Catholic Young Adult Leaders to Take Part in Vatican Post-Synod Dialogue

WASHINGTON—The Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life will convene in Rome on June 19-22 for an International Post-Synodal Forum of young adults to discuss the impact of Pope Francis’s recent apostolic exhortation, Christus Vivit.

This International Forum will feature interactive discussions on the synodal process and Christus Vivit, including a brief visit with the Holy Father, Pope Francis. According to the Dicastery, “the Forum will be a space for community discernment [and] maintaining the synodal missionary style promoted by the Synod.”

Brian Rhude from the Archdiocese of Baltimore and Brenda Noriega from the Diocese of San Bernardino are two of the young adult leaders who will be representing the United States. They will join the forum discussions with other young Catholic leaders from around the globe.  

Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap., of Philadelphia and chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, said, “We are grateful to the Holy Father for continuing these conversations begun during the synodal process last year, and we are happy to have Brian and Brenda representing our nation’s young people in Rome for this important dialogue.”

Brian Rhude is a student at The Catholic University of America (CUA) in Washington, D.C., where he is studying theology, and works as a project coordinator for the Catholic Apostolate Center. He studied at the CUA campus in Rome during the Fall 2018 semester, which coincided with the Synod on “Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment,” where he was a media correspondent for the Catholic Apostolate Center. Brian also has a background in music and culinary arts.

Brenda Noriega is the Coordinator of Young Adults Ministry for the Diocese of San Bernardino and serves on the USCCB’s National Advisory Team on Young Adult Ministry. She was the co-leader of the bishop and young adult encounter at the V Encuentro national event in Texas in September 2018. Brenda previously worked in the Diocese of Fresno. In January 2019, she attended World Youth Day in Panama, where she represented North America at a luncheon with Pope Francis.

Mr. Rhude and Ms. Noriega will offer feedback in small and large groups discussions on how the exhortation is being received by young people across the United States. Paul Jarzembowski, Assistant Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and Lay Ecclesial Ministry for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ will present to Forum participants on Christus Vivit and its impact on pastoral leaders in parishes, dioceses, and national organizations in the U.S.

More information about the Forum can be found at www.laityfamilylife.va.
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Keywords: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, USCCB, Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Christus Vivit, Brian Rhude, Archdiocese of Baltimore. Brenda Noriega, Diocese of San Bernardino, Paul Jarzembowski, USCCB Office of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth

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