This summer, almost 200 young people gathered at St. John’s University’s Queens campus in Jamaica, New York for three days of shared reflection, activity, and networking. The hundreds of participants in this year’s Vincent Experience 2 (VE2) came from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and walks of life, but they all shared one thing in common: a life touched by the charism of St. Vincent de Paul.
The conference was the second time the Youth Committee of the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission sponsored such a gathering of young Vincentian leaders. “VE2” served as a follow-up to the first Vincent Experience which took place at Niagara University in July of 2002. The theme “Rekindle the Fire” reminded participants to continually re-ignite the Vincentian spirit in their own hearts and communities. The fire of love and faith was evident as a multitude of young Vincentian leaders from across the country and around the world came together to tell their stories of St. Vincent de Paul and his mission and engage in a weekend of prayer, community, and rejuvenation.
