“I feel like I never really stopped.”
Koskani Montoya is a parishioner at St. Viator Catholic Community in Las Vegas, the parish where he grew up and prepared for his Sacraments of Initiation. When we asked him to connect the dots between Confirmation prep and his young adult faith, he said he felt like he never stopped living his faith – a great example to share with young people who we want to remain deeply engaged through and beyond their full initiation.
Viatorians have often accompanied young adults on service outings in the Las Vegas area, including this time out with Shine a Light ministries’ serving people experiencing homelessness. This time, (left to right) Mateo Portelli, Associate Patrick Aller, Br. Peter Lamick, CSV, Koskani Montoya, and Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV went out together.
Koskani continued singing with parish liturgical music ministries; he went on the Viatorian Youth Congress (VYC) as a teen delegate; he stepped up as an adult volunteer with Viator Youth Ministry and Confirmation preparation, even taking on his own small group; and he has become more active in service, including taking part in a young men’s service and retreat weekend.
“I felt responsible to say ‘yes’ to anything that had to do with my faith. I had this innate feeling that when something gets asked of me, I expect myself to do it,” Koskani said. “I have the opportunity. I can do it. And I should do it.”
Koskani credits Associate Rosy Hartz, parish coordinator of youth ministry and faith formation, with inviting him and creating opportunities to continue serving his faith community, and Associate Anthony Gugino, parish music and liturgy associate, for welcoming him into music ministry with enthusiasm.
In this episode, Koskani reflects on the invitations from God that have emerged in his life so far: foundations with his mother and family, some trial and error with various coursework in high school and college, different ongoing education and certification to develop professional skills, and, of course, growing as a servant-leader with the young people of St. Viator.
Hear it directly from Koskani on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch the episode on YouTube: