Guiding faith through mentorship and discipleship
(L-R) Vinnie Uriarte, Brian Ly, Vi-Vien Khong-Huynh, and Sonia Uriarte at Brian’s Rite of Welcome mass last year.
Gabriel Joseph and Vi-Vien Nguyen may come from different backgrounds, but they share a common purpose—to guide others toward a deeper connection with faith. Through their roles in the Archdiocesan Youth Apostolate, their passion for mentoring transforms lives.
“I don’t think of it as my job,” says Gabriel, a retired engineer and parishioner. “I think God has asked me to do this. Seeing young people come closer to Jesus—that’s the kind of joy you can’t compare to anything else.”
“Young people struggle with prayer,” he observes. “They haven’t grown up with the concept of silence. But silence is where we find God’s presence.”
Vi-Vien Nguyen, a university student training to become a STEM teacher, shares this discipleship enthusiasm, evident with her fiancé, Brian, now an RCIA participant. “From the start of our relationship, I prayed for him,” she says. “But faith can’t be forced. It has to unfold naturally.” Guiding Brian to RCIA was a nine-year faith-filled journey through challenges of unworthiness. “Everyone is worthy of God’s love,” she says. “Faith doesn’t require an earth-shattering epiphany. Sometimes, it’s about taking that first step forward.”
For Gabriel, helping others involves teaching the beauty of silence. “I did all the right things growing up—but I couldn’t hear Jesus because the noise around me was so loud. Once I embraced silence, I began to listen to God.”
Vi-Vien reflects on her prayer life. “I used to think of God like a genie,” she laughs. “Now, I see prayer as a relationship. It’s not transactional. And in today’s world of instant gratification, that’s a tough lesson for young people.”
Gabriel Joseph administers ashes to Fr Emil Milat
Gabriel compares prayer to tasting a delicious fruit. “I can describe it, but until they try it themselves, they won’t understand.”
Both acknowledge discipleship’s challenges. “It’s natural to feel frustrated by slow progress,” Vi-Vien says of Brian’s faith and others in her community. “But it’s part of God’s plan.”
Gabriel adds, “Looking back, I see how God prepared me. Now, my focus is on guiding others to Him.”
For Gabriel, the reward is seeing young people grow closer to Jesus. “When I help answer their tough questions, I feel like I’m walking on sacred ground.” For Vi-Vien, walking with others has reaffirmed her faith. “It challenges us to examine what we believe and why.”
“Faith can’t be inherited,” Vi-Vien reflects. “It has to be owned, explored, and made personal.”
For Gabriel and Vi-Vien, mentorship reflects their personal faith journeys. “This is God’s will for me,” says Gabriel. Vi-Vien adds, “It’s a calling I pursue with humility, grace, and determination.”
Through mentorship, Gabriel and Vi-Vien serve as powerful forces, bridging faiths past, present, and future.