Late last month, one of the most popular Catholic speakers and performers brought his praise and worship style ministry to students at Cristo Rey St. Viator and to Campus Ministry students at St. Viator Catholic Community, both in Las Vegas.
Students at Cristo Rey St. Viator perform with Joe Melendrez.
Joe Melendrez is a keynote speaker, retreat leader and musician, who has been described as bringing his “electric musical ministry that helps to strengthen and uplift your faith.” He performs hip-hop music mostly, and combines it with his inspiring encounters with God as well as dynamic audio visual displays.
“My main goal when I started in music was to help people pray,” Melendrez said in a video shared by Shalom World TV. “I try to take the style, the art and insert God into the content”
His appearance in Las Vegas was timed at the end of Catholic Schools’ Week, as a final event to excite students about their Catholic faith. Melendrez appeared in the morning at Cristo Rey St. Viator and had students up on their feet, singing and dancing to Melendrez and his praise and worship songs.
Students from St. Viator pose with Melendrez in front of GLOW, or God Lights Our World.
That afternoon, he visited with Campus Ministry students in middle school at St. Viator Parish School, before presenting that night to its Viator Youth high school students and those from 11 surrounding parishes, or more than 225 young people.
Melendrez came at the invitation of Associate Rosy Hartz, Youth Faith Formation Coordinator for the parish.
“Our hope was that the kids would come away with a renewed faith, that they light up within — and light up others,” Rosy says, “remembering that they are better together.”
Nearly every year, Rosy takes students from the parish to large, Catholic youth rallies, such as the National Catholic Youth Conference and Youth Day, hosted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Both conferences feature inspiring speakers, relevant musical performers and dynamic liturgies, all aimed at energizing young people about their faith.
Eighth grade students at St. Viator pose with D.J. Code, who appeared with Joe Melendrez.
This time, instead of traveling to these conferences, Rosy brought one of the most popular performers to them. The presentations reflect the Viatorian mission of meeting young people where they are at — and of building up communities where faith is lived, deepened and celebrated.