For a short time Gabriela Castañeda was the coordinator of diocesan Hispanic Youth Ministry. It took her only a few months to become well known around the diocese, given her enthusiasm and deep faith. However, she recently opted for a consecrated life and left the diocese.

The Youth Office is once again blessed with the arrival of Sabina Boet, from San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador in Central America. Boet has "a deep faith life and a lifetime commitment to God as a consecrated virgin."

Boet was raised in a very Catholic family, with her parents and two sisters. She said she always has been "active in Church ministries, including sacramental preparation, prayer groups, Bible studies and youth groups."

Boet said she heard the call from God to consecrate her life when she was in high school.

At that age Boet also wanted to become a lawyer. In 1999, she left her country to study law in Spain, where she continued her involvement in the Church. "St. Helen Parish was my parish in Spain. I helped in different capacities, including teacher of Catechetics and lecturer."

After she received a law degree, Boet traveled to the United States to pursue a master in theology with a specialization in catechetics. She enrolled at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. She did not have any problem with English because she learned this language as a girl. She also speaks French and Italian.

"I decided to learn Italian because years ago while in Italy, I heard the pope speak this language," said Boet, "and I understood nothing. It was very frustrating. So I learned my fourth language. Now I would like to learn Latin.

"My experience in Ohio was in terms of spirituality a great experience. We had three Masses per day, sometimes with 400 students. Just the contrary happened in Spain. There weren’t many young people interested in religion.

"It is beautiful to share your faith with young people and follow with them the path of Jesus," said Boet.

Regarding her new job in the diocese, Boet said that it is what she was looking for, to work with young people, in particular Hispanics. "For me it is a privilege to serve our Church in this new job. It is the reason I decided to move from Ohio to Arlington."

As coordinator of Hispanic Youth Ministry, she wants to bring young Hispanics into the life of Church and work closer with youth pastoral coordinators. "Now I am in the process of understanding the realities of the diocese and the world of Hispanics youths," said Boet, who has been visiting different parishes and diocesan Hispanic groups.

Recently she attended a meeting with Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde at the Spanish Apostolate office, where nearly 120 Hispanic youths conversed with the bishop, diocesan priests, Fathers José Hoyos and Richard Mullins, with Antonio Pérez-Alcalá, director for Hispanic youth in this office.

"We need to tell our youths that our Church needs them. That they have the energy, enthusiasm, idealism, that they have the things needed to positively transform our world,", she said

Boet was consecrated as a virgin in Texcoco, México, in 2003 by auxiliary Bishop Juan Manuel Mancilla. She worked there with poor children and in catechetics and literate programs.

Boet enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures. She loves to do missionary work and help the homeless.

In the near future she would like to get a doctorate in canon law.