Serra Club Vocations Essay

Teen’s faith strengthened by service, teacher and parents’ commitment to life

By Eilyn Mayo (Special to The Criterion)

If I had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis, I would tell him about my faith journey starting at my first Communion to where I am now. I would verbally introduce him to all the people that have helped me through my faith journey. I would tell him about some of the community service I’ve done that has brought me happiness.

Service is something I would tell Pope Francis about. I’d share how I’m a youth leader at my church, and how I’ve helped lead retreats. I’d share how I, along with friends, plan out the activities we do at youth group. I would tell him about the time I went downtown with my classmates, made sack lunches and gave them to the homeless along with scarves and hats.

I would tell Pope Francis about one of the people that has led me the most in my faith journey. That person is my old religion teacher, whom I call Mama C. I would tell him Mama C is the most selfless and devoted person I have ever met and personally know.

I would tell him how she always puts others ahead of herself and is constantly caring for all her students. She’s always there when a student needs to talk and will go out of her way to help someone out. I might even tell him about the little crush she has on him.

One story I would love to share with Pope Francis is one that happened before I was even born. When my mom was pregnant with me, the doctors told her I was going to have Down syndrome and some other complications.

They asked her if she wanted to abort, but she didn’t. She instead went up a mountain along with my dad and prayed to God and before an image of the Virgin Mary that had appeared in the rock of the mountain. They prayed that I would be a normal healthy baby. Well, their prayers were answered. I would tell him about this story that has really stuck with me and helped me in my faith journey.

In conclusion, it would be a complete honor to meet the pope. I would love to share the people that have helped me in my faith journey, if I ever got to meet him. I would also love telling him about the story my parents told me.
 

(Eilyn and her parents, Eduardo and Elena Mayo, are members of Holy Spirit Parish in Indianapolis. She recently completed the 10th grade at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis and is the 10th-grade division winner in the Indianapolis Serra Club’s 2019 John D. Kelley Vocations Essay Contest.) †