The YALs had the welcome table ready on Monday afternoon, complete with t-shirts and folders for all the delegates about to arrive.
Viatorians believe that young people invite us to be daring, creative, and imaginative and that through them new things come to life (Viatorian Spirituality 3.2.2). As part of living this out, we train Young Adult Leaders (YALs) to take charge of our Viatorian Youth Congress (VYC), a Catholic, Viatorian summer retreat for teens.
Young adults have all kinds of opportunities for travel, earning summer income, or undertaking career-oriented internships. So, in Episode 116 of Viatorian Voices, we asked this year’s leaders: why commit a week of your summer to leading VYC?
Their witness is a potent reminder of why Viatorians place so much trust and confidence in young people and dedicate ourselves to helping them become leaders.
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“Going to Saint Viator was a distinct blessing in my life that brought to me where I am, fed me spiritually, supported my growth and development,” YAL Aidan McLeod, a Saint Viator High School (Arlington Heights, IL) alumnus, said. “During the school year and summer, I see my friends all the time. I can’t come be with the Viatorian Community the same way now that I’m at college. So, VYC is a distinct opportunity for me to be around the Viatorians.”
“I know what it’s like to be a teenager growing into your faith, and all the conflicting thoughts, how much it changes you, how much it makes you doubt yourself and your faith – and how much it helps to have someone you can talk and relate to who isn’t a priest or an adult,” YAL Amanda Mallous, a St. Viator Parish School (Las Vegas) alumnus. “I really want to help with that.”
In 2023, Saint Viator High School alumni Emma Ziebka (left) and Trevor Lyon (middle) showed Br. Peter Lamick, CSV (right), around campus. Trevor hosted Br. Peter for a talk with his men’s spirituality group and then Br. Peter gathered some young adults for dinner. Everyone came together later for evening Mass, and the Jesuits celebrating Mass invited Br. Peter up to greet the congregation.
In addition to young alumni of our schools and parish youth ministries, we have a few leaders who met us through our wider outreach. YAL Felipe Moreno of Orem, UT, met Viatorians at our exhibit booth at SEEK, a Catholic young adult conference, and YAL Cecilia Wiedel met the Viatorians through our campus visits to her school, Creighton University, where she is friends with Saint Viator High School alumni, including fellow YAL Trevor Lyon. “The Viatorians have a very vivacious charism – live life to the fullest by going where God wants you to go,” Cecilia said. “VYC is a combination of a lot of things I love: travel, retreat, youth, and the Viatorians. So, I said yes!”
Episode 116 and the full Viatorian Voices archive is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
VYC 2026 began today at Casa Iskali – Our Lady of Guadalupe Campus in Des Plaines, IL. Delegations of teens from schools and parishes in Illinois and Nevada came with campus and youth ministers and other adult chaperones for the four-day program that runs through Thursday afternoon.