Our program is deeply founded in Saint John Paul IInd’s message to young people throughout
the world, and prompted by the question asked by the first disciples in the Gospel of John:
“Teacher, where are you staying?” and Jesus’ response: “Come and see.” (John 1:38–39).
The invitation to draw near to Christ, to encounter Him personally, and to follow Him stands at
the heart of our ministry. In a world marked by rapid change, uncertainty, and competing ideas
about life and truth, the Church continues to point young people toward Jesus Christ, “the same
yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), who alone offers answers.
Inspired by this call, the St. Maria Goretti Youth Ministry is built around three principles drawn
from the themes of St. John Paul II’s message to young people: Made for More, Authenticity,
and Witness.

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Made for More

In his letter to young people, Pope John Paul II spoke about the deep questions that arise in the
human heart in the face of life, death, and the uncertainty of the modern world. While cultures
and ideologies may change, the word of God remains firm and continues to offer light and truth.
Christ Himself is the answer to the longing of the human heart.
Our program invites teens to recognize that their lives are not random or without purpose. By
fixing their eyes on Jesus, young people begin to discover that they were created for something
greater, that they are called to encounter the Everlasting Way, Truth, and Life, in the Person of
Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

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Authenticity

The Kerygma of the faith does not happen in a vacuum, where one is alone and without the love
and support of their fellow believers. Faith is to be lived in the beautiful encounter with one
another, where through fellowship, discussion, and the formation of transformative relationships,
we all come to see the profound truth that we are united in the Body of Christ. In this truth, we
can fully live out the beauty of the message found within the Book of Proverbs, “Iron is
sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another.”

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Witness

At the crux of the Church movement throughout the past century is the Universal call to Holiness
- the belief that sanctity isn’t reserved for priests and religious, but for the entirety of Christ’s
flock. To this end, our ministry believes deeply in the importance of the witness of faith.
Through the examples of leaders and volunteers deeply rooted in Christ’s calling, the teens in our
program encounter the true beauty of the Gospel, and that faith isn’t something abstract and
sentimental, but a transcendental truth lived out in every aspect of one’s life.