My name is Diana Arizmendi and I am excited to join the pastoral team and serve the community at St. Raymond’s as the new Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult ministries. I was  born in Mexico but was raised in Waukegan, IL along with my two brothers and two sisters. Growing up my family and I attended Mass every Sunday but it wasn’t until I was in college that I became more interested in learning more about my faith. 

I attended Loyola University Chicago where I received my BS in Psychology and two minors in Pastoral Leadership and Italian. I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome my sophomore year at LUC and I can say this was the most life changing experience for me. Not only did I travel to my heart’s content, but I also experienced a very powerful encounter with Jesus and my faith. I was greatly inspired by a group of young seminarians and Deacons from the Pontifical North American College who were not afraid to share their love for Jesus with me and answer all the questions I had about the doctrine of our Church. 

During my semester abroad it became very clear to me that God was calling me to serve Him and His Church. Upon graduating from LUC, I moved to Miami, FL to pursue my Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry from Barry University. I have been involved in ministry for the past twelve years working and volunteering at different parishes and traveling to different Dioceses to share the Good News. I have found a passion for working with youth and young adults and facilitating moments of personal encounter for them. I have led groups of teens to events like NCYC and Life Teen’s Camp Covecrest and it is a joy to be a part of the faith journey of many of the young people I’ve had the privilege to work with.

I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, reading and during the recent period of quarantine I have found a new interest in crocheting. I love coffee and bubble tea!  I look forward to getting to know the faith community of St. Raymond and seeing what God has in store for our young people! Please pray for me as I enter into this new role. Be assured of my prayers for you and your families.

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