On Saint Vincent’s Day, I had the wonderful opportunity to be welcomed by Sr. Mary Ann Tracey, SC, and the community of the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth in Convent Station, New Jersey. I am deeply grateful to Sr. Mary Ann for trusting me to speak about Social Justice with their students and to share in the spirit of Vincentian service and justice.

Founded in 1859, the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth continue their mission of education, healthcare, and social services from their beautiful property at Convent Station, NJ. Each year, their celebration of Saint Vincent’s Day honors the legacy of St. Vincent de Paul, whose call to love and serve those in need continues to inspire the Vincentian school family—whether through hands-on activities like sewing blankets and clothing for the poor, or through service initiatives such as advocacy.

During my presentation, I was reminded—once again—that young people bring such energy and fresh insight to justice conversations. One student, Jackie, said with excitement during lunch (not knowing I was nearby): “It was great, we had a whole debate… it was really good!” Her words affirmed just how engaged the students were.

Our discussion was interactive: students were divided into roles of advocates, decision makers, and observers, and guided through the Laudato Si’ Goals and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Together we explored concrete issues close to their daily lives and global concerns alike:

• Local recycling efforts they could initiate in their schools—advocating with their principals and leadership.
• Gun and gang violence in Haiti and the bipartisan Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act.
• The federal Road to Housing Act addressing housing insecurity.
• Immigration justice, with reflections on the Delaney Hall Detention Facility Protests in Newark, NJ and ways to advocate for more humane conditions.

These young voices carried vision and hope. It was inspiring to see their willingness to imagine real-world solutions and to claim their role in shaping a more just future.

I left Convent Station deeply encouraged, and I look forward to continuing this type of youth outreach with the wider Charity family. Once again, my gratitude goes to Sr. Mary Ann and the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth for their hospitality and their trust.

Diandra Garcia-Heredia is the Advocacy and Program Coordinator for the Sisters of Charity of New York’s Peace, Justice, and Integrity of Creation Office