About Wyatt
Wyatt's background
Wyatt Olivas is a notable young figure in the Catholic Church, recognized for his active participation and advocacy for youth engagement. Hailing from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and currently an education major at the University of Wyoming, Olivas developed an early interest in Catholic teachings within his vibrant Hispanic community.
One of his most significant achievements came when he was selected as the youngest delegate from the U.S. to the worldwide Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis. This multi-year process in Rome focused on listening and discerning together what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today. Olivas's participation at such a young age highlighted the Church's desire to incorporate younger voices in its future. During the Synod, he even gained attention for having Pope Francis sign a playful "permission slip" to excuse him from his university classes.
Beyond the Synod, Olivas serves as a youth minister at St. Paul's Newman Center in Laramie WY. He is also a member of the International Youth Advisory Board, which advises the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, serving the Pope and the universal Church. Additionally, he acts as a diocesan pastoral council representative for the Diocese of Cheyenne, assisting in decisions to unite the church and amplify community voices.
Wyatt Olivas is known for his commitment to fostering a more inclusive and participatory Church, believing that every voice matters and that the Church is a home for all. His work emphasizes the importance of walking together in faith and bringing young people into positions of responsibility within the Church.
Where are you going?
"Stepping into uncomfortable situations pushes us beyond our faith's comfort zone." cited from "where are you going?" Spicy Catholic Blog
Bring it home
"The document is our guide to synodality, but can’t contain the whole of it. Synodality doesn’t come through a piece of paper but through the person." "Bring it home", cited from The Tablet
Newman University News
"If you can’t trust the person you are walking with, how can they bring you to Christ?"
Cited from "Youngest Synod delegate in U.S. to speak at Newman University" Newman University News
Someone Will Let You In
"The synod’s key message to young people is: ‘This is your Church, too.’ We’re all on this mission together."
Cited from "Someone Will Let You In", The Tablet.
U.S. Latinos are the future of the church. They deserve a place at the Synod
"No matter who sits in the pew next to you, say good morning and give them a smile."
Cited from "U.S. Latinos are the future of the church. They deserve a place at the Synod", America Magazine.
Catholic Youth Are Assets, Not Problems
“When he was ‘figuring life out’ during his transition between high school and college, Pope Francis’s message to walk together as a synodal Church spoke deeply to him. Wyatt is now sure that ‘for the rest of my life I want to live like this…seeing our brothers and sisters and talking to them—talking with them and not talking for them.’ He was inspired by Fr. Timothy Radcliffe’s invitation to ‘let yourself be emptied and be filled by other people and by the Holy Spirit.’”
Cited from "Catholic Youth Are Assets, Not Problems", Commonweal Magazine.
