By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic

MIAMI GARDENS | Dear young Catholics: The Church sees you. 
That was a major takeaway for Isabelle Seiglie, 24, from the recent International Congress of Youth Ministry near Rome. 

About 300 young adult ministers from 110 countries attended the three-day gathering this spring, organized by the Vatican Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life. They heard top-level Church officers discuss new ways to empower and work with younger believers.

“The whole thing was unforgettable,” said Seiglie, back at St. Thomas University, STU, where she directs ministry programs. “We came home comforted, rejuvenated, feeling connected with something bigger than ourselves.”

Seiglie represented the United States in the conference. The only other American representatives were Father Rafael Capó, vice president of mission and campus ministry at STU, and two representatives from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB: Maria Parker and Paul Jarzembowski.

The sessions took place May 23-25, mostly at Casa di Accoglienza in Ciampino, Italy. One subject was “synodal youth ministry,” which Seiglie said was about listening to the Holy Spirit and to one another.

Also discussed was “accompaniment,” with older Catholics working alongside youths rather than directing them. On that matter, the Archdiocese of Miami was actually ahead of many others, Seiglie said. “It’s second nature to us,” she added.

Conferees reviewed World Youth Day 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal, then looked ahead to the next one in Seoul, South Korea in 2027. They also observed the fifth anniversary of “Christus Vivit,” Pope Francis’ message to young people.

Finally, the attendees got a heads-up on the Holy Year Jubilee of Young People, held every 25 years in Rome, and scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 3, 2025.

The congress was part of a process launched by the world’s bishops in 2018: developing structures to listen to younger Church members, plus sharing new ways to work with them.

This past June, U.S. bishops approved guidelines for youth ministries. Titled “Listen, Teach, Send,” the 48-page document was a response to “Christus Vivit.”

The very interest from top Vatican officers impressed and encouraged Seiglie, she said: a recognition that people her age can help lead and drive progress.

“It was about ministry with young people, not for them,” she said. “Some people feel there’s no space for young people in the Church. So, the message is: Do it yourself. Make the Church what you want it to be.”

Seiglie was a clear choice to represent the U.S. at the congress. She had drawn the attention of USCCB for her leadership at national gatherings including representing young adults at a 2022 conference of the National Catholic Council of Hispanic Ministry in Washington, D.C., helping lead catechesis, as part of the STU delegation, at the 2023 World Youth Day in Lisbon, Portugal, and taking part in several Zoom dialogues this year between Jewish and Catholic young adults.

She brings a strong South Florida element to the meetings and a family tradition of youth service. A second-generation Cuban American, she grew up attending St. John Neumann Church and St. Brendan High School, both in Miami. Both her parents and grandparents had led in youth ministry as well.

At STU, Seiglie earned a master’s degree in ministry and leadership and is working toward a Ph.D. in theology and leadership there.

“We weren't surprised that the USCCB reached out for her participation,” Father Capó said. “Hispanic Latinos are the emergent majority of the Catholic Church in the United States. It’s important to have them at all levels.”

For Seiglie, just mixing with other youths crystallized what the Rome gathering was about. She struck up friendships with people from Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria and Croatia.

She recalled break times when everyone gathered outdoors. Some chatted in groups, some danced in a circle, some held a parade of flags from their nations.

“It was the camaraderie of being around young people who were all on fire, passionate about being young Catholics,” she said.

Another highlight, naturally, was Seiglie’s two meetings with Pope Francis: one during a general audience, the other along with the other attendees at Clementine Hall, in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican.

At the general audience, Seiglie and Father Capó gave the Holy Father two books on student prayer and Catholic identity – both of them edited and produced by herself.

At the other encounter, Seiglie gave the pope her handmade crocheted version of Our Lady Undoer of Knots. His eyes lit up: “Oh, it’s mine?” he said.

Back home, her job now will be to share her experience with STU students next academic year. The goal will be determining how to mobilize for ministry.

“I want to get the conversations going,” Seiglie said. “I want them to see that we are capable of building the Church that we want to see.”