Emi Namoro
As a cradle Catholic, my weekends were usually filled with Mass and the weekly events my parents' family ministry had then. I knew who Jesus was and what He did to save us all. But did it matter to this shy little 11-year-old bookworm? No. So, when I heard my friends talk about an upcoming youth camp, I was hesitant to attend. That is until I learned that the boy I had a crush on was going, so I wanted to go, too. Luckily, my parents said yes.
Funny how God calls you to Him in the most unconventional ways, eh?
At the retreat, I was surrounded by young Catholics who shared powerful testimonies about how God changed their life. They were so on fire, and I was so confused. What did they know that I didn't? I realized then that I didn't even care about the boy anymore. Instead, I wanted to learn everything I could about the man I met there: Jesus Christ.
The years following that retreat were so transformative. My heart was challenged and stretched to love in many more ways than I ever expected. I had gone through my fair share of trials, celebrated victories, and fell in love with Christ more and more deeply each day.
I felt a calling to share God's deep and personal love in the digital space. I wanted to share the gifts that He graciously gave me to others. I loved to write and sing and wanted to be where the people were. I wanted to share God's love with them. So, in the summer of 2015, I created a blog called "Restless Nightwriter" with that exact mission in mind. I was restless writing at night, and it reminded me so much of St. Augustine's heart, so it felt fitting. 8 years later, it taught me how to share my own story with others, hoping that it may ignite a fire within them to be a witness in their own lives as well.
Then, God kept calling me to serve Him in other places. My love for the youth remained, so I joined several parish youth ministries, serving them through music ministry and social media. Then, He kept challenging my heart, leading me to co-lead a young women's ministry in Vancouver called "The Immaculatte." We invited young women to join us at different cafes, talking about whatever we wanted. Our tagline was "Christ, coffee, and conversations." It was the best time to reconnect and meet women who yearned for a community. When the pandemic hit and everything I knew halted, God wasn't done with me. He led me to work remotely with a ministry on the other side of the country. I worked for "Divine Renovation'' as their graphic designer intern for a few months.
Then, just when I thought God had challenged me enough, He brought back my love of the digital space through a completely different medium. A dear friend asked if I wanted to start a podcast with her. Together, we co-hosted "A Pondering Heart," a podcast focused on the triumphs and struggles of the Catholic journey. It was my pandemic hobby, and I loved it so dearly. Discussing topics relevant to the Catholic faith with her and our featured guests during isolation brought me so much joy.
When everything started to open, I returned to school, pursuing a degree to become a Catholic counsellor while working part-time at a tech store. Then, after writing an article for our local newspaper about an annual conference hosted by my Archdiocese, I was hired to work in my first ever social media job for "Proclaim," the evangelization movement in Vancouver. Today, I am still in school pursuing that same degree in psychology. But now, I am working in my absolute dream job, serving as the Social Media Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
The wildest thing of all? All of these recent jobs and ministries happened within 3 years. I was in awe, witnessing how God wove everything I loved to do into a profession where I could serve Him and His people. I am forever grateful for every opportunity He gave me.
Isn't that nuts? How did this shy 11-year-old bookworm end up here?
Simple. It is through God's grace alone.
My books were my safe space, but God saw a future beyond those pages. He gently encouraged me to go outside my comfort zone, leading me to where I am today.
No, I really don't know what the rest of my life will look like. But, as my dear friend, Pope St. John Paul II, once said, "Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure."
I can't wait to see what else He has in store for me. Ad majórem Dei glóriam!