolutionary France. While Frédéric Ozanam brought bold vision, enthusiasm, and an ability to unite like-minded peers, it was Bailly who provided the practical foundations: his experience, reputation, and financial resources.
Bailly’s newspaper office, Tribune Catholique, became a hub for students. This space fostered spirited discussions, guided by Bailly’s wisdom and participation. It was here that, in April 1833, Ozanam and his friends shared their plans for charitable work. The first meeting of the Society took place at Bailly’s office on April 23, 1833. Bailly not only presided as the group’s first president but also established the structure of the meetings, which included readings, reflections, and a closing hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Bailly’s leadership extended beyond logistics. He connected the group with Sr. Rosalie Rendu, a Daughter of Charity working in the Mouffetard district, who taught the young members the practicalities of home visits to the poor. His steady guidance and experience prevented pitfalls the students might not have anticipated, providing them with the stability and legitimacy needed for the Society to grow.
Continuing Bailly’s Legacy Emmanuel Bailly’s role as a mentor and supporter is a reminder of the collaborative spirit required to nurture new leaders. Today’s Vincentians can follow in his footsteps by creating spaces of fellowship, guiding young members, and connecting them to service opportunities.
Introducing youth and young adults to the Vincentian way offers them a sense of mission and equips them to address both physical and spiritual needs. It fosters growth in friendship, leadership, and compassion, forming leaders with hearts full of mercy for those they serve.
How will you follow Bailly’s legacy and mentor the next generation of Vincentians?
