Daisy Morales, center, with VYC delegates in 2014, and delegation leader, Jim Dippold, upper left
Daisy Morales points to the Viatorian Youth Congress as one of the experiences that shaped her life. As a student at Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, she attended the congress as a delegate, young adult leader and as one of two young adult coordinators in 2014.
Now, a college graduate from Trinity Christian College, located in South suburban Chicago, Daisy returned this fall to her alma mater, armed with her psychology degree and expansive volunteer background — to give back.
Daisy Morales, second from right, and Nick Smeriglio, right, co-led the 2014 Viatorian Youth Congress
Morales recently was named Assistant Campus Minister and theology teacher at CRSM. In that role, she will teach sophomore theology, and work alongside Campus Minister Jim Dippold in guiding students on retreats, spiritual reflection and volunteering in the community.
“I am passionate about helping young girls explore their spirituality,” Daisy says, “especially because high school can be really tough.”
She adds, that if eight years ago, as a young, naive freshman, someone were to tell her how much her high school experience would shape her life — spiritually, academically, and professionally — she have done so much more as a student.
Young Daisy Morales, far left, attends her first VYC in 2011 with classmates
Her experience attending the youth congress, she adds — with more than 60 high school and college aged students from sites where Viatorians minister across the country — helped convince her of the need to serve others and share the impact a strong faith life.
“Those developmental years are important,” she adds, “and I am blessed to be trusted to form the minds of current students and promote that message.”
Associate Karen Cutler, director of the Viatorian Youth Congress, says Daisy was a positive role model for her peers right from her first year as a delegate.
“Cristo Rey St. Martin is blessed to have her return,” Cutler says, “to continue to share her faith with others.”