News

Elizabeth Guerrero: Tuning In

Music brings young Catholic's faith to life

Published: August 25, 2023   

By Arkansas Catholic Staff

Courtesy Elizabeth Guerrero

Elizabeth Guerrero sits at her desk in the church office at St. Theresa Church in Little Rock, where she is serving as the receptionist.

Courtesy Elizabeth Guerrero

Elizabeth Guerrero sits at her desk in the church office at St. Theresa Church in Little Rock, where she is serving as the receptionist.

What is one way the Church can reach young adults better? 

“I think that actually having activities with them and involving them more in the church would also be helpful. Just having young people start reading, being in the choir or even being altar servers, I think that would draw them more into it.”

LITTLE ROCK

No person is too young to make a difference. This is what Elizabeth Guerrero proves in her ministry at St. Theresa Church in Little Rock. The 18-year-old is already an active member in her parish community. Serving as the receptionist at the church, Guerrero plans events, edits the bulletin and helps the Hispanic community as well as coordinating the parish choir.

One of Guerrero’s passions is music, and singing plays a big role in her faith life. 

“There’s a saying that whoever sings is praying twice, so I go by that,” Guerrero said. “Sometimes there's times where I feel like I'm not praying enough or that I am not praying the right way. So most of the time I just start singing either a song from church or something I write down, and it makes me feel better about praying.”

Guerrero, a 2023 graduate of Parkview High School in Little Rock, will begin college at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock this fall, where she hopes to earn a degree in music education as well as a certification in Spanish. Her love of music drives her dream to teach music in some way, whether that be as a choir teacher or choir conductor.

It’s through music that Guerrero seeks to bring others closer to God. 

“When I was younger, I didn't know that I would become a singer or I didn't know that I would be close to God in that way,” Guerrero said. “I started singing, and I remember going to church one day, and I saw somebody singing in the choir. I was like, ‘Oh, that's pretty cool. Can I do that?’ So I got into choir and just started singing. I felt something in me that I knew it was my calling.”

More stories will appear in our 15 Young Adults Who Inspire Us 2023 Section as they are posted online. Subscribe to Arkansas Catholic’s digital and print publications to read more content like this.

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