Cynthia Solis admits with a laugh that her life at St. Andrew Church in Danville has been “busy.”
The 26-year-old lectors, helps count monetary donations, has served as a catechist for 11 years and last year took over as the volunteer director of religious education, overseeing about 100 children. This is all in addition to a full-time job as a preschool teacher assistant.
“If it’s in my ability to help, I’ll do it,” Solis said.
She went to Evangelical Catholic training camp to start a youth group in the parish. It has 15 members so far.
“I saw a lot of youth in our church that just needed that time … to know Christ more,” Solis said. “It’s for them to have somewhere to go, to show them that Christ is everywhere, that they’re not alone.”
A blessing for Solis has been that the children know that they can come to her for guidance.
“One of the parents came up to me and said, ‘You know Cynthia, I’m just happy to see you here, my daughter used to say she doesn’t like,’” religious education, Solis said. “‘Now she said she wants to be like you, a teacher, and help in catechism.’ Knowing that I inspired a girl to be a teacher and to teach catechism one day, that really got to me.”
What is the best concert you’ve ever been to?
“World Youth Day 13 was one of the best; a big celebration with music from Catholic artists from different countries. It was a beautiful experience, plus (I got to see) the pope.”
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