Youth Youth Co-leadership Protagonism Initiative (YCOPI)

Our Youth Co-Leadership Protagonism Initiative

Nominations for YCOPI 2026 open in April 2026! Do consider inviting a youth to participate.

What is YCOPI?

YCOPI is an initiative of the OMY following Pope Francis’ visionary text Christus Vivit (2019) where he outlines a bold paradigm for ministry with young people emphasizing two key concepts: protagonism (allowing youth to lean into their Baptismal Call and agency as people of faith capable of effecting positive change in the world) and accompaniment (walking alongside youth in their faith journeys). YCOPI is a direct engagement of this paradigm while aligning with the missionary vision of Archbishop Nelson Pérez.

In collaboration with Goodfaith, YCOPI is designed to institute youth-led parish-wide Youth Mission Initiatives (YMI) rooted in service and justice. Building on the core tenets of Goodfaith’s long-standing research and proven ministry model in service and social justice, YCOPI provides youth delegates and their accompanying adult with the orientation, training, content, and knowledge needed for long-term ministry sustainability in the areas of service and social justice.

Discover how YCOPI equips teens to discern, lead, and live mission through authentic accompaniment. Marisally Santiago, Director of the OMY, shares the heart of the initiative on NFCYM’s Accompany Podcast, offering insight into how YCOPI forms young people as missionary disciples.

Our Mission

To form youth and adults in missionary discipleship, empowering young leaders to live out their Baptismal Call as protagonists of change within their faith communities.

A Two-Year Process

• Multi-Day Discovery and Discernment Service Immersion + Training Sessions + Commissioning + YMI Kick-Offs: Year 1 focuses on Discovery and Formation and concludes with the initiation of Youth Mission Initiatives. Through a discernment process and in collaboration with their accompanying adults, youth delegates discover how the Spirit is calling them to serve their communities. They also receive training through peer learning cohorts using the “Pathways” corresponding curriculum and in skill sets that facilitate the design and development of their YMIs while continuing to equip adults on youth accompaniment.

These are the Youth Mission Initiatives being designed by our YCOPI 2025 Cohort:

• 4 Touchpoints: Year 2 focuses on the accompaniment of youth delegates and their accompanying adults as they implement their YMIs in their communities.

YCOPI’s two-year cycle places a particular emphasis on cultivating participants’ understanding of the Eucharist as “the source and summit” of their Christian call to build the Kingdom.

YCOPI Objectives

• Equip youth to imagine and lead a YOUTH MISSION INITIATIVE (YMI)s in their respective communities. These youth delegates, in turn, engage their own communities and “spheres of influence” in whatever their chosen YMI is.
• Deepen youth delegates’ skills and spirituality through cognitive exercises (for leadership training and skill development), as well as catechetical and theological practices (for spiritual discernment and transformation).
• Empower adults through the skills of accompaniment so they can effectively walk with these youth delegates throughout the process.

We are confident this initiative will be a transformative experience not only for its participants but their parish communities and the entire Church of Philadelphia!