Nearly 500 young people from Vietnamese Catholic communities in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania gathered June 20-22 at Georgetown Preparatory School in North Bethesda, Maryland, for a regional retreat organized by the Dominic Savio League of Chapters of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYM-USA).
The League of Chapters of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement honors Saint Dominic Savio as its patron saint. Known for his youthful holiness and deep devotion to the Eucharist, Saint Dominic was a student of Saint John Bosco, who recorded many details of his short but inspiring life. From an early age, Dominic sought closeness to God through prayer, acts of virtue, and encouraging his peers to live faithfully. Upon receiving his First Communion, he famously declared, “Death rather than sin” – a motto adopted by the League as a call for young Catholics to pursue holiness and spiritual courage in their daily lives.
The retreat brought together 12 VEYM chapters under the theme Pilgrims of Hope, aligning with the universal Church’s observance of the Jubilee Year. VEYM-USA, the youth branch of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, forms young Catholics through prayer, service, and fellowship.
The retreat concluded with a Mass on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, celebrated by Washington Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar. In his homily, Bishop Menjivar reflected on the Catholic belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and encouraged young people to live out that belief by serving others.
“The Eucharist is not just a symbol of God’s presence among us … It is Jesus Christ, truly present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity,” Bishop Menjivar said. “Every Mass is a school of charity, an invitation to go out of ourselves, to be bread broken for the world.”
Drawing from the Gospel account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in Luke 9, Bishop Menjivar noted the physical and spiritual hunger present in society today and urged those present to respond with compassion and service.
“Many of your friends, classmates, and perhaps some of you are spiritually starving,” he said. “Jesus still says to His disciples today – to you: ‘Give them some food yourselves.’”
Bishop Menjivar emphasized that the mission of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement extends beyond its meetings and events, saying the organization exists “to form missionary disciples – Eucharistic young people who live what they receive at the altar.”
Nhung Nguyen, president of the Dominic Savio League of Chapters, said the retreat reflected the dedication and collaboration of youth leaders and adult volunteers.
“This is not just an ordinary convention, it was the fruit of discipline, piety, and the joy of service that were carefully cultivated over the years,” Nguyen said. She also spoke about the impact of Bishop Menjivar’s homily, noting his metaphor of the Eucharist transforming individuals in a way others can sense.
“I really like how the homily highlighted the idea of wanting to ‘smell like Jesus’ to others,” Nguyen said. “It’s a way to talk about spiritual transformation, about how the Eucharist changes us and makes us more like Christ.”
Several youth participants said the bishop’s presence and homily left a strong impression.
Nathan Dang, 14, of Our Lady of Vietnam Catholic Church in Silver Spring, said the bishop’s message about “being a Jesus to those around us” was meaningful in the context of the large, regional gathering.
Josephine Tran, 14, of Holy Martyrs of Vietnam Catholic Church in Arlington, described the bishop’s presence as “very meaningful and special,” and said his homily made people smile and laugh.
Justin Do, 14, also of Our Lady of Vietnam in Silver Spring, said the bishop’s homily resonated with both its message and tone. “I thought the bishop's presence and his homily were very engaging and gave us a sense of comfort and familiarity,” he said. “The bishop didn't just say words; he gave us a mission and a sense of curiosity to further discover more about striving for compassion in our daily lives.”
Phi Tran, 15, also of Richmond, said Bishop Menjivar’s words were “important for all to hear and learn something from.”
Throughout the weekend, youth engaged in small group discussions, workshops, communal prayer, and Eucharistic adoration. The retreat also offered opportunities for fellowship among participants from various states and parishes.
Following the liturgy, Bishop Menjivar remained to greet attendees and spend time with the youth and adult leaders. Several participants lined up to take photos with him or offer hand signs shaped as hearts – a gesture that has become common among members of VEYM.
The bishop’s participation in the retreat was part of his ongoing engagement with the culturally diverse communities of the Archdiocese of Washington. His presence, Nguyen said, was particularly appreciated by youth.
“It’s incredible when someone in a leadership role can connect so authentically, especially with younger people,” she said.
At the conclusion of his homily, Bishop Menjivar encouraged the youth to carry the mission of the Eucharist into their daily lives.
“Let the Eucharist you receive today change you. Let it give you courage to go out. Be missionaries of the Eucharist. Be young pilgrims of hope. Be signs of joy in a world that forgets what real joy looks like. And above all, never forget you are not alone, that you are loved as you are. Christ, the Bread of Life, walks with you. He is the food for the journey. And through you, He wants to feed others,” he said.
