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Naomi Lee, a lifelong member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Benton, has always felt the calling to serve, especially to serve those younger than herself. In addition to lectoring at Mass and being a member of the young adult group, Lee is also the youth minister, a position her parents Deacon Ron and Collette Lee filled for 25 years.
Lee’s dedication to the youth group comes from her own experiences with Catholic Youth Ministry in high school.
“It helped me form relationships knowing there were like-minded people around me who had the same beliefs and ultimately had the same goals, and I want that for our kids,” Lee said. “But I also see such a more difficult struggle for them now. I was at that weird age where we got social media at the end of high school, but we weren't on our phones all the time. The world wasn’t constantly coming at us with why you should believe different things and why you should be accepting of so many different things. So I want my kids to have a strong foundation in their faith so that they can go out.”
Although Lee, 28, has a passion for guiding teenagers in their faith, it isn’t without struggle. In addition to being the youth minister, Lee also has a full-time job. But despite all the difficulties, she strives to lead by example.
“I'm not perfect at all,” she said. “I get frustrated and I say the wrong things all the time. But I think by being willing to be open and hear other people and showing love and grace, I try to live my faith. What I think is most important is just being called to love others.”
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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