Hispanic Youth & Young Adult Listening Session

An Invitation to Share Your Voice, Wisdom, and Hope

The Office of Youth and Young Adults warmly invites all those involved in Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry to gather for special listening sessions focused on the needs, hopes, and inspirations of the young Church within our Hispanic communities.

Our Hispanic families and young people bring rich faith, deep devotion, and a strong sense of community to the life of the Church. This evening is not a meeting with answers already decided—it is a sacred space for listening. We want to hear from you: What is working well in your ministry? What challenges are you facing? What dreams do you carry for accompanying Hispanic youth and young adults as they grow in faith and leadership?

This listening session is an opportunity for parish leaders, catechists, youth ministers, young adult leaders, and volunteers to share their experiences and wisdom. Your voice matters, and your insights will help shape how the Archdiocese continues to walk with and support ministries that serve our Hispanic young people.

Date: March 5, 2026
Location: St. Bartholomew
Louisville, KY
Time: 6:30–8:00 pm

and

Date: March 19, 2026
Location: St. Helen
Glasgow, KY
Time: 6:30 -8:30 pm

We hope you will join us for one of these sessions of dialogue, prayerful reflection, and collaboration as we seek to build up ministries that honor culture, strengthen faith, and nurture the next generation of disciples.

For questions or more information, please contact Jonna S. O’Bryan at the Office of Youth and Young Adults.

This event is in English. We will have Spanish translators there if/when needed.

Come, share your story. Together, let us listen to where the Spirit is leading the young Church

The Art of Speaking- Gian Gamboa

How to Speak to Teen So They Actually Listen

When you speak, do teens listen? When you share the Gospel, does it connect?

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is offering a transformative workshop designed to help Catholic youth ministers become confident, engaging, and Spirit-led communicators. Many youth ministers were never taught the art of effective speaking in ministry— we learned on the job, often wondering if our message truly landed.

This workshop is not about adding more to your plate. It’s about learning how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit each time you speak, communicate with clarity and confidence, and proclaim the Gospel in ways that engage and inspire teens.

Imagine speaking calmly and confidently, seeing teens focused and attentive, and knowing that God used your voice as His instrument.

If you’re looking to grow in how you communicate—not just what you say— this workshop is for you.

Invite Your Teens to The I Am Encounter

An Archdiocesan Evening of Encounter for High School Youth

The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry invites Youth Ministers, Campus Ministers, and Catholic Schools to partner with us in inviting young people to The I Am Encounter, a powerful evening for all students grade 8-12 taking place on March 15, 2026, from 4:00–8:30 PM.

This gathering is designed as a stand-alone encounter with Christ, rooted in encounter, belonging, and mission. Teens do not need any prior experience to attend — this night is intentionally created for every high school student, wherever they may be on their faith journey.

Event Snapshot

Event: The I Am Encounter
Date: March 15, 2026
Time: 4:00–8:30 PM
Who: All Students in grades 8th-12th are welcome
Theme: “I Am” — Because He is the great I AM, I can be…
Focus: Encounter, identity, and community

During the evening, teens will experience:

• Live music and high-energy worship
• A keynote message centered on what it means to encounter Jesus
• Teen witness talks sharing real-life faith experiences
• Breakout sessions exploring faith, service, vocation, and life in today’s world
• Prayer and reflection through Adoration with the Archbishop
• Food, fellowship, and connection with peers from across the Archdiocese

This is an opportunity for teens to pause, encounter Christ, and be reminded of who they are as beloved sons and daughters of God.

How You Can Help

Your invitation matters. Teens are far more likely to attend when they know their youth minister, campus minister, or teacher believes this night is for them.

We ask you to:

• Personally invite your 8th graders and high school students
• Encourage both active students and those on the margins to attend
• Share event information with parents and guardians
• Include this event in parish, school, and ministry communications

The I Am Encounter is not just another event on the calendar — it is an intentional moment of ministry. A moment to remind teens that they belong, they are loved, and God is still calling them.

Thank you for the ways you continue to walk with young people and for partnering with us to create spaces of encounter across our Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of Louisville’s Office of Youth and Young Adults is excited to partner with EQSaints to offer The Parent Project: Equipping Parish Leaders to Engage Parents in Discipleship. Robert Feduccia, President of EQSaints, will share a theological framework, pastoral skills, and practical tools meant to equip parish leaders to engage parents as protagonists of discipleship within their families.

The Archdiocese of Louisville invites young people age 18-35 to join us on August 1-9, 2027 for what promises to be a life-changing spiritual experience: a pilgrimage to World Youth Day (WYD) 2027 in Seoul, Korea.  Your pilgrimage Chaplains will be the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adults, Fr. Tony Cecil and Fr. John the Baptist Hoang, Chaplain of  University of Louisville Catholic Campus Ministry.

WYD is an international Catholic Church event organized by the Holy See, typically held about every two to three years in a different city. It’s a pilgrimage experience for young people, where they gather with the pope and millions of others to celebrate their faith, deepen their understanding of the Church, and strengthen their relationship with Christ.

“This incredible journey of faith and fellowship will bring together young people from around the world for a life-changing experience of Church, where our young people of the Archdiocese of Louisville can be united as one diocesan family with Fr. Tony and Fr. John the Baptist.”

The cost of the WYD pilgrimage, based on double occupancy, is $4,799 per person.  Includes: Airfare, Hotel Lodging, Daily Breakfast, WYD Meals, Daily Mass. Check the link below for details and to sign up for this incredible experience.

* Youth Ministry Calendar
* Ministry with Young Adults
* Hispanic Ministry Youth & Young Adult Page

Ministry Resources

Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry:

1200 S. Shelby St., Louisville, KY 40203-2600
Phone: 502-636-0296
Fax: (502) 636-2379
Director: Father Tony Cecil (ext. 1210) or tcecil@archlou.org
Associate Director: Jonna O’Bryan (ext. 1204) or jobryan@archlou.org
Secretary: Morgann Lucas (ext. 1223) or mlucas@archlou.org

Youth Ministry Social Media: