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Where Are We Going?
Where Are We Going?
August - September 2025
Hi Friends!
The following covers the Jubilee of Youth, the Pelican Narrows summer mission, and my time spent with the JY communities in Toronto and Winnipeg. I’ve included the links to the scrapbook here: Italy, Summer-2025.
Jubilee of Youth
Jubilee of Youth
After the mission trip to Cambodia and five intense days of back-to-back travel, I joined 17 young adults from Jesus Youth Canada on a pilgrimage to Italy for the Jubilee of Youth. We began with the Jesus Youth International Youth Forum in Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis—our patron saint.
The forum brought together over 160 young leaders from around the world. Entirely organized by youth, with mentorship from elders, it was a space of prayer, reflection, dialogue, and communion. There were powerful moments of worship, Holy Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and even a pilgrimage to the tombs of St. Francis, St. Clare and St. Carlo Acutis. In between, there were times for gelato, late-night walks through Assisi, and heartfelt conversations. The forum reminded us that Jesus Youth is a Spirit-led mission that's very much alive across the globe.
Following the forum, we joined over a million other pilgrims for the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. We walked through the four Holy Doors at the major basilicas, saw the Pope drive by, prayed with him and the wider church during the night vigil followed by probably the world's largest sleepover! The final Mass with the Holy Father was powerful, to experience the universal Church gathered in unity and joy.
Time with JY Toronto
Time with JY Toronto
With a bit of time before the next mission trip, I visited Jesus Youth communities around Toronto. It’s always inspiring to see the movement realities in various places; different yet uniquely JY. Whether meeting new faces or reconnecting with old friends, there's always a familiar undercurrent of joy and mission—it’s like picking up right where we left off.
Pelican Narrows Mission
Pelican Narrows Mission
Soon after, I joined eight other missionaries from the U.S. and Canada for a mission trip to Pelican Narrows, a First Nations community in northern Saskatchewan. We spent our time celebrating life, faith, and culture—engaging with elders, families, and especially children through games, skits, and crafts.
The mission was deeply moving. We encountered stories that were both beautiful and heart-wrenching. For many of us, it was difficult to process the deep wounds shared by members of the community. Our mission was not just to teach catechesis, but to love as Christ loves—through presence, listening, and compassion.
Back to USA
Back to USA
After the mission, I packed up and moved back to Chicago. But before that, I spent meaningful time with the Jesus Youth community in Winnipeg—my home away from home during my time in Canada. I also had a chance to visit elders and families from Pukatawagan, and even ran into the local fire chief (whom I hadn't seen since the forest fires in June). He invited me to lead a team prayer the next day. With some Holy Water for people to bless themselves, we joined in prayer and entrusted the community and leadership to God. This moment was unexpected but good closure for my chapter in Canada. Right after, I met with Archbishop Murray to debrief the past few months, received his blessing—and two hours later, I was on a plane home to Chicago, where I stayed for two weeks before heading to Florida.
With so much travel, and transition, happening all at once, I started slipping into the autopilot—just going through the motions. I realized I wasn’t fully locked in. I was present physically, but spiritually and mentally, I felt scattered.
Coming to Florida gave me a chance to pause. The first few days were dedicated to quiet prayer and reflection while staying at St Vincent DePaul seminary with guidance of Fr Benedict. I looked back over the past year and was overwhelmed by the many ways the Lord had led, provided, and remained faithful. From that time of retreat, a simple question emerged in prayer:
“Where are we going?”
When asked about stepping into full-time volunteering work, the common response was it was something that came through prayer. At its core, it was a response to the Lord’s leading—a willingness to follow where He was calling. This question isn't limited to just geography; it extends into the everyday, on how with Jesus we love our neighbor, engage with society, and choose to love in the ordinary. Missionary life becomes an ongoing response to that same invitation: to live in surrender, and to daily take up the cross and follow Him.
Jesus is going to Ecuador—and I'm following Him there.
That’s it for now, till next time.
With Love,
Josh
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