This year marked a significant time for young people in modern history in the life of the Church.

On September 7, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV canonized St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.

Carlo Acutis was a teenager when he discovered he was suffering from a terminal illness.

Pier Giorgio Frassati was a young adult when he contracted and died from polio.

Both young saints remind us of the vitality of the Church and that holiness is achievable at any stage of life.

Both young saints lived holiness in ordinary life and lived a life of heroic virtue that is accessible to teens and young adults.

Here in the Diocese of Madison, the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis has dedicated individuals who plan and coordinate our youth and young adult apostolates.

The diocese has invested many resources into renewing the faith of our young people and giving them the opportunity to encounter Christ, grow in faith, and live the mission of holiness and evangelization.

Our diocesan youth and young adult apostolates include coordination of Frassati Fest, a yearly retreat for teens; Love Begins Here, a local summer youth mission outreach program; and the coordination and support of young adult ministry across the diocese, including an annual young adult retreat.

Frassati Fest

Frassati Fest is a weekend retreat open to all high school students in the Diocese of Madison, held every winter.

The weekend is traditionally held at a waterpark resort in Wisconsin Dells.

It is a weekend for teens to encounter the Lord, build friendships with other young people from across the diocese, and grow in community and faith with their local pastorate.

The youth who attend hear dynamic speakers; meet in small groups with others from their pastorate; and attend Mass, Adoration, and Confession.

The weekend also includes plenty of fun activities, including access to the waterpark!

In addition, Frassati Fest also offers an opportunity for high school students to grow in leadership and mission by becoming a member of the Frassati Fest Peer Leader Formation program.

Those young people spend nine months prior to the retreat planning and preparing to lead their peers in discipleship and formation.

Love Begins Here

Love Begins Here (LBH) provides middle school and high school youth with an opportunity to encounter

Jesus Christ in a life-changing way through a weeklong local mission trip.

The young people live in community while they serve a local area during their time on mission.

LBH focuses on the needs of people within the Diocese of Madison and encourages and inspires our youth to pick up the call to mission and respond to those in need in their local area.

In the evenings, LBH also offers time for fun, fellowship, and personal spiritual formation for those in attendance.

A young adult team is employed and trained to serve alongside the students, act as models of discipleship, and help form the middle school and high school youth.

Young adult ministry

Across the diocese, there are many opportunities for young adults to get involved in their local community and the diocese.

The diocese offers support to parishes and information about various parish young adult programs, as well as a diocesan young adult sports league and a yearly diocesan young adult retreat.

Register for events

To find out more information about the programs for teens in the diocese, or to register for any of the various events, visit the youth formation page at madisondiocese.org/youth

Resources and information for young adults can be found at madisondiocese.org/ya

Now hiring

If you are interested in working for the youth apostolates in the Diocese of Madison, we are currently seeking a new coordinator.

Visit the diocesan human resources website at madisondiocesecareers.org to see the job description and submit an application.