Daniela Hernandez: 15 Catholic young adults who inspire us

FORT SMITH

Daniela Hernandez is guiding the next generation of bilingual students.

The 24-year-old is one of four siblings who attended Immaculate Conception and Trinity Junior High schools in Fort Smith. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from UA Fort Smith, Hernandez began teaching the preschool two class at Christ the King School. 

“We began the dual immersion program, teaching in both Spanish and English, at Christ the King during my first year as a teacher. We have learned so much in those first two years and the children are thriving, absorbing both languages like little sponges,” she said. 

At her parish, Immaculate Conception Church, she teaches confirmation and PRE classes and leads a young women’s Bible Study group every Wednesday.

“I want to encourage young adults in college to get involved with their faith,” Hernandez said. “Getting involved with a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) Bible Study group online was a pivotal experience in my faith life. I hope that the members of my young women’s Bible Study group at IC will be able to go as a group to next year’s FOCUS conference in Salt Lake City.” 

If you could watch the live taping of any show (past or present), what would it be and why?

“I would love to see a scene from ‘The Chosen’ taped. This summer, I went to the Eucharistic Congress, and Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus, was one of our speakers. He said that they had just finished filming the scene of the Last Supper. As he spoke the words of that script at the Congress, it was as if we could see and hear Jesus through him and among the people there.”

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