Vision for High School Students

Nationally-acclaimed Catholic speakers bring engaging, high-energy talks to Notre Dame Vision. Have an unforgettable time learning from their witness to the faith.

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  Chika Anyanwu, Emcee for Vision 2023

  Chika Anyanwu is a Catholic evangelist, former Confirmation coordinator/youth & young adult minister, and the author of "My Encounter: How I Met Jesus in Prayer." Her love of God and neighbor enthuses her to share the gospel through testimony, scripture, and honest conversations about the difficult realities of faith and life. She’s had the opportunity to evangelize at NCYC, Given, Steubenville youth conferences, FOCUS SEEK conferences, and The Catholic Feminist France pilgrimage. She’s also a contributor to Blessed Is She as well as “Connected” and “Venture: the Bible Timeline” by Ascension Press. Chika is a part of a beautiful Nigerian family, loves her coffee black, and desires sainthood for herself and you, although bad drivers challenge her sanctity!

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  Scott Boyle

  Scott Boyle directs recruitment and outreach initiatives across the McGrath Institute, with a specific focus on Notre Dame Vision summer conferences and the Echo Program. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Scott received his undergraduate degree in Theology from Notre Dame in 2012 and his M.A. in Theology from Notre Dame in 2015 where he was a member of the Echo Graduate Service Learning Program. After working in many diverse settings from parish to high school and now the university setting, Scott is passionate about accompanying others as they discern how God is moving in their lives. In addition to his primary work at Notre Dame, each year he travels across the country speaking to different groups about the intersection of theology and lived faith, specifically in the realms of faith formation and youth engagement.

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  Cynthia Psencik

  Cynthia Psencik was born and raised in New York City. Her parents are from the Dominican Republic. In 2004, Cynthia began working for the Archdiocese of New York as the Assistant in the Hispanic Ministry Office. Through her ministry with youth in retreat centers and especially through her involvement in the First Encuentro on Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry, she fell in love with youth ministry and pursued a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Hispanic Ministry from Fordham University. She then became the Associate Director for Youth Ministry, and served as the Director for the Office of Youth Ministry for 4 years before joining GIVEN staff. She previously served as the Vice President of La RED – National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana and is a member of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM). She is married to her husband Evan and lives in Connecticut.

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  Kayla August

  Kayla is a doctoral student at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology and Education with a focus on preaching. She is a born and raised Black Catholic from New Orleans, Louisiana who desires to bring an energetic renewal of faith to the body of Christ. She uses preaching to impact religious education by inspiring Christians to deepen their encounters with scripture and how God plays an active role in our daily lives. Her hope is to bring preaching into traditional and non-traditional arenas to reawaken and to re-engage in an active spiritual life. She hopes through preaching to help to enliven the young adult faith community and also help to inspire marginalized voices—like her own— to play an active role in the Church.

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  Mike Patin

  Mike Patin uses energy, humor and stories to affirm God's goodness and presence among us while inviting others (and himself) to take the "next step" in our journey with God. Mike has worked in ministry settings since 1984, first as a high school teacher and coach, and then in diocesan ministry for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Since 2003, he has worked full time as a speaker and “faith horticulturist.” Throughout his ministry, Mike has been privileged to speak to groups ranging from 10 to 23,000 in over 130 dioceses in the U.S. and Canada. He has spoken at parish missions, conferences, rallies, retreats, leadership institutes, and in-services, addressing youth, adults, families, clergy, seminarians, school faculties, businesses, athletic teams and hospital staffs.