Dearborn — It is common today to see teenagers being dragged to Mass by their parents and getting caught up in the secular culture, says 22-year-old Ashley Hursin.

Hursin knows from personal experience: “When I was in high school, I didn’t know who I was or what I truly believed in … I know first-hand what it’s like to be a teenager and getting caught up in what society wants or expects from teens.”

Converting to the Catholic faith as a teenager, Hursin felt a call to minister to young people who felt similarly lost amid the pressures of society.

“I first heard about NET Ministries when I was a sophomore in college,” said Hursin, who studied theology, catechetics and youth ministry at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, and today attends Divine Child Parish in Dearborn.

Encountering some peers who had previously served in NET Ministries — a Catholic nonprofit that sends young adults around the world to evangelize teenagers — Hursin reflected on the opportunity.

“I prayed that the Holy Spirit would lead me to exactly where He needed me to be,” said Hursin, explaining that NET Ministries sends “missionaries” around the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia and Uganda.

“It wasn’t much after that when I found myself applying to NET Canada,” Hursin said. “I strongly believe that the Holy Spirit is leading me to exactly where God needs me to be, even if it is out of the country.”

NET stands for “National Evangelization Teams,” and carries out its mission through personal witness, forming young people in the faith and training youth leaders for ongoing evangelization.

NET Canada meets these goals by traveling throughout the country and leading retreats at parishes and schools over 10 months.

Hursin said NET Canada missionaries begin with a five-week training phase, followed by team assignments, followed by the assignment of the province in which they will serve.

The six teams, composed of six or seven men and women, will each lead more than 125 retreats within that time, reaching about 25,000 youth.

“During that time, each missionary will only have one suitcase and a backpack,” said Hursin, who is currently fundraising $6,500 to support herself and the program in the following months. “Each team will be given a van that will allow us to travel from parish to parish.”

Hursin said her favorite saint is St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine of Hippo, who prayed for her son’s conversion for years before he left his sinful lifestyle and became devoted to the Catholic faith.

“I’m inspired by St. Monica’s dedication to God and strong prayer life,” she said. “I want to emulate St. Monica’s compassion for those who have yet to find God.”

NET Ministries

NET Ministries is nonprofit and relies on donations from the community. To help Ashley Hursin raise her $6,500 goal to support the program, visit netcanada.ca, click the “Support a Missionary” tab at the top, and find “Ashley Hursin” under the “International” category.

Contact Hursin at [email protected] or call her at (734) 788-0101 to learn more.