Hi, my name is Camila Fernandez and I am currently in my first year of Criminal Justice at Mount Royal University. In the future, I hope to become a lawyer but more specifically a criminal defence or immigration lawyer. I was born in South Carolina, U.S.A. but moved to Canada when I was 4 and grew up in Calgary, AB. My parents and my older brother are from Uruguay in South America therefore I grew up speaking Spanish. My mother and father have done a lot for me and I am forever grateful for the constant support and love that they have given to me. Although at times we did not have a lot of money and my parents worked long hours in order to provide for my brother and I, I never felt alone nor like a second thought. I was not even aware that we weren’t the richest family growing up because my parents were constantly showering me with love.
Growing up, I went to Mass and did my First Communion and Confirmation, however, I never really understood what the purpose was and who God was. Throughout my education it was difficult to create a relationship with God because none of my friends were Catholic or if they were, it was only by name. I was so absorbed by society and fell into the wrong crowds and grew severely depressed. I felt so alone and that caused me to have a very distant relationship with God until I went to university and was approached during outreach hosted by CCO. I attended the Fall retreat and was touched wholeheartedly and felt God for the first time ever! I was reintroduced to God and felt the extent of His love and never wanted to let it go. I never want to go back to not feeling His love and mercy and want others to experience this feeling. Now I am involved with CCO and have given my yes to lead a faith study and have created such pure and beautiful friendships with people that I can truly rely on.
Why do I want to be on Mission?
I want to go on mission because I want to share the Lord’s love and works and show to others that He is truly calling us, we just have to listen. I believe that the Lord has called me to go on this mission because my journey may help others to seek His love and heal them. I truly believe that I can help others find the Lord. I am also excited to go on this mission because I want to grow in my faith as well and can’t wait to experience His love in a community of other young adults who love the Lord as much as I do during WYD.
