Young adults from across the diocese were invited to a gathering at St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Cleveland to get better acquainted, enjoy each other’s company and share potential programming ideas.
The May 1 event was presented by the diocesan Young Adult Ministry and the diocesan Office of Black Catholic Ministries.
Sister Jane Nesmith, SBS, director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries, welcomed attendees as they enjoyed beverages and appetizers. Father Paul Dressler, OFM Cap, SAOLF pastor, offered an opening prayer and mingled with attendees during the cocktail hour before dinner in the parish hall. A DJ provided music.
Megan Lowes-Bolin, director of young adult ministry, said the evening was a chance for young adults from across the diocese to gather informally and have fun.
“I never knew this parish was here,” one attendee said.
Kwami Adoboe-Herrera, whose story of being trafficked as a child, was shared in the September/October 2024 issue of Northeast Ohio Catholic magazine, talked briefly about his experience.
“Boys and men are trafficked,” he said, noting many people are not aware of that since trafficking of girls/women seems to be more well known. His own story involved a trusted adult offering to bring him at age 7 from his family home in Togo to the United States to receive an education. However, he was brought here with falsified documents, given a new identity, abused, starved and put to work until a teacher intervened. Eventually, he was placed in foster care and adopted into a loving home.
“There is a stigma for the men and boys and they often are afraid to come forward,” Adoboe-Herrera said.
Since his story was told in the magazine, he has continued his work to help trafficking survivors. Adoboe-Herrera has rebuilt his life by converting to Catholicism, graduating from college, working as a teacher and beginning Teleios, a nonprofit organization to empower male survivors of human trafficking. He is married with two young children.
Adoboe-Herrera said Teleios provides long-term trauma-informed care, safe housing and support to help male human trafficking survivors reclaim their dignity and life. Leaflets with information about the nonprofit were available to event attendees. He noted housing is needed to help survivors.
Event attendees also were asked to share information about the type of programs they would like to see offered for young adults. “We’re trying to connect more with young adults across the diocese and to offer a variety of programming. We really want your input,” Lowes-Bolin said.
Father Dressler announced that SAOLF will host the next Theology on Tap program, set for 7 p.m. May 20. Father Jeffrey Lindholm will speak on “No One Walks Alone: Finding Community in Christ.” Cost is $5. Click here for details or to reserve a spot.