The night of Dec. 11, 2024, youth and campus ministers were honored by the diocesan Office for Evangelization at Appreciation Night. A cocktail hour and dinner at the Richmond Marriott followed Mass at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Peter, Richmond, celebrated by Bishop Barry C. Knestout.
“[Our youth ministers] do so much for us as a Church,” said Katie Yankoski, associate director for youth and young adults.
“Everyone wants good programming and things like that, but our youth ministers are really good at accompanying our youth – not just accompanying them to an event, but accompanying them as they become closer to Christ,” Yankoski added.
Laura LaClair, associate director for campus ministry, noted that campus ministry is essential, as it’s offered at the time when young people are becoming adults.
“Our campus ministers are walking with our college students at an incredibly pivotal time in their lives,” she said. “It’s important that we get together to recognize their hard work.”
During his homily, Bishop Knestout reflected on the opportunities and challenges of working with young people.
“The energy and vibrancy of youth can be a source of renewal for us, but it can be also a challenge to keep up with,” said the bishop. “Young people have their whole lives ahead of them – there’s that hope and anticipation of things to come.”
“Let us always keep in mind that all that we do, whether it’s work or rest, it all should be directed towards eternal life, towards the fullness of life and love in God’s kingdom,” Bishop Knestout added. “We ask the Lord to assist us in all our work, that we might offer this full perspective to those young people for whom we care.”
Connecting point for campus ministers
Appreciation Night capped off a full day for those who serve in the diocese’s Catholic Campus Ministry. The diocesan Office for Evangelization hosted the annual Campus Ministry Winter Meeting Dec. 11, 2024, at the Pastoral Center, Richmond.
This year, 42 people in campus ministry, including campus ministers, campus development directors, and FOCUS missionaries, attended the daylong meeting. The gathering included professional development, Mass, lunch with Bishop Barry C. Knestout, and time to pray with – and for – each other, said Laura LaClair, associate director for campus ministry.
“Over the years, the campus ministers have developed a strong sense of community,” she said.
This year, the campus ministers were invited to Appreciation Night with the youth ministers of the diocese. “In campus ministry, we definitely benefit from the hard work of youth ministers and youth volunteers,” LaClair said. “So it was really nice to be able to celebrate as a group of people who are trying to care for people throughout their life of faith.”
Chris Spilka, director of campus ministry at Virginia Commonwealth University, was one of the attendees. “The greatest part about our Campus Ministry Winter Meeting is that I get to connect with other ministry leaders who till the same soil that God has tasked me with,” he said.
“Campus ministry is not normally a job that is easy to chat about with those that you come to meet at your local pub,” Spilka explained. “So, coming together and being surrounded by those who have had similar experiences … is refreshing!”