Church, Are You Listening? The Path to Synodality

The Emmaus story evokes a relevant message about listening in our faith journey, especially to the younger generation who says, “the Church wants me, but doesn’t listen.”The celebration of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines had brought to life myriads of stories that make up a larger fabric of intercultural and intergenerational narratives.It opens avenues of interweaving the past and the present to find meaning in our life. Pope Francis exclaims, “Each young person’s heart should be considered “holy ground.”As we take off our shoes and listen, our hearts burn within!! Are we a Church who really accompanies the young people who feel misunderstood?In the world of the “gen z’s and nones” let us wake up and listen to the mystery of their unfinished stories.

Clarissa Ann Martinez was born and raised in Manila, Philippines, migrated as a teenager and now a local of Los Angeles.  She is currently Director of Evangelization, Liturgy and Faith Formation in St. John Eudes, Chatsworth, California, a parish community that embodies its core values in forming communities of holy intimacy and fruitful discipleship in response to New Evangelization in the Church. With Catholicism continuously being lived out globally, including the digital continent, it made her decide, as a hobby, to independently engage in an ongoing exploration of the viability of new media, with hopes to enhance the contemplative spiritual life in the ecclesial movement; to enhance “communion of communities” in the Church. She is a wife and first-time mom to a three year old son and engages in ecclesial projects including co-leading the national efforts of commemoration of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines and the USCCB's Journey Together-Young Adult synodal journey. She turns to a life of contemplative spirituality being the key to a full expression of God's holy exchange of love in the sacraments, family life, and living liturgy in God's People.


Bishop Oscar Solis, D.D. Born in San Jose City, Philippines, Bishop Oscar Solis was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Cabanatuan, Philippines, and has served in the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., and in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, La. In 2004, he was ordained as the first Filipino American to be consecrated as a Bishop for the Los Angeles Archdiocese. In 2017, he was appointed as the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah. Bishop Solis is the Chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs, a member of the Committee of Cultural Diversity in the Church, and serves on Catholic Relief Services’ Board of Trustees as an Episcopal Liaison. He is also the founding member of Crossroads Pregnancy Resource Center in Thibodaux, La.


Chris Estrella is a music artist, speaker, retreat leader and liturgist from San Bernardino, Calif. He has performed, given workshops and led music and worship at conferences around the country as well as performing internationally. Estrella has been a parish youth minister for over 16 years and serves as the Director of the San Bernardino Diocesan Grand Choir. He is a dynamic faith storyteller, presenting on behalf of Oregon Catholic Press - Spirit & Song. He often ministers alongside his wife Alex and their daughter, Eevee.