From 24–26 July 2026, Tongan Catholic youth from across the United States gathered at St. Timothy Parish, San Mateo, for their annual LATAKI (Catholic Youth Group) gathering under the theme: "To preserve our Catholic faith and empower our Tongan culture in LATAKI by fostering faith practices, cultural education and community engagement."
Young people from Seattle, Arizona, Florida, Texas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Mateo, Sacramento, East Palo Alto, San Bruno, and other communities attended the weekend of prayer, faith-sharing, cultural celebration, and fellowship.
It was inspiring to see the youth take full responsibility for planning and leading the entire program with the guidance of the Tongan Catholic Chaplain, Fr Paea’imuli Vainikolo.
Parents generously supported and accompanied their children throughout the gathering, creating a warm family atmosphere. Among the invited speakers was Sr Kieoma Finau, SMSM, who shared her vocation journey and reflected on how her years in LATAKI helped shape her call to religious life. The gathering was marked by great enthusiasm, excellent preparation, and a joyful spirit that strengthened both faith and Tongan identity.
