“Peggy [McCourtney] said, ‘Come, this is what I need you to do,’” Nikki said.

Nikki was handed a director’s manual and immediately put to work co-leading Youth Encounter Service, or YES.

Youth Encounter Service is a week-long service project in June, where high school students serve those in need. Over the last three decades, hundreds of students have helped thousands of people in the area.

The beauty of YES is that teens confront poverty that’s in their city, their own backyard. Over the years, youth have repainted homes in Saginaw, served meals at soup kitchens, and this year helped build a house for a single mom in Vassar.

“A phrase I use all the time is: ‘How did you get your feet dirty today?’ Jesus’ feet were dirty... because he [served] people. Every day, our feet should be dirty,” Nikki said.

Each evening, Nikki’s team helped teens process their experiences through the lens of Catholic social teachings. Teens grapple with difficult questions as they confront their misconceptions about poverty. They discover the people they serve laugh, struggle and dream – just like them.

“YES is all about learning and bringing our Catholic social teachings to fulfillment,” she said.

Over the years, Nikki has witnessed change in the hearts and minds of alumni.

“We have students who have graduated and chosen career paths that specifically dealt with our Catholic Social Teachings like immigration law [or] working for the Peace Corps,” she said.

Other alumni include young priests Father Marc Hopps and Father Matthew Gembrowski and many other lifelong disciples.

As for the future, Nikki would love to see YES grow in numbers and reach. Although she understands the importance of sports and summer jobs, she hopes more students commit to YES.

“What you experience that one week will affect your life forever... to understand that many people within our diocese need our help,” she said. “It’s the hardest week, the longest week ... and the best week.”

Save the date

June 16-20, 2025

How you can support YES:

• Give to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development campaign, funded by a Diocesan-wide second collection on Nov. 17
• Volunteers are needed during YES, including daily support and working with the youth