PROJECT VINCENT – CHICAGO,

PERRYVILLE AND

 ST. LOUIS, MO

  – JULY 2004 -

I.  PROJECT VINCENT

a)     Venue:  De Paul University, Chicago

b)     Dates:   July 8-11, 2004

c)     Participants:  150 youth and young adults from different parts of the U.S.  (CM Midwest and Southern Provinces / DC East Central and West Central Provinces)

d)    General overview of the encounter:

Project Vincent was a 3-day weekend of faith which featured service projects for the poor, awesome prayer experiences, dynamic music, workshops and multimedia presentations on living our Catholic faith today in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul.  We came together to deepen our faith and share with each other our beliefs, hopes, dreams and convictions.   Jesus Christ, St. Vincent de Paul, service, prayer and celebration – these were what Project Vincent with young adults in Chicago was all about. 

e)     Activities:

July 8 (Thursday)

3:00 – 7:00 PM         Registration

7:30 – 9:00 PM         Welcome and Icebreakers

-         4 persons officially welcomed participants to Project Vincent:  Sr. Catherine Madigan, DC (Visitatrix, East Central Province), Sr. Marie Therese Sedgwick, DC (Visitatrix, West Central Province), Fr. Kevin Collins, CM (De Paul University) and Fr. Ron Hoye, CM (Project Vincent).

-         getting to know each other (participants were asked to find a partner and in 1 minute tell something about yourself; then, get 1 person from another group and look for 3 things in common; continue in this way by getting 2 more persons and then 3 more…)

Impressions:

Sr. Catherine Madigan, in her welcome address, noted that young people are the hope of the Church today.  The greatest gift that we bring to any encounter, to anything that we do, is who we are.  We learn from Saints Vincent and Louise the meaning of prayer and service, and that these two should go hand-in-hand.  The encounter is appropriately named “Project Vincent” because the word “project” means it’s a “lifetime effort”. 

For her part, Sr. Marie Therese Sedgwick, highlighted that Vincent and Louise were ordinary people who cared for our brothers and sisters rejected by society.  They were not only pioneers in what they did during their time, but were also prophets… people who looked around daily to see for little things that can be done.  It is when we do kind acts in our everyday life that we continue God’s work in this world.

Fr. Kevin Collins commented that De Paul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States and with the greatest number of first-generation college students.  He encouraged us to see and feel the genius that Vincent was and so become like him.  Vincent was not only generous but generative, too… one who is capable of generating something.

We need fire… we need to be motivated… we need to be Christ-centered… these were the three things that Fr. Ron Hoye emphasized in his welcome speech which he coupled with a very funny story from his high school life. 

The getting-to-know activity was simple yet led us to share a great deal with others in so short a time.  We were then divided into groups and balloon tower building contest followed.  It was a lot of fun blowing balloons and piling them up as high as we could.  It was Marty Strohmeyer who emceed the whole activity and led us to blend together superbly as one group.

July 9 (Friday)

9: 00 AM                   Sending forth – St. Vincent de Paul Church

9:15 AM                    Depart for work sites - whole day activity

5:00 PM                     Small group sharing

9:00 PM                     Taize Prayer in the church

Impressions: 

The group I belonged to was given the task to work out at “Paradise”, a neighborhood community garden run by Mrs. Mary Peery, located in a black district.  This place used to have an old building which was used as a crackhouse – crime, drugs, violence and other bad things came together here.  Since this is just a few steps away from her home, Mary believed that something can and should be done so she spent a lot of time and effort asking the city government for help.  Through her perseverance and determination, the building was eventually demolished and the place was converted into a flower and vegetable garden.  There we passed the whole day cleaning up, picking out weeds and trash, making a soil bed ready for planting, cutting out branches, etc.  Mary shared with us her knowledge of planting flowers and vegetables.  It was a very learning experience for us all although we noted that the other people in the neighborhood didn't seem to care much for the garden's situation.  This fact though did not in any way deter Mary's cheerful attitude and dedication.   

The Taize Prayer – a meditative common prayer in word and song – was a wonderful way to end the day.  Different young people read a quotation from some of our Vincentian Family saints to help us grow in our affective and effective love for the poor.  Hymns such as “Ubi caritas” and “Bless the Lord” allowed us to contemplate the beauty of God and the presence of the Risen Christ in all that had happened during the day. 

July 10 (Saturday)

9:00 AM                    Morning Prayer

9:15 AM                    Keynote speech:  “My Vincentian Heart and our Vincentian Story” – Sr. Melissa Camardo, SCL (Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth)

10:15 AM                  Small group sharing

11:00 AM                  Testimonials

2:00 PM                     Workshops:  1)  Vincent de Paul;  2) Elizabeth Ann Seton; 3) Louise de Marillac; 4) Rosalie Rendu; 5) Frederic Ozanam; 6) Perboyre / de Jacobis; 7) Vocations – religious; 8) Vocations – married; 9)  JMV / MISEVI / Young Adult Group - Mobile, Alabama; 10) Simple Living; 11) Social Justice: Health Care; 12)  Vincentian Volunteer Programs – domestic; 13) Everyday Spirituality; 14) Art: A Way to God

5:00 PM                     Small group sharing

8:30 PM                     Adoration – St. Vincent de Paul Church

9:30 PM                     Depart for Lake Michigan boat cruise

Impressions:

The prayers and all of today’s activities focused on one important thing:  we can make a difference… let us go and make a difference in the world! 

Sr. Melissa’s talk was filled with a lot of inspiring stories from her own life as she allowed herself to be guided by St. Vincent.  “Love itself is fire… we are called to bear the love of God, this Divine Fire, everywhere.”  She focused on the Vincentian Heart, pointing out that it:

-         sees the face of Christ in the poor

-         builds bridges between the rich and the poor

-         trusts in Divine Providence

1)       See the face of Christ in the poor - we are encouraged to find common ground with the poor because we are all broken persons… we have an emptiness within which longs to be filled… with the poor, we are better able to see who we are because they help us recognize we have limitations, that we are not perfect.

2)       Build bridges between the rich and the poor - locally and globally.  Some facts she highlighted were that:     

- 3 billion people live on less than $2 a day

- the 3 richest people have more than the 40 poorest countries

                  - $30 billion is spent on dieting in the U.S. annually

Globalization brings us closer to one another through technology yet “we                    are already one but we imagine we are not”.   We have the resources but the problems lies in just how we choose to use them.

3)       Trust in Divine Providence - quoting St. Louise de Marillac: “Do not be upset if things are not as you would want them to be for a long time to come.  Do the little you can very peacefully and calmly so as to allow room for the guidance of God in your lives.  Do not worry about the rest.”

Some challenges before us:

- We need community!  The community is a school of love… love God, love the poor and love one another. 

- We need imagination!  We have healthy imaginations when we can stand before any reality and have a sense of what God is asking of us… it is the opposite of resignation… it is the foundation of hope. 

- We need to be people with vision and hope!

During the whole afternoon dedicated to the different workshops, I shared about JMV two times.  The workshops lasted for 45 minutes and to make the most of the short time (since JMV was together with MISEVI and the Young Adult Group of Mobile), I concentrated on explaining what JMV is and its purpose and then moved on to share about what we have been doing as an international association in the last 10 years.

Mary Sturgeon shared about MISEVI, highlighting that we are all sent to build the Church, over and above our Vincentian mission.  As missionaries who are sent, its members go wherever there is a need and wherever they are invited.  She also mentioned how MISEVI started, its aims and communities as well as how its international encounter in Mexico last year is now making progress, with other countries besides Spain now working on their national statutes (e.g. Italy, Mexico, Indonesia). 

Fred Tiemann of Mobile, Alabama gave a brief insight on what their small group is doing.  They have 10 members, of which only 6 are actively involved in all their projects.  Within Mobile, their apostolate includes visiting a home for the elderly and taking part in a feeding program.  Despite their small size, they have been able to reach out internationally – to Peru and Iraq.  Last Christmas, one of their members went to Peru and they raised enough money to buy 100 gifts (50 soccer balls and 50 dolls) for poor children there.  For Iraq, they shipped 10 boxes of school supplies for a recently completed school for Iraqi children.  With these actions, they indeed answer the call to be Christ’s hands and feet in the world. 

The afternoon time had been divided in such a way that participants could go to 3 workshops.  Since JMV was given two slots, I was able to participate in 1 workshop and I chose to go to “Everyday Spirituality: Daily Ways to be Vincentian” given by Sr. Joanne Vasa, DC.   It was a workshop which called for our active participation as Sr. Joanne guided us through the definition of spirituality and then going to St. Vincent’s (God = provider) and St. Louise’s (God = judge) image of God so that we could also share on our own image of God.  Some simple practices for everyday spirituality include reading, journal writing, communing with nature or simply reflecting on the following questions:  when was my happiest time today? / when was my saddest time today? / when and where today did I have the greatest sense of belonging? 

To end the day, we went on a boat cruise down the Chicago River and out to Lake Michigan.  A dynamic and humorous guide pointed out the city sights alternated by music and dancing. 

July 11 (Sunday)

9:00 AM                    Evaluation

10:00 AM                 Mass / Send-off

f)       Conclusion:

I am very happy and blessed to have had the opportunity to take part in Project Vincent.  It was indeed a weekend of celebration and faith alive!  During the encounter, I met many young people interested in JMV, in being involved in a youth group and doing service with and for the poor. 

I had the chance to meet and talk with some of our JMV contacts in the U.S., namely: Mary Sturgeon, Gerry Strohmeyer, Sr. Theresa Sullivan, DC, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Cullen, DC, Fr. Ron Hoye, CM,  Sr. Mary Beth Kubera, DC, Sr. Pat Connolly, DC, Mary, Sr. Ann Marie Butler, DC, Sr. Julie Cutter, Sr. Teresa Daly, DC,  and Sr. Lela Nelson, DC.  Project Vincent afforded me the chance to make new contacts for JMV and one of them was Fr. Dan Thiess, CM (dthiess@depaul.edu).  He is in charge of university ministry at De Paul.  At the encounter there were a number of former students (invited by Mary Sturgeon) who want to continue their involvement with the Vincentian Family.  It is with them that we hope a new JMV group will begin in Chicago soon.  Another happy moment was personally meeting Fr. Gary Mueller, CM (JMV National Priest Advisor - Kenya) who belongs to the CM Midwest Province and was in Chicago for the Encounter.  He will be coming to Madrid on August 2 and have agreed to see each other and discuss the developments of JMV in Kenya. 

It was also a good opportunity for me to encourage them to participate with JMV International in World Youth Day - Cologne 2005, receiving an enthusiastic response on their part.  Gerry Strohmeyer (JMV Southeast Missouri Region) filled out the WYD consultation form we had sent them, specifying that there will be 100 persons from the U.S. joining us.  

II. PERRYVILLE, MISSOURI

Upon the invitation of Cathy Peirick (JMV Coordinator for the Southeast Missouri Region), I traveled to Perryville on July 11, right after Project Vincent, together with the delegates from that area.  I stayed with the Vincentian Fathers at Saint Mary’s of the Barrens Church, which is at the same time the National Shrine of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  It was a joy for me to see Fr. Charles Shelby, CM (AMM International Director) who warmly welcomed and showed me around the place.  Some bit of history:  construction of Saint Mary’s began in 1827 and the Shrine was added to the church a century later.  It is said that “all paths at Saint Mary’s lead to the grotto” and it is rightly true… a very nice stroll brings you to the southern edge of the campus where one finds the grotto of our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, made of limestone slabs build into the hillside.  Seminarians began its construction in 1917 and it was completed in 1920.  There one can spend beautiful moments simply sitting on any of the benches and just contemplate, with our Blessed Mother, God’s work of creation – in the birds chirping around, the little squirrels climbing the big trees which give much-needed shade during these summer months, the green grass, in the corn stalks rising sturdily… I give thanks to God for the wonder of nature which we sometimes take for granted! 

The tour would not be complete without visiting the office of the Association of the Miraculous Medal, which first began in 1918 in a small room in the seminary administration building.  Now, this building on the western side of Saint Mary’s campus houses a big computerized office with a staff of around 75 persons who happily help Fr. Shelby and the Vincentians in spreading devotion to our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.  It also includes a work area complete with printing equipments for cards, letters, envelopes, etc.  The national and international website of the AMM is also managed from here. 

The whole day of July 12 was spent with Cathy, Shirley Klump and John Peirick.  It was a day full of wonderful surprises as they happily showed me their office, generously leased by a friend for $1 a year.  It comprises the whole second floor of a building located at 103 A West St. Joseph Street, Perryville, MO 63775 (tel. 573-547-3300).  Office supplies, chairs, tables, computer, printer, telephone and fax machine have been received as donations from kind persons around the area.  Aside from the office space, they also have a big hall which can be used for conferences, gatherings or prayer celebrations but, at the moment, they are still in the process of preparing it for its use (cleaning, repairing, painting, decorating, etc.). 

After reviewing with them their 3-year action plan, organizational structure, thrusts and activities, I got to know more about this big and promising JMV group in the Southeast Missouri Region.  It is composed of youth groups coming from different parishes (diocesan and Vincentian) in the following areas:

a)    St. Genevieve County, MO

b)    Cape Girardeau, MO

c)     Jackson, MO

d)    Bloomsdale, MO

e)     Fredericktown, MO

f)       Perryville, MO

g)    Farmington, MO

h)     Dexter, MO

i)        Kelsow, MO

j)         Biehle / Apple Creek, MO

They also have their own one-page monthly newsletter called "The VMY Compass".  Their fundraising activities include soliciting money from the CMs and DCs as well as selling VMY T-shirts for $7 each. 

On the issue of National Statutes for the U.S., we discussed this and on the one hand, they are very much interested in spearheading the project of gathering together the JMV groups established so far as well as promote JMV to the other states.  On the other hand, everything is so new to them and things seem to be going quite fast, and they would like to first experience how they form and coordinate themselves as a region.  My commitment to them was to accompany them in this process in whatever questions or clarifications they may have as well as also write to the other U.S. JMV contacts, telling them about their group and encouraging them to keep in touch.  This I already did with an email sent on July 17, on the occasion of the feast of the first apparition of the Blessed Mother to St. Catherine Laboure.  A number of them have already replied and I think they look forward to getting together one weekend in Perryville, to be acquainted with each other and seek ways for collaboration and coordination.   

One of their members, Kathy Zimmerman, was inspired by our Blessed Mother on January 16, 2004 to write a prayer for the VMY.  They have printed out this prayer which goes like this:

"St. Catherine Laboure - Mary, the Holy Mother of God entrusted to you the Miraculous Medal to be given to the world.  A great love and devotion to Mary has spread throughout the world and from this devotion many miracles.  Entrusted to you, as emissary, was the task to gather youth together as a fragrant bouquet of love and purity for God. 

We, the VMY, choose you, St. Catherine, to be our patron and intercessor.  We pray for your help, to intercede before God through Mary for abundant graces and blessings to shower down upon us. 

Gather us together in faith, love, joy and expectation.  Help us to form a mighty voice of praise to God, evangelizing the Gospel of Jesus, with the fire and fervor of the Holy Spirit. 

We consecrate to God all we are and all we are to become in the future.  Aid and assist us in a worldwide revolution to be mighty warriors as a witness to 'The Kingdom of God: that is truly now!' Amen."

Activities of the VMY Southeast Missouri Region since they started in January 2004:

Janury 18     Launching of the VMY through an Encounter at the National Shrine of

our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville.  This encounter and the next ones comprise a 45-minute “Faith Alive” activity which includes music, testimonials and sharing followed by Mass and socials.

February 8   Encounter at the Shrine in Perryville. 

March 14    Encounter at the Shrine in Perryville. The Faith Alive portion was about recognizing our Holy Ground and there was a short video on some summer service opportunities. 

May 2           May Procession in Perryville.  The Association, displaying its own banner, took part with the rest of the community in this activity.

May 9           Encounter at the Shrine in Perryville hosted by Fr. Rooney, CM (Director of a Youth and Young Adult Retreat Center in Princeton, New Jersey).

June 13         Encounter at the Grotto within the Shrine Church in Perryville

June 13-18   Vincentian Young Adult experience of 5 days working for the poorest of the poor in New Madrid County.  This activity is called SOMOPRO and consists of painting, scraping, roofing as well as living in community with each other which entails sleeping on the floor, cooking their own food, praying and spending each day in service. 

June 19         “Godspell” – a musical presentation participated in by several members of the JMV community held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois

June 20-25   Participation in Project Life Conference.  This activity is similar to SOMOPRO but limited to youth in grades 9-12.

July 8-11     Participation in Project Vincent.  This was a 3-day experience for young adults to help them connect with each other in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul.  Activities included a day of service to the poor, reflection, motivational talks, practical workshops and prayer experiences. 

July 9-11      Participation in Steubenville Conference.  This was an experience of praise and worship with thousands of other teenagers from across the region. 

July 18         Encounter at the Shrine in Perryville and pool party Perry Park Center

August 19    Adoration at the Shrine in Perryville

October       Retreat for upcoming juniors, seniors and recent graduates at Camp St.

                        Vincent in Fredericktown

III. ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

The last part of my trip was to St. Louis, MO.  Cathy, Shirley and John accompanied me to visit the DC West Central Provincial Offices located in St. Louis where we met up with Sr. Pat Connolly and Sr. Teresa Daly.  St. Louis is only a 2-hour drive from Perryville. We shared insights on how Project Vincent had turned out and how to encourage a national association for the JMV in the U.S.  We also talked about their monthly Encounters in Perryville and how they prepare for them very well.  The overall impression I received is that first they want to experience their life and journey as a group before setting out to start and coordinate other JMV groups in the U.S.  A difficulty which they feel might keep JMV from acquiring national status soon is that the groups are dispersed in distant regions, the U.S. being a very big country area-wise.  Another thing is that the groups are very different from one another (situations, ages, numbers, etc.) and they do not know each other.  I agree that we should not hurry and allow them to discern whether they should first set up Provincial Councils.

Another person I was eager and happy to meet up with in St. Louis was Linda Mertz.  We have been in contact since 2002 when Lennoxie Lusabe (CM seminarian from Kenya) spent a year of studies in St. Louis and together with her, had formed a small JMV group.  Linda is a youth minister at St. Vincent de Paul Parish and is very eager to continue collaborating with JMV.   I put her in touch with the Perryvillle coordinators and so they are now interchanging emails so as to see how they can coordinate their activities and facilitate the encounters among their members.  They hope to attend one of the monthly encounters at the Shrine in the next months.

To end, I just would like to give thanks to God, to the members of the International Council and Secretariat for their trust and help.  The visit was filled with wonderful sharings and I pray all will be to the greater benefit of the Association and glory of God.  

Ana Maria Escaño

                                                                       JMV International Council

                                                                       July 19, 2004