Young Vinnies Thanksgiving Mass

The Vinnies Thanksgiving Mass was a meaningful opportunity for me to reflect on the year so far, emphasising what I’d done for others and what Vinnies had done for me. The mass was on the 26th of September celebrating the feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul where me, Olivia and Issa attended and received certificates acknowledging our contributions towards Vinnies leadership. The theme of the mass was “Faith in Action” which I thought was fitting considering the Vinnies organization. During the Mass they played a video displaying all the work the Vinnies organisation and leaders had done, showing several acts of charity such as Aroha meals, food parcel packaging and statistics representing the effort everyone had put in. They even included events our school had been present in such as the Homelessness Retreat and South Auckland regionals. The one thing that stood out to me the most was the immense feeling of community within the church. It felt like everyone was welcome, greeting one other as if we had known each other for years. The fact is everyone present was connected through the message and mission of Vinnies: helping those in need. The Vinnies Thanksgiving Mass helped me realise just how rewarding giving back to the community can be. Through the Vinnies experience, I have gained fellowship, helped those in need and gained a deeper perspective. From the Mass, the thing that stood out to me the most was not the certificate I was given, but rather the immense sense of community found within charity.

- Tiger Bernabe