By JC Montenegro, PhD
(Bellflower, California) – The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) has received grant funding to reimagine how the Church accompanies young people in developing a living relationship with God. Rather than launching another youth ministry program, NFCYM invites parishes into a strategic three-year process to discern, plan, and build a parish culture where youth are truly accompanied and encouraged to grow as disciples.
Our Salesian charism has been blessed to be present in this journey. I have been serving on the formation committee and as one of the project coaches, walking with five parishes in the Archdiocese of Venice, Florida. Over these past two years, I have witnessed the hope and the challenges that come with reimagining youth ministry from the ground up. It requires patience, creativity, deep listening, and the willingness to center young people at the heart of the parish community.
The Accompaniment Project is led by Brigitte Burke, NFCYM Senior Project Manager, and supported by a dedicated team that includes coaches, a formation committee, a grants committee, and a research team. Together we work to equip parishes with training, resources, and coaching so that adults in every parish can become faith companions: accompanying youth, especially those on the margins, and building a community where they feel seen, valued, and called by God.
Last weekend, the coaching team gathered in New Orleans to reflect on our learning and discern our next steps. Parish accompaniment is beautiful work, yet it also brings real challenges. Many parishes face staff transitions, time limitations, and competing priorities. Still, the commitment of the NFCYM team is clear: to walk with parishes so that accompaniment becomes part of parish life, not an isolated ministry.
Our primary conversations this weekend focused on two areas. First, we explored practical ways to evaluate the impact of our work with young people, how to listen deeply to youth, measure growth, and ensure that our efforts truly help young people encounter Christ. Second, we reflected on the cohort training topics, being one of them the stages of evangelization and how accompaniment looks different at each moment of a young person’s journey.
With one year remaining in this structured phase of the project, we continue moving forward with great hope. The vision remains the same: to help build parishes where young people feel known, loved, and invited into discipleship. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and to continue seeking new ways to accompany more youth with the heart of Don Bosco.
