Campus Ministry director Aires Patulot is a busy man here at Bellarmine. He is also busy outside of school as he shares his recent involvement and accomplishments at the National Catholic Youth Convention in November.

Patulot shares some reflections about his experience.  “On November 14 – 16, 2024, I was invited to be a keynote speaker for this amazing event and speak on the convention’s topic: El Camino, The Way. The yearly convention alternates between Indianapolis, IN, and Long Beach, CA. This year it was in California.”

Patulot explained, “The National Catholic Youth Convention is the largest gathering of Catholic youth in the country, drawing high schoolers from all over the United States to join together in prayer, community, and faith. As one newspaper put it, the NCYC is part rock concert, part liturgy, part classroom, part silly fun, but all God-centered.”

Patulot described the event. “To the over 3,000 youth, 13 bishops, and 75 clergy, I shared stories of walking the Camino of life, falling and rising, and embracing vulnerability as our true strength. As a pilgrim who has walked over 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago in Spain, I learned how to encounter and embrace God through silence, authenticity, and community. We don’t have to walk 500 miles to do those things. We can start today in small ways at school, in our families, and in our own hearts.”

Patulot shared his hope for the teens in attendance. “I was so inspired by the many high schoolers who courageously live out their faith and genuinely enjoyed being part of such an enriching convention. I hope that every high schooler would have the opportunity to attend an event like this, meet other genuine teens who are growing in their faith, and be inspired to take a step forward in their own Camino.”