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young latino woman lives her faith day by day

Story and photo by LIZ QUIRIN
Messenger editor

Young and enthusiastic about her faith, Gloria de Avila of Holy Rosary Parish in Fairmont City said she was not always so outgoing and determined about her life.

The 21-year-old said she has joined a group of young adults from three parishes — two in St. Louis along with Holy Rosary — that has offered her opportunities to grow in her faith and strengthened it as well.

The group, Teotokos, has 30-40 active young adults who meet on Sunday afternoons to discuss the day’s Scripture, to pray, to talk about their faith and to plan for an annual four-day retreat in August called Jornadas. Teotokos is affiliated with a national group called Movemiento de Jornadas de Vida Christiana, she said.

During Lent, the group is presenting live contemporary Stations of the Cross at the three parishes. They will present the stations at Holy Rosary on Good Friday.

“I’m Mary Magdalen,” she said. “The first time you do it, you’re nervous, and then (after practice and getting into the role), it makes you feel good” to portray the saint.

Gloria’s pastor at Holy Rosary, Father David Wilke, said Gloria is an asset to the parish. “She teaches in our religious education program,” he said. “She’s really good, dedicated and conscientious.”

Father Wilke is pleased that Gloria is sharing her talents with the parish. “Ask her to do anything, and she’s ready to do it,” he said.

Gloria said she has “learned so much” about herself through her participation in the Jornadas and the meetings.

“I learned I have to take risks, take that step” in faith. I have to be me.”

A friend invited to her a Lenten retreat last year, and she said she was reluctant to go, but the girl was a friend. Not wanting to disappoint her, Gloria said “yes.” At first, she wondered why she had agreed to go. “I thought I was alone, and then I went and found out I wasn’t,” she said.

Many young adults “are lost and looking for something,” Gloria said. Now, she extends the invitation to “come and see” to other young adults. “There’s more to life than one more party.”

Gloria said her mother is a woman of great faith and as she was growing up, she didn’t understand why her mother “was so spiritual.” Her mother has always been her role model, and now her mother’s faith strengthens and deepens Gloria’s faith.

“Young people need guidance and support in their faith,” Gloria said. Their parents can do that for their children and encourage them to take opportunities to learn more about their faith.

In addition, a group like Teotokos can help young people express their faith without shyness or hesitation. Often, she said, young people want to be part of a group and perhaps they feel uncomfortable talking about their faith.

“The whole point of Teotokos is evangelization of young people through other young people,” she said. “We invite them and share our faith with them.”

Gloria said she has spoken with her two older sisters about her faith. “I get so excited when I talk to them,” she said.

Gloria, with nine other young adults have started a youth group for 11-17-year-olds at Holy Rosary. Through this kind of evangelization, she said she is making a contribution to the faith community, her own and that of the youth who participate.

“It’s very rewarding,” she said. “Everybody has their own story. We sit down and share with this person and we give them our attention.” Ofteh, it makes them thing and reflect about themselves” and their own faith.

Members of Teotokos share their faith and prepare for the Jornadas all year, she said. The group and her growth in faith has “made a difference in the rest of my life. Now I can’t wait for Sundays.”

When she was growing up people asked her what she wanted to do with her life. As a child, she said she wanted to work as “the ice cream man.” That idea changed as she grew, but it wasn’t replaced with any real goals until she began to explore and expand her faith in Teotokos.

Now, she said she will go to college and graduate. She will continue to participate in Teotokos and share her faith with others. “I want to be a role model to my two little brothers, with action, not just by talking to them.”

Her advice to young people: “Don’t be afraid to be yourself; take some risks” that will help you grow and deepen your faith.

Her advice to parents: “Support your children; sometimes you have to let them do things for themselves, make their own mistakes because sometimes we hear our parents’ advice but we can’t always learn from our parents’ experiences; we need our own.”

Gloria said she “lives in the present but has formed goals for the future.” Those goals include continuing to deepen her faith and share it with others whenever the opportunity arises.

For more information about the living Stations of the Cross at Holy Rosary, please call the parish office at 274-3486.