Julep and Iris are sisters from Biloxi, Mississippi. In 2023, because their mom is a Vincentian, the girls were encouraged to help out at the local food pantry run by Vincentians. Now 10 and 9 years old, the girls continue to find joy and fulfillment in serving Friends in Need in their community. Over the past three years, the sisters have diligently served at the food pantry every Tuesday they could and encouraged their classmates and friends to join them. Iris expressed, “I like doing it because I get to help the needy and I get to be with the people that I am friends with and get to help at the same time.” Julep agreed, saying, “One thing St.Vincent de Paul has definitely helped me in my life is seeing how some people have it, and it definitely has made me grateful for my things and how I have it.”
At the food pantry, on their first visit, they were each given individual tasks: Julep was in charge of “Bag 3,” one of the specific bags curated for families in need, while Iris helped load vehicles with monthly groceries. They understood the importance of their individual roles. To this day, Julep leads the efforts to assemble Bag 3, and Iris happily loads cars. They call Iris “Sargent Iris” because the then-president told those working at the food pantry that Iris was in charge of loading all the cars. For Julep, her favorite part is when “I take the bags to the waiting area, I pass by where all the people who are in need are lined up and when they see food is available for them, their faces brighten so much and it always makes me feel really good.”
Their mother, Kimberly, also mentioned the girls have encouraged their friends and classmates to join, going from a time when there was no youth help to as many as 8-10 children bagging groceries, breaking down boxes, and loading cars each week. Julep mentioned, “I honestly think that we should try to get a lot more younger kids involved because all the people at ours are retirees, so we need younger people to keep continuing it.” They have also collected money from family members to help support the food pantry and St. Vincent de Paul’s mission, purchased groceries to hand out, and donated money of their own. Lastly, at the end of summer, they make a big thank-you banner to express their gratitude to the Vincentians who work at the food pantry every Tuesday throughout the year and who are so welcoming to the girls and their friends during the summer months and holidays. Kimberly, their mom, emphasized the importance of the other Vincentians’ openness to inviting and collaborating with youth, and allowing Julep and Iris to have so much responsibility in serving those at the food pantry.
In addition to their efforts at the food pantry, the sisters attend Mass on Tuesday mornings before the food pantry opening. At the Mass, they help with lectoring and taking down the gifts. They also attend the yearly Ozanam Mass at the Cathedral, where they celebrate with the Diocesan Councils and sing with the choir and on their own. They also celebrated International Vincentian Youth Day by gathering at the local Cathedral, helping with St. Vincent de Paul and bringing and collecting canned goods, and having donuts afterward with other youth to celebrate.
With their commitment to showing up and serving at the food pantry, Julep and Iris have encouraged other members to bring their grandchildren to help. Kimberly, their mom, stated, “Some days I don’t have anything to do, like some days they have gotten so many kids, and there are only so many people that can fit in the pantry, and they are like, ‘Mom, we got this!’”
Julep and Iris’s dedication to serving others and showing God’s love to those they encounter is truly inspiring. They certainly have a bright future ahead and will surely continue to impact many people in their community.
Sarah Wenzloff is a young adult from West Dundee, Illinois. Her story as a Vincentian began when she was very young, around four or five years old. Now, as a young adult, she works diligently to serve her community and is the District Council Spiritual Advisor. She expressed her deep appreciation for the spiritual aspect of St. Vincent de Paul, “I enjoy being the Spiritual Advisor, and I really feel like there’s a lot you can contribute as a St. Vincent de Paul member (from) a spiritual aspect. There’s a lot of members in St. Vincent de Paul who feel like sometimes we can’t help out the way that we want to, like by helping with funds or living situations or temporary help, but you can always help spiritually by praying for them, guiding them, showing them that there are people who care about them, and so that where I felt my best fit as Spiritual Advisor.”
During her childhood, both of her parents were Vincentians, so while the adults had their meetings, Sarah and the other youth gathered for their own meetings. Although there was never an official youth conference, Sarah had the idea that the youth should gather as well and help with fundraisers and other events. They also assisted the adult conference in brainstorming additional ways to raise money and promote St. Vincent de Paul within their church community.
After changing parishes and moving, Sarah also wanted to teach in the Religious Education classes but remained involved with St. Vincent de Paul. Now, at her current parish, St. Catherine of Siena in West Dundee, she actively participates in the parish’s adult conference and served as its Spiritual Advisor since 2022. Now, with her father being the District Council President, by rules she can only be the District Council Spiritual Advisor, but Sarah truly enjoys being the Spiritual Advisor and helping others, both her fellow Vincentians and Friends in Need, grow in holiness. She organizes breakfasts and plans times for conference members to go to Mass together to grow in friendship and spirituality. She also ensures that her conference members understand the significance of praying before, during, and after a personal encounter, and she tries to help them recognize and meaningfully incorporate prayer into their interactions with our Friends in Need. Lastly, Sarah also organizes fundraisers for her adult conference and teaches other Vincentians the “how-to” when asking for money or donations.
Sarah’s life of serving others is not just through St. Vincent de Paul; she also works in healthcare, and she encounters many patients who do not understand the ins and outs of medical insurance or medical jargon, so she sees a great need there as well. In that, she expressed, “Being in healthcare, it allows me to first give my love, dedication, and compassion to a lot of our patients who don’t experience that…Being the face of the office, you get to be the face of Christ (to) a lot of the people you meet on a day-to-day basis.”
Lastly, Sarah shared that, growing up, although she did not immediately realize it, her family was often in need and relied on the help and guidance from St. Vincent de Paul members. Because of those experiences, her heart is always ready to serve, be the Face of Christ to others, and relate to those in need when she is serving. “When I was a kid, being around St. Vincent de Paul members who were always the Face of Christ and showing guidance and love through what they did, it made me want to be the same way now as an adult. I think just understanding what they (the Friends in Need) are going through and dealing with, I can be that light.”
Sarah’s unwavering dedication to service and spiritual growth continues to inspire everyone around her. Her example encourages us all to look for ways to serve others with the same compassion, humility, and zeal she demonstrates every day.
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.
Alex Moynihan is a 17-year-old Vincentian from Redmond, Washington. She is the founder of the beginnings of a Youth Conference at St. Jude’s in Washington. With her father being a Vincentian, Alex was invited by her father to a training for St. Vincent de Paul and was inspired to begin making her own impact. The spirituality of the personal encounter captivated Alex and was one of the many reasons she wanted to become a Vincentian. However, she noticed one thing about her Conference life–there were no other youth or young adults at the table. This observation led her to recruit and reach out to many of her peers, inviting them to join the mission of St. Vincent de Paul. She explained, “I love getting my friends involved whether they are from my church or not. I think it’s a great opportunity for them to really make meaningful change.”
Alex’s desire to bring in other young people is inspiring. She currently acts as the liaison or a bridge of sorts between youth and young adults and the adult conference at the Parish of St. Jude. Just recently, she led a group of young people in organizing and cleaning the storage room where all of the donations and materials for the SVdP conference are stored. She shared that it had not been cleaned in over 25 years, so it needed new organization and clean-up. This effort not only made the space safer and more efficient for all volunteers, but also allowed the conference to better serve families seeking support, making it easier to distribute items quickly and with dignity. She also collected children’s clothing and household items for neighbors in need. Alex explained, “I created a little area for teens’ clothes, kids’ clothes, toys, shoes, whatever kids want.” She recognized a need for kids’ and teens’ clothes and wanted to make an impact. As a result, more families were able to find the items they needed, and the community experienced a greater sense of care and connection through these organized efforts.
Along with these service projects, she and the other youth work behind the scenes, creating and providing thank-yous for donors. She and a few other youth wrote over ninety cards, which helped the adult conference reach all the donors promptly. She also expressed that she sees the need for human connection. While the financial help is needed, the connection and relationship with our neighbors is essential.
Alex’s devotion to making a change in her community is evident. Not only is she a Vincentian, but she also helps as a teacher for her church’s Vacation Bible School, helps with parish-wide food drives, and serves as an usher at Mass. She understands the importance of leading with love and sharing her faith with others. She explained, “I know this is what we are called to do, and it is a fundamental obligation to help those in need. I mean it is just following in Jesus’s footsteps, and you’re helping people the way Jesus would.”
Alex’s commitment to serving others is truly commendable. Her selfless actions and dedication set a powerful example for her peers and demonstrate the profound impact one person can have on a community.
