Kathryn B. F

Hi! My name is Kathryn Bachtold, and I am a third-year Psychology student at Concordia University in Montreal. In recent months, my faith has become the strongest pillar and foundation in my everyday life. It has become a central part of who I am, how I relate to others and who I hope to become in the path God has set before me. Over time, my relationship with Jesus has become more personal, and my faith has become the foundation for how I try to live my life and show up for others. I deeply value relationships, community, and meaningful conversations because I believe they are some of the ways we encounter Christ through one another.

Much of my time is spent volunteering and working with children and youth, including through the TAP program at the Montreal Fluency Centre, where I mentor students with learning differences and support their academic and personal growth. My faith inspires this desire to serve and walk alongside others in their personal journeys, whatever they may be. Outside of my studies, I enjoy creative writing, music, and exploring different forms of artistic expression. For me, creativity and relationships are both ways of discovering the beauty of God in everyday life.

Why do I want to be on Mission?

I want to become more steadfast in the Lord and to find deeper fulfillment in serving Him. I desire to root myself more firmly in my faith and to come to know the Lord more intimately, discovering just how deep my faith can truly grow. I feel called to begin living my faith more outwardly, allowing my relationship with the Lord to become bigger, brighter, and more visible in my life.

I want to learn how to give Him glory not only through what I believe, but through the way I live and serve others. I believe that going on mission is a stepping stone the Lord has placed before me in my walk of faith with Him, an opportunity to grow closer to Him while serving those I encounter along the way.
Over the past year and a half, I have had the opportunity to encounter many CCO missionaries at Concordia, at my parish, and at the Rise Up conference. During a particularly difficult season in my life, the CCO community made me feel deeply heard, welcomed, and supported. Through their presence and friendship, I experienced the love of Christ in a very real way. That experience strengthened my faith in ways I never could have imagined and reminded me that we are never meant to walk our journey alone.