Gabrielle V.

My name is Gabby. I’m 23, and I come from a big family from rural Ontario – I’m the second youngest of 8 kids. We were raised Catholic and I have practiced my faith all my life. I have a passion for life and I love music: I’m a hobbyist guitar player and I sing in the Adoremus Choir at St. Patrick’s Basilica, my home parish in Ottawa. I attend Mass every weekend (more often if I can manage it) and I have recently been developing a devotion to the Three Archangels and the Precious Blood of Jesus.

I’m currently studying pyschology at Carleton University. I’m in my third year, and I plan on going into a Master’s program so I can apply my knowledge in therapy and counselling as a professional. I really believe that our God is never far from those who suffer, and I hope to help people work through their trauma and come to know Him better by doing so.

Why do I want to be on Mission?

I was at Rise Up 2025 in Montreal when I felt the Lord move in my heart, and I had the sudden, absolute certainty that I was going on mission this summer. It didn’t strike me like lightning or descend in holy fire; rather, the conviction settled inside me, just as certain as the sky is blue or that the sun rises in the east. I just knew, and I could no more argue with it than I could argue those facts.

Every objection I tried to raise against going on mission was knocked out one by one. The exchange I had with the Lord went a litte like this: I can’t afford it! Well, that is what donations are for. What will I do about work? St. Joseph will take care of it. I’m not cut out to be a missionary! Nobody really is, and that’s why the Holy Spirit goes with you.

Eventually I had to stop trying to argue with the God of Heaven, Alpha and Omega, King of the Universe and accept that if He wanted me to do something, He had a plan and He wouldn’t ask me to do something impossible, and He certainly wouldn’t leave me to do it alone. Did I expect the call to mission? Nope! But since accepting it, it has become a great source of joy and an opportunity to learn to trust the Lord in new ways. I believe God will bring so much good out of this mission for both myself and for all the people we encounter.