About Plexus 2026
Neurodiversity is no longer a “fringe” issue – it is the living reality of families sitting in every one of our pews. And yet, many people navigating these challenges still find themselves on the margins: overlooked, misunderstood, or simply unseen. Whether it’s the cost of professional support or the honest uncertainty of not knowing how to respond to “different” behaviors, the result is the same – people feel alone in a community that was made for them. That’s exactly where you as youth leaders come in.
Pope Leo reminds us that genuine peace is built on justice and dignity. We may not be able to stop wars on the other side of the world, but we have enormous power over how we treat the person beside us in our shared spaces. Loving the vulnerable isn’t a lofty ideal; it is our Catholic calling.
Youth leaders told us in our meetings prior to Plexus , parish priests mentioned the concern, and community members have brought the subject – asking how to keep youth ministry truly open and welcoming, without feeling overwhelmed or ill-equipped to do it well.
So this year, Plexus started a conversation to answer that call.
We came together, brought our real experiences to the table, let the Gospel stretch and challenge us, and walked away with some good foundations for practical tools (download initial tool from top of this page) that will help us lead with greater confidence and compassion. Because the goal is not just inclusion as a policy, it is belonging as a culture.
The goal is Parishes and communities where every young person is genuinely known, warmly welcomed, and unconditionally loved.
This is the work. And youth leaders are exactly the right people to lead it.