Episode 068 – Hospitality, Community First Village, and 14 Years of Youth Ministry with Lori Nava

In this episode of The Church Podcast, Christopher sits down with Lori Nava, youth minister at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church in Austin, Texas, through the NFCYM Podcast Network.

Lori shares how she came to ministry almost by accident, trading a culinary arts career for a role she wasn't originally looking for, and how that same love of food and hospitality has shaped the way she leads teens and families today. She also opens up about her nearly nine years as a resident missional at Community First! Village, a supportive housing community for people transitioning out of homelessness, and how that experience has shaped her as both a minister and a disciple.

Together, Christopher and Lori explore the connection between hospitality and evangelization, what it means to build a sustainable ministry that outlasts you, and how collaboration across parish ministries and pastoral support have shaped St. Ignatius's growth.

This conversation is a warm, grounded look at how food, community, and presence can carry the weight of real ministry.

In This Episode

• Lori's path from a culinary arts degree and the restaurant industry into youth ministry at St. Ignatius Martyr
• How cooking and hospitality became central to how Lori welcomes teens and families into community
• The role of Community First! Village in Lori's ministry, and her decision to become a resident missional there
• Balancing two "worlds" of ministry — the parish and the village — without burning out
• Warning signs of burnout Lori watches for, and the spiritual practices that help her stay grounded
• How collaboration between youth ministry, adult faith formation, and religious ed has strengthened St. Ignatius's programs
• The Yeet Squad (Youth Evangelizing and Educating Teens) and building a ministry that can sustain itself beyond any one leader
• The role of pastoral support and the charisms of the Congregation of Holy Cross in shaping the parish's culture of hospitality

About Lori Nava

Lori Nava is the youth minister at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, a Holy Cross parish in Austin, Texas, where she is entering her 14th year on staff. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, she moved to Austin to pursue a culinary arts degree and spent time working in the restaurant industry before an unexpected invitation brought her into youth ministry. For almost nine years, Lori has also lived as a resident missional at Community First! Village, a supportive housing community for men and women transitioning out of homelessness.

Resources Mentioned

• Community First! Village — https://mlf.org/community-first/
• Mobile Loaves & Fishes — https://mlf.org
• St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church — https://st-ignatius.org/

Connect with Lori

• Instagram (Community First! Village):https://www.instagram.com/mobileloaves/
• Instagram (St. Iggy Life Teen): https://www.instagram.com/saintiggylt/
• Instagram (Personal):https://www.instagram.com/loritanori/

ELEVATE YOUR PODCAST EXPERIENCE

The Church Podcast is a proud member of the NFCYM Podcast Network. Check out some of our other shows like the Accompany Podcast and the Ydisciple Podcast.

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• Recorded on Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=christopher-wesley

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