It’s not every day that a youth ministry trip overlaps with a moment in world history.

When 53 young people and their families from Instituto Fe y Vida—a national leadership ministry serving Latine Catholic youth and families— landed in Rome for a pilgrimage from the Faith and Service Project, they didn’t expect to arrive during the week Pope John Paul II died. Streets overflowed with mourners. Churches opened their doors at all hours. The sense of spiritual gravity was everywhere.

For most of these Latine youth, it was their first time overseas. For many of the parents who came, it was the first time seeing their kids worship alongside peers from across the globe. And for everyone—leaders, youth, and families—it became a life-changing experience.

But here’s the key: the transformation wasn’t just about the location. It was about how the trip was designed from the ground up on the principles of relational discipleship.

The Heart Behind the Trip

Elisabeth Román, Director of Partnerships and Communications for Fe y Vida, had been intentionally building relationships with these young people for years. She wasn’t just planning logistics; she was cultivating trust, walking alongside them through life, and creating space for them to encounter Jesus in ways that were personal and lasting.

“This wasn’t just a sightseeing tour,” Elisabeth explained. “Every step of the trip was about helping them connect their faith with real life and what they were seeing, feeling, and experiencing in Rome.”

Relational discipleship meant that leaders and youth weren’t just sharing buses and historic site visits —they were sharing stories, meals, prayers, and questions. The pilgrimage became a backdrop for ongoing conversations about identity, calling, and God’s presence in the everyday.

A Teenager Finds Her Voice

Among the group was Ana Maria, a 13-year-old girl who didn’t set out to become a storyteller. But as the days unfolded, she began filming interviews with her peers, capturing moments of worship, and sharing reflections online.

Her videos weren’t flashy, but they were authentic windows into the faith and service of her friends. Along the way, Elisabeth affirmed her gift. She encouraged Ana Maria to keep going, offering her agency to explore the intersection of her talents and faith.

Then came an unexpected invitation: to participate in a Vatican event during the pilgrimage. “They invited me,” Elisabeth stated, “but I said, ‘I’m not going. I’m sending her.’” Not only that—Ana Maria was asked to pray in French in front of an international audience, featured on the Vatican news.

After she left the Vatican that night, Ana Maria had a moment of realization: “I didn’t know I was evangelizing.”

That’s relational discipleship in action: someone who might never have imagined herself as a faith leader discovering her God-given gift and using it to share Jesus with others.

Faith in the Context of Relationships

For Elisabeth, these moments weren’t accidental. They were the fruit of years of walking with young people in a way that mirrors the way Jesus walked with His disciples—life-on-life, present and engaged.

“Discipleship is not about programs,” Elisabeth said. “It’s about relationships. It’s about listening, seeing young people as whole people, and believing that God is already at work in them.”

During the pilgrimage, leaders intentionally created time for conversation. They debriefed after visiting historic churches. They prayed together in small groups. They asked open-ended questions about what the teens were experiencing—not just physically, but spiritually.

Families as Part of the Journey

One unique aspect of this trip was that the young people were not traveling alone—many had parents or family members with them. This added a powerful intergenerational dynamic.

Parents didn’t just observe their teens’ faith from a distance—they participated. They attended Mass together, walked cobblestone streets, and even stood side-by-side during moments of worship. These shared experiences became a catalyst for conversations that might never have happened back home.

Elisabeth saw the impact: “When parents and young people share these kinds of moments, it changes the way they talk about faith. It moves faith from being a Sunday activity to being part of their shared story as a family.”

The Ripple Effect

By the time the group returned home, the change was tangible. Teens were taking more initiative in their faith communities. Family bonds strengthened. A father whose teens went on the pilgrimage shared how his family was having nightly conversations about faith and their experiences in Rome.

And in the case of Ana Maria, a young person had discovered a passion and gift for digital evangelism that could shape the trajectory of her life.

Her videos—quick clips shared with friends—had opened a door for her to connect her natural giftings with her role in the Great Commission. Her prayer in French had been heard in the halls of the Vatican. And through it all, she learned that sharing her faith didn’t have to be formal or complicated; it could be as simple as telling a story. 

Real-Life Application

For pastors and youth leaders, the lesson here is clear: lasting faith grows in the soil of relationship.

It’s tempting to think that big events or high-profile trips are what transform young people. But as this pilgrimage shows, it’s the relational investment before, during, and after those events that really shapes a young person’s faith.

Elisabeth put it this way: “If all we do is put on a great trip, we’ve missed the point. Our job is to walk with them, to help them see where God is in the middle of it all, and to remind them that they have something to offer the world.”

That’s why TENx10 partners with ministries like Fe y Vida—because relational discipleship works. It helps young people not only encounter Jesus but also discover how they can participate in His mission in ways that fit who they are.

A Call to Invest in the Next Generation

As you think about your own ministry, imagine what could happen if every young person had an Elisabeth—someone committed to walking with them, discovering and encouraging their gifts, and helping them see how God can use them right where they are.

The Rome pilgrimage was extraordinary, but its fruit wasn’t a one-time burst of inspiration. It was a step in an ongoing journey of faith for dozens of young people and their families.

Some will lead worship. Some will serve in their communities. And maybe—like one 13-year-old with a camera—some will find themselves evangelizing to the world without even realizing it.

Relational discipleship is more than a ministry strategy. It’s a commitment to be present, to listen, and to call out the God-given purpose in the next generation. And that’s a journey worth taking—whether it leads to Rome or simply across the street.