Hi everyone!

My name is Mariana Vega, I’m 17 years old, and I am a proud member of the Salesian Youth Movement at Our Lady Help of Christians in Watsonville. If you’ve been to the Oratory, youth group, or summer camp, you’ve probably seen me volunteering with the kids! I love working with children, and I’m currently preparing to become a First Communion teacher. But today I want to share the "why" behind my service, and the journey God is taking me on.

So, for a little background info/testimony:

As a child, I knew God was real, but I couldn't feel Him. I was struggling with an eating disorder and deep depression. I questioned why a loving God would let His children suffer so much. Yet, even in the darkest moments, a tiny spark of hope refused to go out.

At fourteen, I attended a camp with sisters and watched their rooted, genuine joy. The moment that changed my life was small: one of the sisters remembered my name. To a girl who felt forgotten, it meant everything. I realized it wasn’t just her, it was God reminding me that He had never forgotten me.

Soon after, during a retreat in Adoration, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and love. It was in that silence that I realized I wasn’t here on earth just to live; I was here to live in faith and spread God's love wherever I go.

Since then, God has been reaching for me with a steady, patient invitation. I’ve found my home in the Salesian family, and I want to spend my life showing other "invisible" children that they are seen, known, and loved by the Creator.

I now feel a very strong calling to Religious Life. I want to spend my life with the man I love (JESUS!). To take this next step, I need to attend "Come and See" events and vocational retreats. Because my family is a low-income family, we cannot afford the travel, retreat fees, or the theological books I need for my studies. Soooo I’m starting this GoFundMe to ask for your help in providing the resources I lack so I can focus on listening to God’s voice.

Whether it’s $5 or just a prayer, every bit helps me get closer to answering this call.

Thank you for supporting my calling, and may God bless you!

RELIGIOUS ORDERS I AM THINKING OF:

Salesian SIsters

Sister of life

Dominican sisters

Franciscan Sisters

Daughters of St. Paul