I really wanted to grow in relationship with other young adults who are passionate (about social justice) in similar ways and it’s been amazing to get to know all of these people. It gave me some kind of foundation or grounding during the pandemic.
The community helps you look inward to see what barriers may prevent you from seeing all as a human family. It helps you grow into the person God is calling you to be — and loving and serving others in a specific way. (It helps you discover) what your call is and how to be in solidarity with people globally and locally. … One of the most significant impacts was this idea of noticing a disturbance and then how to sit with that. In the past, I’ve been more hesitant to go out to my margins or go to places that caused me some kind of discomfort. So it’s a helpful way for me to remind myself to lean into that discomfort, learning to be okay with it, and that’s still an ongoing process. That has been the number one thing, in addition to feeling like I am where God wants me to be and saying ‘yes’ to this process of growth and transformation.
Maryknoll is a home that I didn’t know I was looking for. I hope to continue to lean into the process, grow from it and give back.

To be part of a community—having peers to share your experiences with and having feedback from people on the same page—means a lot. I was looking to be part of a community as I moved to the United States (from Bolivia) and left my comfort zone. I wanted to find people who have the same motivations in terms of working at the service of God … This (YAE community) is an intentional group, and that is why I am here.
I knew of many tools like emotional intelligence and Theory U because of my previous work (at the Maryknoll Mission Center in Cochabamba, Bolivia). And I can see how valuable this can be for people. I did not learn these things while I was a student or when I worked at a bank. I saw this with Maryknoll, but this is a refresher that … allows looking within and developing intuition and collective creativity.
It is important to find people who think like you, work to grow spirituality in faith, and acquire the tools to help you at your parish, diocese or mission sites. This Maryknoll program makes you aware of other realities beyond the United States, like in Asia and Africa. It also exposes you to enriching things like immersion trips. It can even help someone in a discernment process.

We are a hopeful people of God and this (YAE) community has helped me to remember that. It is really easy in the world today, especially in a pandemic, to see only the wounds, to see only the struggles … God calls us to see the brokenness in the world and to help heal.
I wanted to have conversations around how my faith called me to live in the world in a specific way. … The call of the Gospel is the call of love in action, a call to encounter others, especially those on the margins and to be in relationship.
[It’s] a way of understanding of how to be Catholic and what that looks like in the world.
This (two-year program) is an opportunity for you to come together with other young adults who share your faith, who want to learn how your faith moves and embodies you in the modern world, and what that looks like in all aspects of your life — in what you’re called to be and to do and to live. It’s an opportunity to be authentic, grow together, explore Christ’s love, read the Scriptures, and read it in powerful ways. (I found) parts of my faith I didn’t know were missing until I came to this community.

I knew about Maryknoll as the missioners overseas, and I have a lot of Orbis books…. But for the last two years, we learned about this charism that we are all called to examine our margins and the circles of encounter, and that we are called to real lived faith. Maryknoll missionaries …share that joy for Jesus and the Gospel. The joy that I see in everyone who is a part of Maryknoll has been beautiful. As Pope Francis says, we shouldn’t look just like Good Friday people, but we need to be joyful.
My relationship with Maryknoll has inspired me. The process itself and building community have been transformational. Remembering how we live mission in the U.S. and how we live mission in their communities and abroad—I think we have grown in understanding that better.
Immersing myself and listening to the realities and then reflecting on my own personal perspective has made me a better leader, listening and just accompanying people. … I think there is a real thirst, a need to find spaces or opportunities for encounter with Jesus. (To learn what inspires Karen to accompany other young people in her diocese, go to “Walking Together.”)