Learn, Serve, Lead: the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement
Youth leaders stand as they conduct a meeting with students for the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement group at Vietnamese Martyrs Catholic Church in Arlington, on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (NTC/Ben Torres)
American teenagers growing up in 2025 face a myriad of issues from cyberbullying to navigating complex family relationships. When something troubles Kindly Nguyen, the 15-year-old finds support and guidance in a faith-based organization that fosters not only spiritual growth but life skills needed to become a productive, compassionate member of society.
The high school sophomore joined the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement (VEYM) in kindergarten and spends Sunday afternoons learning how to model Jesus while her peers go to the movies or play video games. She doesn’t consider attending the meetings a sacrifice.
“It’s more of a privilege to me. I like to go,” claimed the young Our Lady of Fatima in Fort Worth parishioner. “It really helps me connect with kids who have the same faith and pushes you to do more spiritually.”
The bond that forms with like-minded young people and leaders helps her manage the challenges that come with growing up in a stress-filled, secularized world.
“You think you’re going through something alone then realize other kids have the same problem and you get to talk about it in a faith environment,” Nguyen added. “We’re growing up together with God.”
Trina Cao, the teen’s mother, never had the opportunity to join a VEYM group, but she wanted her daughter to have the experience.
“It allows her to have a foundation of faith, meet friends, and help the community,” said Cao, a spiritual supporter of the organization. “It’s a good way for teens to build good morals and values they can take into everyday life.”
A storied history
The Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement can trace its history to 1844 when the Apostleship of Prayer was started by a French priest who wanted to encourage his Jesuit students to have deeper devotion to prayer. His ideas about daily prayer and sacrificing for the needs of the Church soon spread across the French countryside, influencing St. Therese of Lisieux who became a member.
A youth branch of the Apostleship of Prayer, the Eucharistic Crusade, was established in 1915 and later was renamed the Eucharistic Youth Movement. As the Eucharistic Youth Movement grew internationally, French missionaries brought it to Vietnam.
When Vietnamese refugees arrived in the U.S. after the fall of Saigon in 1975, they brought their faith and dedication to the organization with them.
Today, there are more than 130 VEYM parish-sponsored chapters across the U.S. with approximately 2,500 youth leaders and more than 25,000 youth members. The VEYM also has a presence in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Norway.
More than book work
“It’s essentially a worldwide youth group,” explained Anna Vu, chapter president at Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Arlington. “Our goal is to make sure kids understand their faith. We want them to understand the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of our religion. As they grow older, we expose them to more service projects.”
Children participating in the ministry range in age from 7 to 17 and are divided into the Seedling division (ages 7 to 9), the Search division (ages 10 to 12), the Companion division (ages 13 to 15), and the Knight of the Eucharist division (ages 16 to 17).
“Once they turn 18, a member can stay and train to become a youth leader,” said the Texas native who first joined the movement as a 10-year-old living in Austin. “Our leaders are 18 to 65.”
The VEYM supplements the parish’s standard religious education and sacramental preparation programs.
“Children are exposed to more than just theory and book information. We give them examples of how they can live their faith in the outside world — not just in a ‘bubble’ or classroom,” Vu insisted.
Nurturing vocations
Father Linh Nguyen credits his parents and childhood in the VEYM for strengthening a prayer life that led to his vocation to the priesthood. He joined the organization as a 6-year-old parishioner at Christ the King, advanced to youth leader at the age of 18, and continues to support the ministry’s events as a member of the clergy.
“The four pillars of the organization — prayer, communion, sacrifice and apostolic work — feed everything we do: our activities, involvement, training, development, and growth in faith,” said the pastor of St. George Parish, recalling his years of wearing the distinctive VEYM scarf. “When we talked about prayer, we’d go to Adoration. We also learned different prayers and methodologies and how to integrate them into our prayer life.”
Time spent in front of the Eucharist helped cultivate a relationship with Jesus.
“I was able to hear and discern His call and then put it into practice by serving my brothers and sisters and seeing Christ in my neighbor,” added Fr. Nguyen, who was ordained in 2021. “I knew the priesthood was what I wanted to do.”
Mutual respect between leaders, discipline, and the willingness of youth to participate explains the organization’s success. Dedication is another factor.
“Perhaps the most unrecognized part of the organization is the commitment of our young people who are youth leaders,” he enthused. “They are willing to make that sacrifice every weekend and three or four days during the week to prep lessons, train, and devote themselves to educating future generations.
That’s always been the core of the organization.”
A different formation
Serving as the new chapter president of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement at Our Lady of Fatima Parish requires time and commitment, “but it’s worth it,” Kim Nguyen told the North Texas Catholic.
The UTA academic advisor was teaching religious education at the parish when friends encouraged her to join the VEYM 18 years ago.
“It definitely made my faith stronger,” Nguyen said. “I learned to love more, sacrifice more, and do more acts of service than when I was a Sunday school teacher. It’s a different formation.”
Once a month, the entire chapter of 150 children and 45 leaders attend Adoration together. Summer camps, retreats, and lock-ins augment opportunities for prayer, instruction, and charitable service. Leaders remind their young charges to sacrifice something extra during Advent or Lent and find a way to incorporate the pope’s monthly intention into daily life.
“I’ve seen kids grow in faith, but they may not realize it until they’re older,” Nguyen suggested. “We help them be better people. That’s part of our motto — not just to have faith but, as good citizens, go out into the world to do good deeds.”
Making saints
Growing up a cradle Catholic, Phuong Mai went through the motions during liturgies.
“As I grew older and more mature, I saw there was a gap in my understanding of the richness of the faith,” said the Vietnamese Martyrs parishioner.
Years spent in the VEYM awakened her spiritually and introduced a coterie of faith-filled people who enhanced and reinforced her beliefs.
“I grew passionate about the faith. The more I learned, the more I loved, and now I try to build that into our children,” added Mai, the wife of diaconate candidate Hoang Do. “You not only have to live your faith inside the church but outside as well.”
It’s a message she shares with her own four children who are now members of the parish’s VEYM.
“I drill into my children that if you are going to be in any faith-based activities, society, or group, the best place is one grounded in the Eucharist,” explained the human resources professional. “I try to bring morality and the beauty of the Church into every aspect of their life. My job is not to make them a doctor or professionally successful. My job is to make them a saint.”