In an effort to increase the amount of support to Youth Ministers throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto, we have assembled a team of Regional Liaisons. It is our hope that these youth ministers, all with many years of experience, will be able to significantly enhance the existing support that I and the entire OCY team provide on an ongoing basis.
MARIA ESPINOZA
Maria is the full-time youth minister at St. Patrick's Parish in Mississauga. Growing up at St. Pat’s, she attended youth group on Saturday nights and loved being a part of a faith community. After encountering Christ at 16 on a retreat, Maria knew that her vocation was to serve young people and tell them about Jesus. Since then, she’s been ministering to the youth at St. Patrick's for the better part of 18 years. Maria likes wearing all black, clean fonts and lukewarm coffee.
Maria is the Regional Liaison for parishes in the Toronto core area including downtown and Scarborough. She can be reached by email here.
ERIC LUSCOMBE
Eric grew up at St. Timothy's parish where after the insisting of family he got involved with the youth ministry. After 7 years of participating and volunteering at Edge and Life Teen he had no doubt in his mind that God was calling him to ministry. He completed a degree in Catholic Studies and began work as the full-time youth minister at his current parish; Holy Family in Bolton. He is very proud of the fact that he is the sole person to have attended Edge camp in every capacity - camper, teen leader, adult leader, and youth minister.
Eric is the Regional Liaison for parishes in the West end including Etobicoke, Mississauga, and Brampton. He can be reached by email here.
DAVE MCKENDRICK
Dave has been involved in youth ministry at St. Paul the Apostle Parish since the beginning back in 2007. First as a volunteer and now as Youth Minister, leading EDGE and Life Teen groups, running school retreats at the church, confirmation preparation and serving the parish family.
Dave is the Regional Liaison for parishes in the Northern part of the archdiocese including Barrie, Orillia, and Midland. He can be reached by email here.
PAM CLERIGO
Pam grew up at St. Patrick's in Markham, participating in and later, volunteering for EDGE and Lifeteen. She encountered the Lord for the first time in high school which changed the trajectory of her whole life, revealing a deep desire to create the space for Christ-centred community where others can know of God's love for them. While completing a degree in religious education at Tyndale University, the door opened for her to lead the youth ministry at her home parish where she has been serving at since 2018.
Pam is the Regional Liaison for parishes in the East including Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and Pickering. She can be reached by email here.