WASHINGTON — Catholic teens from the San Diego Diocese will head to Africa this month.
Hector Saldaña, Natalie Myers, Tim Rivette and Valeria Torres — all parishioners of St. Patrick Parish in Carlsbad – will join Catholic Relief Services on a synodal delegation to Ghana.
On Aug. 15, they will travel to Baltimore to join the other delegates. The following day, they will depart for Ghana, where they will learn about the health services that CRS provides to various communities, meet with a local diocesan school to learn about emergency response efforts, visit a local clinic and water sanitation facility, and more. They will come home Aug. 23.
The four teens are members of the National Youth Advisory Council, a diverse group of young people who speak on behalf of the youth of the United States to ensure that the voices of young people are integrated into the mission and work of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). The members represent various parts of the country and cultures.
The federation is a broad, nationally recognized leadership alliance for Catholic youth ministry. Its mission is to “support and strengthen those who accompany young people as they encounter and follow Jesus Christ.”
“The opportunity to participate in this synodal delegation is absolutely exciting for these young people. This experience allows them to see the Universal Church and the Gospel in action firsthand at such a young age,” said Natalie Ibarra, who joined the federation staff as communications manager in 2022 and will be part of the delegation.
Ibarra, a member of the same parish as the four youth, previously served for eight years as youth and young adult ministry coordinator at Mission San Luis Rey Parish in Oceanside.
“My hope is that each young person will grow in faith, leadership and solidarity through this experience,” she said. “I hope they return inspired and equipped to share their experience with their local peers. I also hope they gain confidence as advocates for justice and as witnesses to how the Gospel transforms lives, wherever they live.”
National Youth Advisory Council members participating in the delegation will formally share their experience in their parish communities and at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in November in Indianapolis.
Archbishop Nelson Perez, chair of Catholic Relief Services and the federation’s episcopal advisor, invited the National Youth Advisory Council participants to join the delegation.
“I can’t think of a more powerful opportunity for our young Church to witness firsthand the transformative work of the Gospel in action,” said Archbishop Perez, who also leads the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. “This synodal delegation will not only deepen their understanding of global solidarity and human dignity, but also empower them to become bold witnesses of faith and justice in their own communities.”
For more information, visit nfcym.org.
