Listening leads to belonging

Editor’s note: The Franciscan Provincial Synod held in January 2025 inspired eight priorities for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Priority 3 commits to “listening to and accompanying young adults.” 

The province recently established an Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and hired director Chris Rivera to develop a shared framework for ministry to young people. In the article below, Chris describes how one parish is striving to help young people feel a sense of belonging. He shares his experience accompanying this community during a recent retreat and listening session.  

Also – YOU are invited to a virtual listening session to help shape the future of Franciscan youth and young adult ministry. Whether you are a young person, parent, minister or parish leader, your voice matters. Register below to share your thoughts, listen and discern with us a brighter future. 

• Tuesday, March 10 at 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time (Click to register)  
• Wednesday, March 11 at 6:45 p.m. Pacific Time (Click to register)  

A shared Gospel mission  

Spend time with St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland, and its mission in nearby Langley Park, and one thing becomes clear quickly: this is not a ‘main site plus an extra location.’ It is one parish identity expressed in two places, serving a wider body of families with a shared Gospel mission. 

That shared mission is especially visible in Langley Park, where immigrant families often navigate housing instability, demanding work schedules, language barriers and the daily strain of building a life with limited margin. St. Camillus’ response is not theoretical. It is pastoral, practical and consistent, including collaboration with Catholic Charities to meet needs with dignity and accompaniment. 

Those same realities show up in the voices of St. Camillus youth and young adults who participated in the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s Listening, Belonging & Mission survey. Respondents reported a strong experience of welcome (average 4.71/5) and peer connection (average 4.29/5). At the same time, they rated how well the Church understands young people’s realities at 3.71/5, a solid score that still leaves room for deeper listening. 

What helps and what doesn’t 

When asked what helps them feel connected, youth most often pointed to small groups, mentors/trusted adults, being listened to, and a clear call for smaller circles within the larger parish, where young people can be known, heard, and supported. 

They also named the pressure points that make participation difficult: work or school demands, busy schedules, feeling judged or misunderstood. In other words, young people aren’t asking for more noise; they’re asking for clearer pathways and consistent invitations that work in real life. 

That clarity is exactly what St. Camillus is working to strengthen by unifying ministries that serve students and families. Rather than operating in silos, the parish is building a more integrated pastoral framework, anchored in a family-centered approach. This reflects the reality that faith is nurtured first at home, and youth discipleship flourishes when parents, students, catechists and youth leaders share a common pathway. 

Survey responses affirm that direction. The most frequently named growth areas included mental health and wellbeing, community and belonging, social justice and care for creation, underscoring how urgently young people want the Church to speak about what they are carrying and to respond with accompaniment rather than assumptions. 

Under the leadership of Br. Daniel Cruz, OFM, youth ministry at St. Camillus is built on empowered youth leaders, rather than a schedule of events. Peer and adult ministers are formed to serve the community and evangelize their peers with credibility. 

This culture was on full display at their Feb. 22 youth retreat. Nearly 150 youth attended, supported by almost 20 peer and adult ministers. The retreat invited young people to respond to the Gospel during Lent through prayer, fasting and almsgiving — not as self-improvement, but as discipleship training. 

Notably, when asked what they would most like to participate in, youth respondents prioritized retreats, small faith-sharing groups and social gatherings — aligning closely with what the parish is already doing to build community through shared experiences and faith-sharing.  

Franciscan identity also emerged as both strength and opportunity. Respondents rated the visibility of Franciscan identity at an average of 3.17/5, with some describing Franciscan life in terms of humility and kindness and others less sure how to name it. There is an opportunity to highlight the roots of the Franciscan tradition that provide the foundation for our ministry. 

One young person captured the heart of youth ministry this way: “Give us a space to be ourselves and come together as community.” 

Another emphasized belonging across stages: “Having groups for different types of age groups make them feel involved.” 

As St. Camillus continues to unify ministries, strengthen family-centered formation and form peer leaders, the message from its youth is clear: keep building smaller circles inside the bigger parish, keep widening the welcome and keep making room for real life. When the Church feels like community — and when leaders listen well — young people don’t just attend. They belong.