Meet Paul Jarzembowski

Originally hailing from the Chicagoland area, where he had served in parish and diocesan ministries, Paul Jarzembowski now works at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington, D.C. in the USCCB Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. There, he serves as the Assistant Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries and, in this role, oversees the coordination of World Youth Day USA. Paul serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (La RED). Prior to his time at USCCB, Paul was also the Executive Director of the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association (NCYAMA), and in this role, served as a collaborator on the Primer Encuentro Nacional de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana at the University of Notre Dame in 2006. Paul is a graduate of Loyola University Chicago and has been an adjunct instructor in their Institute of Pastoral Studies. Paul serves on the ENHAVE team as a connection to the youth and young adult ministries of the Church, in the hopes that the V Encuentro will highlight the contribution of young people in the Church and in society. "Youth and young adults are not only the future of Catholicism," says Jarzembowski. "They are very much a part of today’s conversation and dialogue. They can teach us much, and we can learn from them. We must listen and hear what they are saying. The Encuentro will be a wonderful opportunity to do just that." "Two things that I hope will come from the V Encuentro are (1) evangelization and (2) leadership," he said. "First, we know that youth and young adults from all ethnic families are detaching from the practice of the faith, even first and second generation immigrants. Something needs to be done about that. With mercy and compassion, the Church must reach out to those who have disconnected and welcome back these young brothers and sisters to the Catholic family. It is my hope that this Encuentro will surface some creative evangelization ideas, and that we are willing to act upon those suggestions. "Secondly, I hope that a greater number of young adults will begin to step into leadership roles in the Church: not only in the vocation of priesthood and consecrated life, but also towards lay ecclesial ministry in parishes, dioceses, and movements across the United States. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the V Encuentro process inspired and equipped more Hispanic young people for leadership in the Catholic community? I believe the Encuentro process can do just that. It is a dream of mine that I pray and hope comes to fruition." 2015 © Paul Jarzembowski. All Rights Reserved.