Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Vincentian Marian Youth (VMY) Association?

The Vincentian Marian Youth Association is an international association of young people that began in 1830 at the request of the Blessed Mother Mary.  Mother Mary transmitted a message to Saint Catherine Laboure and asked that an Association for the young be founded, where Mother Mary will "pour out many graces".  Today, VMY has 110,000 members in 65 different countries, and VMY is under Canon Law.

The Vincentian Marian Youth Association, Province of the West, is based in Los Altos Hills, California, and supports thirteen Western states in the United States.

The mission of VMY is to help youths grow closer to Mary, Jesus, each other, and the poor.

How is VMY different from other youth ministries?

VMY does not belong to any parish or diocese.  This is VMY's greatest benefit.  VMY has the ability and necessary resources to bring youth groups from all over the world to participate in projects, which can range from serving food at a nearby homeless shelter to taking a missionary trip to help the poor in a developing country.  VMY, in a sense, serves as an umbrella organization to help bring youth groups together to achieve a common goal:  to love Mother Mary, Jesus, and each other, especially the abandoned and the poor.

While each group has its own strengths and talents, when the groups come together, VMY hopes that barriers are broken.  There is no "my group is better than yours" feeling.  Rather, there is a feeling of a larger community, the worldwide Church, coming together to serve God and each other.

What age group does VMY serve?

VMY serves people of all ages.  Typically, VMY members are from 13 through 40 years of age.  If you are under 13 or over 40 (and you are still "young at heart"), you are more than welcome to take part in VMY.

Why should I join VMY?

If you want a chance to grow closer to Mother Mary and Jesus, a chance to nurture your spirituality, a chance to meet a lot of interesting, young people like yourself, a chance to lessen the sufferings of your fellow brothers and sisters, a chance to develop your leadership skills, a chance to go to beautiful places at very little or no cost, and a chance to have an AWESOME and FUN time, then YOU SHOULD JOIN VMY.

Do I have to be a Catholic to join VMY?

VMY participants, and the individuals that VMY serves, can be of any religious background. However, VMY members must be Catholics.

Is there a fee to join VMY?

No.  It is free to join VMY.

What are the requirements to join VMY?

To be an active member, you must:

• Commit yourself to the Christian and Vincentian lifestyle.  In other words, you must love the Christian faith and follow its teachings, and you must love the poor and try your best to serve the poor whenever possible.
• Have a sincere desire to help build the Church and to work towards the betterment of yourself and those less fortunate than you.
• Take part one time in the Annual Marian Consecration Ceremony.
• Try your best to attend the meetings and participate in the activities of the Association.
• Carry out a task, when you volunteer for it, conscientiously and to the best of your abilities.

Please note that you do not have to be an active member to participate in VMY's events.  To participate in a VMY event, you just have to register for the event and follow the guidelines stipulated for the event.

What are the time commitments to join VMY?

This depends completely on how active you are.

• If you volunteer to be a core team member, more time will be needed of you, especially when the upcoming event requires your attention.
• If you are a member, but you are not on a core team, you only need to help with the event for which you have signed up.

Please note that if you just want to join VMY on an event but not become a member, then you just need to register for the event and come have fun with the youths.

How do I join VMY?

To join VMY, please call (650) 949-8919.

Do I need to fill out a Release and Waiver Form in order to attend one of your events?

Yes.  If you are under 18 years of age, please have your parent or a legal guardian fill it out.  If you are 18 and over, you can fill out the form yourself.  To print out a Release and Waiver Form, please select Resources.

I direct a youth group.  I would like to integrate VMY into my program.  I also want to ensure that my group retains its identity.  How do I integrate my group with VMY and still maintain my group's identity?

VMY has no intention of "pulling" you away from your group.  We do not ask that you to take on VMY's identity while losing yours.  In fact, out of the four goals that we have, goal #4 clearly states that VMY intends to help you become more invested in your parish or diocese.  Therefore, when you integrate your group with VMY, we prefer that you retain your group's identity and continue with your work.  VMY is, after all, an umbrella organization created to assist youth groups such as yours.

We do ask, however, that you add on "Vincentian Marian Youth" to your group's name.  This helps us tremendously when we book facilities for your group's use, or when we coordinate events that involve many groups (which is typically the case).

Also, we ask that your group adheres to the principles of VMY, which most likely you are already doing.  VMY's principles are simple:  to love Mother Mary and Jesus, and to love and serve the Poor when possible.

I would like to form a VMY Association in my parish.  Can you help?

We will do our best to help you in whatever ways we can.  Please call us at (650) 949-8919.

What are some of your events?  How do I register?

Please select Events.  There, you will find information on upcoming events and how to register.

Will pictures be taken at your events?  What if I do not want my picture taken or used?

We will never use your picture in any of our printed literature (e.g., brochure, flyer, newsletter, website) without your explicit consent.

At each event, when you check in at the registration desk, you will be given a form.  On this form, you can deny or give us the permission to use your pictures.  If you are under 18 years of age, your parents must give us the permission.

Please note that VMY is sponsored by the Daughters of Charity.  We exist to help youths and the Poor, and we were formed to provide resources.  We do not make any money, and we have no intention of using your picture for any financial, material, or other gain.  If you do give us the permission to use your pictures, be assured that we use them for only honorable and legitimate causes (e.g., in a newsletter sent to VMY members).

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