WHAT IS IT?

(CAR - pay / VARE - boom)
"Carpe Verbum" is Latin for "Seize the Word." We know we should be reading and praying the Bible every day... so why don't we actually do it? Carpe Verbum is step-by-step guide to your daily prayer life, which is rooted in the Word of God. It's designed specifically for you as a Catholic teen.
Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ
St. Jerome
ON YOUR PHONE
Every morning we'll text you a link to a blog post with the day's prayer.
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EVERY DAY
You'll get a new prayer every single morning.
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BIBLICAL
The prayers are based on Scripture, following the Catholic Church's readings for each day.
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TIMELY
Since it follows the Church's readings, it's always relevant to the liturgical year.
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LOCK SCREEN IMAGE
Every prayer includes an image formatted for your phone's lock screen to remind you to keep praying all day long.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Every morning at 5:30 AM CST (7:00 AM on Saturdays and Sundays) we'll text you a link to a blog post with the day's prayer. Using a method of praying the Scriptures called "Lectio Divina" (Latin for "Divine Reading"), we'll walk you through your prayer time each day.
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Note: We have an alternative for those who do not wish to receive the text. You can also sign up to receive a daily email at 7:00 AM.

WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?

Set aside 10-15 minutes every single day, and pray through the day's Carpe Verbum. This 10-15 minutes should be exclusively time with you and Jesus -- don't be doing anything else. You'll probably need to work pretty hard to find that time, but make sure you carve it out of your schedule, commit to it, and never give up on it.

​Do you want to deepen your personal relationship with Jesus? Start here. As you listen to His Word every day, you will learn to recognize His voice more clearly in every part of your life, and you will grow in intimacy with Christ.
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​Text CARPE to 84576 to join!
Or sign up to receive emails instead.

Connect with us on Social Media!

WHO ARE WE?

One day, in a very long meeting about something totally different in Lent of 2016 that involved lots of coffee, three youth ministers asked a question: what would our ministries look like if our teens were committed to having a daily prayer life? Not sort of committed, or interested in the idea, but truly and genuinely committed. After a very short conversation, we realized that would be the best thing we could possibly hope for. Teens who have a deeper relationship with God developed in and through prayer? When that happens, and your heart is truly set on fire for Christ, you’re ready to change the world. After some more coffee, a discussion full of big dreams, and the creation of a new website, Carpe Verbum was born...

Our Team

FR. ERVIN CALIENTE

SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Fr. Ervin Pio M. Caliente is a Parochial Vicar at St. Mary Church in Huntley, IL. He was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in 2002 as a religious brother in a monastic community for eight years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy at Our Lady of Peace College Seminary in the Philippines and theological studies at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 6, 2015 for the Diocese of Rockford, IL.

LISA KENDZIOR

CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR OF MISSION DEVELOPMENT
Lisa Kendzior is working in her dream job she never knew she wanted as a Junior High Youth Minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Crystal Lake, IL. She became a youth minister after God literally told her too. She has a great love for the Chicago Cubs and her parents took her to Wrigley Field before they had her baptized. Lisa is especially skilled at falling down and sneezing louder than everyone else. 

SEAN NORRIS

DIRECTOR OF EVANGELIZATION
Sean Norris is a Chicago transplant from the very hilly city of Pittsburgh. He is currently the youth minister at Our Lady of the Wayside in Arlington Heights. Sean is a huge sports fan and loves playing volleyball and basketball while jamming out to some Lecrae and Andy Mineo. He's just a regular dude trying to find his own unique path to sainthood. #sainthoodsomeday

MAGGIE OVERBECK

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Maggie Overbeck is a native Texan, who by the will of God, ended up in the midwest, where she now serves as the Assistant Director of Youth Ministry at St. Mary's in Huntley, IL. Maggie is a lifelong fan of the Houston Astros and loves tacos, Dr. Pepper, and puppies. She strives to live by the words of St. John Paul II: "Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure."

JASON THEOBALD

CO-FOUNDER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jason Theobald works for 5 Stones in Sycamore, IL. He lives with his family in Dekalb, IL and is a fan of Chicago sports and the band Penny & Sparrow, listens to way too many podcasts, and loves the adventure of life he's been called to. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear." 1 John 4:18. Jason is the Executive Director of Carpe Verbum.