Episode 063 – Beauty, Belonging, and Doing Church Everywhere with Gabby Del Rio

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Gabby Del Rio, owner of Simplicity Beauty Bar and former diocesan youth ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Raleigh, through the NFCYM Podcast Network.

Gabby shares how two seemingly different careers — cosmetology and Catholic ministry — were always connected by the same through line: love and identity in God. Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, she grew up in a deeply faith-filled family and carried that foundation through her work as a cosmetology instructor, a parish youth minister, and eventually a diocesan leader before following a clear prompting from the Lord to open her own salon.

Together, Christopher and Gabby explore what it means to do church outside the walls of a parish, how the Recharge model shaped her approach to youth ministry, and what it looks like to build a business that doubles as a place of genuine encounter. They also unpack the fears, the faith, and the unexpected gifts that came with leaving a stable diocesan position to step into something new.

In This Episode

• How Gabby connects cosmetology and Catholic ministry through the twin themes of love and image — and why both careers have always pointed toward identity in Christ
• The story of immigrating from Mexico at age 8 and learning to belong in two cultures, and how that shaped her understanding of identity and faith
• Growing up across the street from a church, with a mother who modeled faith as a way of life — and the beatings that came with skipping the rosary
• The moment at age 21 — a family crisis, a hospital, and her mother praying the rosary in the dark — that turned her faith from obligation to conviction
• Her experience with the Recharge model (Belong, Believe, Behave) and what she discovered young people were truly hungry for in parish ministry
• Hearing the word "leave" during prayer and following it out of her diocesan position — the voices of encouragement, the fears about losing her spiritual footing, and how God confirmed the call
• How Simplicity Beauty Bar became a place of ministry: daily Mass, empathetic listening, creation music, and the client with lupus who keeps coming back with more hair
• The Final Five: Mass as her top productivity tool, Ecclesiastes as her current reading, the worst advice she ever received ("that's a trauma dump"), and her hope that the Church will wake up before it's too late

About Gabby Del Rio

Gabby Del Rio is the owner of Simplicity Beauty Bar in North Carolina and a former youth ministry coordinator and diocesan leader for the Diocese of Raleigh. Originally from Zacatecas, Mexico, she brings over a decade of combined experience in cosmetology, ministry leadership, and coaching. Gabby is known for her empathetic presence, her deep Marian devotion, and her conviction that the Church shows up wherever people are — including in a stylist's chair.

Resources Mentioned

• Ecclesiastes (Sacred Scripture)
• The Recharge Model – Belong, Believe, Behave framework used in youth ministry
• Carlo Acutis – mentioned as an inspiration for daily Mass attendance

Connect with Gabby

• Instagram: Gabby Del Rio
• Facebook: Simplicity Beauty Bar

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Recorded on Riverside - HERE

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