Every Lent, the Church invites us to return to the Lord. We fast, we pray, we share our gifts. But this year, 40 young Latino Catholics are also doing something simple and deeply transformative: They are telling their stories on how God is working in their lives.
At Iskali, Lent has become a season not only of reflection but of sharing witness. Through a campaign called 40 Testimonies for 40 Days, young adults are sharing how God is working in their lives today. Their stories are raw, hopeful and deeply rooted in the lived experience of faith.
They reveal a generation that is not abandoning the Church but searching for spaces where their faith, culture and struggles are seen and heard. By sharing their stories, they hope to enrich the broader Church and inspire others to recognize how God continues to act in people's lives, inviting each of us to be renewed in a special way during this Lenten season.
For many, saying yes to this invitation is not easy. It requires vulnerability. It asks young people to revisit wounds, struggles and moments of doubt. But it also opens the door for grace.
Oscar Villanueva, a firefighter and paramedic, chose to participate so that others might encounter Christ earlier in their journey.
"I chose to share my testimony so that other young people can see that you don't have to wait to experience pain and suffering like I did when I first encountered Christ," he said. "Instead, anyone can come to him at any stage and receive grace."
In his work responding to emergencies, Villanueva witnesses suffering daily. Yet he also sees God present in those moments.
"I feel the Lord's presence as a healing hand in my line of work," he said. "I have the opportunity to meet the sick and injured when they need help the most. I see how God lays his hands on patients every day. Life is nothing but a privilege, granted by the Lord himself."
His message to the Church is simple but urgent: "Keep an open mind, an open heart, and eyes and ears free of judgment."
This spirit of encounter and belonging is at the heart of the campaign. Eileen Delgadillo, who coordinates the storytelling effort, believes these testimonies help the Church see something essential.
"I hope this campaign helps the wider Church recognize that God is continuously working in the lives of young adults," she said. "Each of us has a story to tell. God plants different gifts within every one of us and meets us exactly where we are."
She emphasized that many young Hispanic Catholics long to be heard.
"It is important for the Church to listen to the voices of young Hispanic Catholics because too often we feel unheard or unseen. We want to continue representing our culture and experiences within our Catholic faith and community. Our stories matter. By listening to us, the Church affirms that we belong."
For Crystal Martinez, testimony itself became a path of healing. Hearing others share their faith opened her heart and gave her courage.
"What led me to say yes was the breakthrough I had hearing other people's stories," she said. "Realizing that no matter where you are in life, God will always be waiting for you."
She now hopes her own story will do the same for others.
"Coming into Iskali I felt as if I was too damaged to be saved," she said. "Hearing the testimonies of others truly saved me from those ideas. My only hope is that in sharing my story, others will feel the same."
Victoria Diaz describes testimony as recognition, the experience of being seen. "After hearing the first testimony, I felt like my soul felt seen," she said. "Like when you meet someone who speaks your language or has a similar story. I wanted others to know that I also see them."
For Diaz, faith has reshaped how she loves.
"God never stopped loving me despite my brokenness," she said. "Experiencing this has helped me start seeing people through his eyes."
Her invitation this Lent is both tender and bold: "Let Jesus love you. Let him in, tell him everything, let him be your friend."
These stories point to something greater than a social media campaign. They reveal a profound pastoral moment for the Church in the United States. Young Latino Catholics are stepping forward to share how God is inviting them to allow his grace to work not only through their actions, but deep within their hearts and wounds.
Through their witness and vulnerability they are contributing to the renewal of the Church, reminding us that the Holy Spirit continues to invite us to share our gifts, and our story is a beautiful gift we all carry, one that can bring hope, healing and faith to others.
Through testimony, these young adults are forming one another. They are building a culture of encounter. Lent reminds us that conversion often begins with listening. The Church must listen not only to Scripture and tradition, but also to the voices of how others are living the Gospel in today's world.
As Diaz reflected, "God hasn't stopped pursuing the hearts of his people. He is still calling the young generation to his mission: To love one another. And we want to follow."
This Lent, their stories invite the entire Church to do the same. Follow these testimonies and be inspired throughout the season on Iskali's Instagram @iskali_ and on the Iskali YouTube channel.
Caption: Crystal Martinez and Victoria Diaz are pictured in an undated combination giving Lenten testimonies. (OSV News photo/courtesy of Vicente Del Real and Iskali)
