About Us
We are Journey
Grow here. Go Anywhere.
Journey is a youth ministry initiative of Southside Parish Renewal, serving teens across Chicago’s South Side.
We help teens become who they are called to be, belong to a community rooted in care, and believe in a faith that is lived through God’s love, service, and action.
Whether you are a teen discovering your path or an adult ready to invest in the next generation, you are welcome here. Together, we live out what matters—fellowship, faith, and service.
Teens grow here to go anywhere.
A community united to support our local teens
Journey was shaped by listening to teens, parents, pastors, and educators who told us what they seek in a youth ministry. We are here to support every teen’s journey – wherever they are in life and faith. You will find a place where values come to life through Catholic Social Teaching and action.
- Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching
- Built alongside South Side teens and leaders
- Grounded in service and shared values
Our vision
Journey envisions a generation of youth awakened to the presence of God, living spiritually grounded and meaningful lives that transform faith into action.
Our mission
Journey is a youth ministry initiative of Southside Parish Renewal that fosters the spiritual and emotional growth of teens from parishes across Chicago’s Southwest Side. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching, Journey accompanies young people on a spiritual path that nurtures self-development, active community engagement, and a lived relationship with God. Through innovative programming, Journey empowers youth to embrace life with courage, purpose, and hope.
OUR VALUES
There are three paths on this journey
Our journey begins with the question: What does it mean to be spiritually grounded, and how do we grow into that life? We believe that three paths lead to our destination.
Become the person you are called to be
Build self-awareness, develop your gifts, and grow into an authentic self.
Belong to a community that cares and serves others
Find friendship and community in a space that values connection, support, and shared purpose.
Believe that you are loved by God and can live a life of purpose and hope
Trust in God’s love to lead your way.
Our team
The people behind Journey
Meet the South Side locals dedicated to walking this path with you
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Executive director
Ten years building youth programs on the South Side. Believes in teens.
Placeholder name
Executive director
Ten years building youth programs on the South Side. Believes in teens.
Placeholder name
Executive director
Ten years building youth programs on the South Side. Believes in teens.
Placeholder name
Executive director
Ten years building youth programs on the South Side. Believes in teens.
Placeholder name
Executive director
Ten years building youth programs on the South Side. Believes in teens.
Placeholder name
Executive director
Ten years building youth programs on the South Side. Believes in teens.
A message from
our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
I am honored to join you in supporting the spiritual and emotional well-being of our young people during this extraordinary moment in history. Rapid cultural and technological change, coupled with a sense of uncertainty, can leave many young people feeling disconnected from one another and from God. It is within this reality that Journey finds its purpose.
Our mission is to create opportunities for young people to experience personal growth, engage meaningfully in our communities, and develop a lived relationship with God. We believe that when young people are grounded in faith, they are better equipped to meet life’s challenges with courage, purpose, and hope.
Thank you for being part of this shared mission to support and uplift the next generation.
Carol Larson, PhD
Executive Director
Journey,
Southside Parish Renewal