Campus Ministry
The month of October marks the first of the monthly meetings for
the V.I.T.A.L. experience — a leadership program
grounded in faith and a strong commitment to service of
others. It is a time when first year students are welcomed
into the program and upper classman continue their commitment to
the V.I.T.A.L. program and their peers.
This academic term marks the 13th year that the
V.I.T.A.L. experience has enabled students to
discern God’s call and encourage them to influence society in their
field of study and life’s work. Membership focuses on developing
spiritual values, Vincentian leadership skills and a strong
commitment to service rooted in faith. As
V.I.T.A.L. students commit to the program for each
year, he/she are offered unique opportunities to build community
with other members, deepen personal insights through values-based
exercises and develop a lifelong commitment to serving God’s
poor.
The first year experience focuses on issues and concerns of
first-time college students. The meetings different themes
include “Following your Heart to Happiness”, “A Reflection on
Service,” and “Academic Integrity;” to name a few.
Every night is guaranteed to offer the opportunity to be in
thoughtful conversation and fun experiential learning activities to
illuminate the night’s theme. The second year program asks its
members to focus on personal values — how they live their values,
share their values and use their values in the everyday, while
always asking him/her to consider how it is grounded in
faith.
The third year experience walks its members through a discern
process — helping students to consider three “vital” questions -
what brings them joy, what are they good at, what does the world
need. This year also offers its members the opportunity to be
paired with a V.I.T.A.L. mentor, a graduate of the
Vincentian Mission Certificate (VMC), to assist in
the discernment process of reflection. By all accounts, this mentor
experience has truly made this year a special one in the lives of
our mentors and V.I.T.A.L. 3 members.
The forth and final year takes our students through a journey to
look back at where they have come from, and then asks them to
consider where they are going — always making sure to help him/her
keep rooted in faith. Also, they are now afforded the opportunity
to serve as a mentor to our first year students to help cultivate
and inspire him/her to live a V.I.T.A.L.
life.
While each year has a specific focus, service is also a “vital”
part of the experience. Every member is challenged to make
sure Vincentian service is a part of his/her life. How service is
manifested differs for each year.
A V.I.T.A.L. graduate recently reflected,
“V.I.T.A.L. has taught me to apply the skills I
have gained throughout my life and use them to serve others in ways
I never saw possible. Through service opportunities and
monthly meetings, I have learned about the person I am and the
person I want to become.”
For more information or to get an application, call (718)
990-2680.