Three local youth ministers regularly stop by Columbus St. Francis DeSales High School, visiting students during lunch periods and supporting the school community by engaging in class retreats and Bible studies.
The consistent presence of the three leaders led to strengthened connections between parish and school life. The visits offered students meaningful opportunities for fellowship and faith formation.
Jake Asuncion, a youth minister at Worthington St. Michael the Archangel Church, participated in every Kairos and class retreat this year. He periodically meets with the school’s “core team” to speak about living faith with conviction and purpose.
He is a joyful witness to students, often seen laughing alongside them.
Pope Francis said “the identification card of a Christian is joy.” Joy is recognized as a gift of the Holy Spirit.
St. Francis DeSales senior John Hockaday, a leader on the Kairos retreat, noted the gift in Asuncion.
“Jake is the type of guy that if you are feeling down, he will not leave you alone until he sees you smiling,” Hockaday explained, echoing the late pontiff’s words.
Nick Hunsaker shared a similar testament.
“Jake is kind to everyone he meets. He is always smiling, and that smile transfers to others,” Hunsaker said. “He exemplifies what it means to live out Christ’s love.”
Annie Ryan, a youth minister at New Albany Church of the Resurrection, is a registered nurse. At the height of cold and flu season this winter, Ryan put her nursing skills to good use by triaging students on the Kairos retreat. She was attentive to the needs of the high schoolers.
“When I was sick on Kairos, she was the first to ask if I was okay,” senior Eva Godbout shared.
Ryan’s heart for helping others is displayed through time and energy she puts toward delivering talks to students and building self-esteem in the young people she serves.
Students also appreciate Ryan’s authenticity and fun-loving presence.
“I love when Annie comes to Bible Study,” senior Emma Minser said. “She is a light. She brings so much joy and has a heart to help others.”
Abigail Huff, a youth minister at Gahanna St. Matthew the Apostle Church, regularly visits with students during lunch periods. She also leads by example, often present during the school’s time of Eucharistic Adoration.
Her presence before the Blessed Sacrament enables her to be the face of Christ to students she encounters in the school hallways.
“She goes out of her way to make sure that everyone feels seen and cared for. She treats others with the love of Christ, and you can see it radiating through her,” senior Leah Stacklin said.
Being the face Christ can also come at a cost.
Senior Natalie Everitt noted that Huff “is very sacrificial with her time and energy. She is always putting extra effort in to make people feel accepted.”
St. Francis DeSales School is blessed to have living witnesses of Christ sacrifice their time to accompany and challenge students to grow in holiness. The parish-school connection remains strong and bearing much fruit because of youth ministers such as Asuncion, Ryan and Huff.