SSVP Young People Have Lifted Their Eyes
By Alberto Gómez Gabás, Youth territorial delegate Europe 1 and member of the Saint Gemma Galgani Conference, Madrid, Spain.
The SSVP Youth Gathering of Europe took place from 5 to 8 June in Madrid, taking advantage of the Apostolic Journey of His Holiness Leo XIV to our country. Considerable preparatory work was carried out by SSVP Spain and the International General Council to ensure effective organization and management. In the end, 30 committed young people attended from various parts of Europe: France, England and Wales, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Albania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, as well as Spain.
The SSVP (the Conferences, as we like to call them here) was founded nearly 200 years ago in neighboring France, in a climate hostile to Catholicism and the Church. In a Paris where the echoes of the Revolution could still be heard, and where the blood of the martyrs still stained the streets of the city on the Seine, seven friends sought to bring the message of the Gospel to those most in need, just as Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Louise de Marillac had done centuries earlier.
Under the protection of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, and always with the support of the Daughters of Charity, represented by Sister Rosalie Rendu, they created a network of charity so that the poor, God’s favorites, would not be excluded from the message of the Gospel, nor from the fulfillment of their material and spiritual needs.
The Conferences were born in Europe, and we European young people wanted to make our presence known—not in just any company, but alongside the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on Earth. We were able to accompany him during the youth vigil in Lima Square and at the Holy Mass celebrated in Cibeles. Physically distant, yet deeply united to the Holy Father through our hearts and prayers. The Pope, the Successor of Peter, is the bond of communion for all Catholics. What better way to reflect the universality of the Church than through an international gathering united around his person, demonstrating that we continue to weave the network of charity envisioned by Ozanam?
We also felt strongly connected to our origins. The 30 young participants were accommodated near the Basilica of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, thanks to the collaboration of the Daughters of Charity and the Vincentian Fathers, to whom we extend our most sincere gratitude. In the basilica, we were able to pray before the body of the Venerable Santiago de Masarnau, musician and founder of the Conferences in Spain in 1849. We also visited Saint Sebastian’s Church, where the first Conference meeting in Spain took place.
We also had the opportunity to visit the national headquarters of SSVP Spain, where we were able to gain a closer understanding of the reality and work of the Conferences in our country. During the visit, we also received a fraternal greeting from Juliana da Silva, International Youth Delegate of the International General Council, who joined us via videoconference from Brazil to share words of encouragement and closeness with all the participants.
These were days of great intensity, deep devotion, and profound affection for the Vicar of Christ. We hope that this visit will continue to bear abundant fruit. We, the Vincentian young people, are already beginning to see it.
