Outside of church/spiritual life, I enjoy exercising, taking walks through my neighborhood (I’ve become friends with a dog down the street…lol), reading books, creative writing, puzzles, hanging out with friends, dancing, going to the beach, and traveling. I would love to spend more time traveling. 🙂

I decided to become a GYM mentor because I wanted to share my own, imperfect spiritual journey with the youth. I wanted to show them that they don’t have to have it all figured out or have all the answers…that your spiritual journey is a life-long walk with Christ. It’s messy, and it’s never perfect. But it’s up to us to keep showing up. A highlight in working with the youth in GYM has been the mentorship and bonding with the group of girls I mentor. I love our discussions, witnessing their growth and insights, and I pray that they are inspired to make their faith a priority in their own lives. When they show up to sessions excited that they practiced prayer for a week, I know that I’m making a difference. It’s the small moments that make being a GYM mentor worth it

I love to surf, hike, and go kayaking!
My highlight in walking with these youth is watching each one of them grow and have this growing interest in our Lord.

When I’m not at church, I enjoy spending time at the gym—the one where you actually lift weights I also find joy in journaling, listening to health and wellness podcasts, and occasionally strumming my guitar.

Growing up, I was blessed to be part of a vibrant youth group. Those years were filled with learning about God and building friendships with other young people who were also seeking a deeper relationship with Christ. Being exposed to young adults who were passionate and on fire for their faith made a lasting impact on my spiritual journey.

Now, as the opportunity has come for me to serve the youth in GYM, I feel called to play my part in sharing the Gospel, just as Jesus commanded us to do. It is an even greater blessing that I get to walk this path of ministry alongside my wife. My hope is that through ministry, even one person might come to know the depth of God’s love. For me, that would be more than enough.

I love outdoor activities such as hanging out at the beach and visiting National Parks. My goal is to visit all 63 National Parks…11 down, 52 more to go!

I have truly enjoyed working as a confirmation youth leader this past year. I loved seeing members in my group forming friendships and deepening their faith together throughout the program. I felt called to volunteer so I could bring my perspective as a young adult Catholic to relate to the youth.

I’m blessed to be a fellow member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and excited to be back serving in the GYM youth ministry program—a ministry that helped shape my own faith when I was younger.

Outside of church, I love diving into new worlds through gaming, reading, and exploring the vibrant stories of anime and manga. I’m passionate about helping young people grow closer to Christ and discover the joy of living out their faith.

I’m looking forward to journeying with GYM as we build community, deepen our spirituality, and have some fun along the way!

Why do you feel called to serve in Youth Ministry? I’ve always received help from my older mentors and I think it’s time to teach what I can to enrich our youth as I have been. Outside of OLG I like running, replaying all of my favorite songs and of course hugging bears.

Hi, I’m Ariana and I joined the discipleship to help others, and myself, get closer to God. I’ve always been very passionate about working with the youth so I’m excited for what’s to come this season!