Which young people are we talking about?
The Berceau receives 10,000 visitors throughout the year, and from April to June, we welcome more than 800 young people. There are two types of stays: those of a day from 10 :00 am until 4 :00 pm, and those longer sessions ranging from 2 to 5 days. These latter are part of a preparation for the sacrament of confirmation or a session of “silence and prayer” organized by a group or movement.
The day-long stays are designed for 9 to 18 year-olds from private or public institutions sponsored by their schools’ ministry, and for youth as a part of their parishes’ catechesis.
Those prepare for the sacrament of confirmation here come from parishes within the dioceses of our ecclesiastical province, but also from further afield (such as Versailles, Carcassonne, etc).
We also receive some hundred or so young mountain bikers during the summer period, if only for just a few hours of rest, as well as some student teams for the Raid 4L Trophy, a French car rally from Morocco, sponsored by the St Vincent de Paul Society.
In addition, young people from all over France come accompanied by priests of the St Thomas Becket Fraternity, to participate in introductory sessions to the inner life and prayer.
What kind of welcome?
We have a team of 7 animators, 4 laypeople, a sister and two priests, who provides this general reception service. They present either testimonies or teachings on the sacraments, the faith, the creed, etc …
To the groups that pass through here regularly, we offer:
– a way to discover the place using a video complete with commentary and explanations about the Vincentian Family;
– then a tour of Ranquines, the birthplace of M. Vincent de Paul. Here is an opportunity to share details about the life of St. Vincent, relying on the various objects that remind us of him: quotations from St. Vincent’s own letters, the chair from the family who received him in the boarding school that he had founded, and the bust of the mortuary face,
– finally the chapel, where attention is paid to faith as the source of the life of St. Vincent.
Groups are provided with notebooks to record their own findings and reflections.
After their time for rest and relaxation, we offer them a variety of games to deepen their knowledge of St Vincent. Some are very active, some more staid: ranging from the game of « goose » to crossword puzzles, to « finding the thief », to discovering ways to help the weakest, to sharing about the richness of family life. Each of the games consists of 3 to 5 stages that include either biblical text approaches, or excerpts from St. Vincent to read, and sports challenges (such as an obstacle course, mazes, etc.).
For each group (they range in number from 40 to 300 participants) there are two to six animators present, depending on the number, to assist their programs to allow all those present to participate during this time under the best possible conditions. The ideal group size is thirty.
What are the lessons?
Group meetings are done with great simplicity. First there is a time to introduce ourselves to each other: This helps everyone find their place and be (re) known; the adults present are there to accompany us, participate, and supervise throughout the various activities. Once objectives are defined and the framework laid out, there begins a honest sharing of knowledge, skills and pleasure in order to discover or deepen our understanding of Monsieur Vincent and his works. At the end of the day, depending on each group, there is time to spend on touring, other activities, one-to-one sharing experiences, offering conclusions or a synthesis that reinforces the need of these young people to hear the message of Mr Vincent. We hear the cries coming from today’s real life stories – and we listen deeply. Testimonies may often release the word of God, and allow a return to events in personal lives with the time needed for reflection on our life choices.
Each group has its own expectations and each visit is different, enriching each of these many meetings within the location’s serenity.
All volunteer animators are so happy to participate in the discovery of M. Vincent, this giant of charity who always affects young people for his great sense of service to the poor and the fact that he is not a religious locked away in a box, all of which provides the taste of the meeting. And Vincent’s re-telling of the shame he felt about his father, his tears after his visit to his family, touches many who find it speaking to them today.
Some of these young people or animators will even leave a few words on Ranquines’ prayer book, entrusting to Saint Vincent names of people suffering in their neighborhood or even sometimes in their families.
We are asked to be inventive in restoring confidence to the youngest who, as soon as they are recognized as believers, are taunted by their peers. We help them to discover that the act of believing is like enjoying their own music. In the image of various musical styles: rap, slam, rock, rai face which we can mark surprise, but never rejected, because the musical styles are all equally respectable.
We must also be close to the oldest of these young people, often confronted with an uncertain existence that can be violent and devoid of meaning, to offer them space and the living and dynamic Word, accompanied by testimonies of a joyful life given in the service of others. Thus we are helping them to regain confidence in their hesitant faith too often weakened by their environment, and to get back on the road with others to bring to birth the world of tomorrow about which they dream: a world of fraternity and solidarity, a world of relationships fulfilling human beings, in the image of the kingdom of which Jesus described during his earthly existence.
The team, even if too small for this wonderful service, is willing to help us during these times of animation, helping to enrich the stories that can shared with young people. If interested, all one needs is to have faith, to know a little about Saint Vincent, to enjoy expending the high energy needed to contribute, to encourage, or just to accompany others during these moments. If all this speaks to you and if you have a little time, please do not hesitate to contact us ; we will be happy to count you among the volunteers for this kind of service to young people.
Team Members: Anita Briffeuil, Elena Cruz CALVO, Bernard MASSARINI, and Frédéric PELLEFIGUE
By: Bernard Massarini, CM
member of the Lazarist community at the Berceau (birthplace) of Saint Vincent de Paul,
Coordinator of the Vincentian Family in France
TO ASK FOR INFORMATION OR KNOW MORE, VISIT OUR SITE: www.ouvre-berceau-st-vincent.cef.fr/
« We are asked to be inventive in restoring confidence to the youngest who are taunted as soon as they are recognized as believers. We help them discover that believing is like enjoying their own music. » Bernard Massarini, cm
Translator : Dan Paul Borlik, CM
Western Province, USA
