Who We Are

What is United Catholic Youth Ministries?

United Catholic Youth Ministries (UCYM) is a multi-parish pastoral ministry that supports youth, young adults, families, and the Hispanic/Latinx community in Evanston. UCYM has four main ministry focuses:
  • ​​Youth & Children Ministry
  • Campus Ministry (Parroquial Pre-K-8 Schools)
  • Young Adult Ministry
  • Hispanic Ministry

Today, it is understood that young people are the present future of our church. In that, we must provide for and accompany young people now. Youth Ministry is not the same thing as youth group and Young Adult Ministry is about more than just becoming a Youth Minister after you have "aged out" of youth group. Youth Ministry is the pastoral ministry that connects young people to parish life (events, liturgy, Religious Education, etc.) and a youth group would be a section of Youth Ministry that provides community for any young people that participate in parish life. Young Adult Ministry follows the same model and is not a simply a sequel to youth group. Through Hispanic Ministry models such as Pastoral Juvenil and Pastoral Familiar, we also connect our young people, with their families, to our parishes and the wider community, strengthening the whole. 

History

UCYM was first established in October of 2016 by founding members Karie Ferrell, Adriel Gonzalez, and James Holzhauer-Chuckas, ObSB with the support of Pastors Fr. Joseph Tito of St. Nicholas Parish, Fr. Kevin McCray of St. Mary Parish, and Fr. Hernan Cuevas of St. Athanasius Parish and was launched in January of 2017 with its first event hosted at St. Nicholas Parish. UCYM was established in close consideration of Renew My Church in the Archdiocese of Chicago and the need to collaborate. In March of 2018, UCYM hired its first director and began its formal ministry.

Our Parishes and schools

St Athanasius Parish
St. Mary Parish
St Athanasius School
St. Nicholas Parish
St. Joan of Arc Parish
Pope John XXIII School

Our Pastors

The UCYM staff and leadership are supported by our parish pastors. Our parish pastors are four incredible priests who have made it part of their ministry to be present with our young people in prayer, service, and fun.
Fr. Kenneth Anderson
St. Joan of Arc parish
Fr. Hernan Cuevas
St. Athanasius Parish
Fr. Kevin McCray
St. Mary Parish
Fr. Joseph Tito
St. Nicholas parish