AN Australian St Vincent de Paul Society concept has made its way to New York.
The relationship between St Vincent de Paul Society conference president in Buffalo, Mary Ann Voorhees, and Townsville’s St Vincent de Paul diocesan youth co-ordinator, Fran Byrne, has reaped a rich harvest.
A new Mini Vinnies group is being established in Buffalo and an influx of young Americans are signing up to learn more about being a Vincentian.
The idea followed e-mail correspondence between Ms Byrne and Mrs Voorhees about the way Mini Vinnies operates in Australia, and particularly in Queensland.
In a recent e-mail to Ms Byrne, Mrs Voorhees revealed that, despite some initial opposition from fellow Vincentians, she was able to begin a pilot program of Junior Vincentians.
“It is going very well with 18 members, and we are about to have our third meeting this month,” she wrote.
She said at first older Vincentians did not share her enthusiasm for the concept because “they thought the idea of Junior Vincentians was so stupid”.
“This idea is now a reality. It was your inspiration that gave me the courage to proceed with this program,” Mrs Voorhees wrote.
In Townsville, Mini Vinnies involves small groups of primary school children, under the supervision of an adult Vincentian, visiting an aged care home for a couple of hours on a Saturday morning.
Last year four schools took part in the program.
“Apart from spending time talking to the residents, the children are able to help serve morning tea and many also sing, dance or play a musical instrument,” Ms Byrne said.
“They also often take the residents for walks/wheelchair rides in the gardens, or even paint some of the ladies’ fingernails.”
