This summer, Cristo Rey St. Martin students joined young people from Viatorian schools and parishes across the country for the 2026 Viatorian Youth Congress (VYC), held July 27–30 at Casa Iskali in Des Plaines. The annual retreat gives students opportunities to deepen their Catholic faith, explore their Viatorian identity, build leadership skills and experience new forms of prayer together.
For Geraldine ’28, who attended VYC for the second time, the experience provided a welcoming place to continue growing in her faith. “VYC was amazing,” she shared. “It was a safe space for me to express my faith and encouraged me to strengthen my faith with God.” Students experienced several different approaches to prayer, including praying through art and even using Play-Doh. Geraldine said the experience reminded her “to see the good in everything” and inspired her to one day return as a Young Adult Leader.
Jimena ’28 also valued the opportunity to connect with students beyond CRSM. “I really enjoyed VYC because I got to meet different young people from different Viatorian communities,” she said. She especially appreciated the support of the Young Adult Leaders in her small group, who made her feel comfortable and reassured even when she did not have much to share.
Along with prayer and reflection, students enjoyed games, conversations, and time to simply get to know one another. For Jimena, it was a welcome opportunity to step away from academics and build relationships with other young people who share the Viatorian community.
Through experiences like VYC, CRSM students are able to strengthen their faith, form new friendships, and discover new ways to live out the Viatorian values that are part of our school community.