DAYTONA BEACH | Young adults are flocking to Damascus Nights at the Basilica of St. Paul in Daytona Beach, building relationships with each other and the Lord. Maria Flores began her role as Catechetical Leader at the parish in August 2025, shortly after obtaining her master’s degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. When Flores arrived, she met a few people who expressed interest in forming a group. “There is indeed a hunger from young adults to come close to God and experience Him personally and directly,” shares Flores.
To her surprise, 37 young adults joined the first Damascus Night. Flores credits the Lord for the turnout. “More than anything, I would say it was God’s hunger for the young adults here, God’s hunger to bring them together, to bring them to Himself.”
The goal of Damascus Nights is simple. “Our vision is just a personal and direct encounter with God through an openness to the Holy Spirit, so that characterizes everything that we do,” Flores said. “Any time we encounter the Lord, we are converted. We are transformed even more deeply into Him.”
The group’s name comes from the life-changing experience St. Paul, the basilica’s patron, had on the road to Damascus. “Our Lord revealed Himself to Paul in a personal encounter and a powerful encounter, so we want the nights to be like that, where people come, and they have their own personal, direct, and powerful encounter with Jesus,” Flores said.
A typical gathering begins with time for everyone to talk and catch up. The night continues with Bible study, usually lasting around 45 minutes. After a period of prayer, typically held in the basilica, there is time for fellowship during a potluck dinner. They have also hosted testimonies followed by question-and-answer sessions, guided meditation and some praise and worship music.
Joe and Chrissy Chessa shared their story at the first Damascus Nights. Parishioners at Prince of Peace Parish in Ormond Beach, the couple met Flores at daily Mass and became friends. Joe shared his story of suffering a paralyzed right arm during a near-fatal motorcycle accident, addiction to opiate painkillers, and journey with loss, grief and rehabilitation. Chrissy shared her battle with Lyme disease, and how she found healing, peace, and grew closer to God through the experience. They spoke with nearly everyone in attendance after their talk, and the friendly atmosphere brings them back week after week. “They’re just really great people who are… longing for a holier relationship with the Lord, and so that’s the beauty of (the) community,” Chrissy said.
“You’ll make friends and you’ll do other things other than the (young adult) group,” Joe added. People from the group will host movie nights and attend local theology on tap events together. The Chessas also host Bible study at their home each week where they review the Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday Mass and allow participants to share what the Lord placed on their hearts.
The community formed is “really characterized by openness to each other, a real spirit of hospitality and welcoming’ shared Flores. She recalls one young man from Washington state in town for a work trip who joined Damascus Nights after seeing an ad in the parish bulletin. “He came and he felt right at home.”
Two men in the group are discerning a call to the priesthood and another applied to the next diaconate cohort offered by the diocese. Flores notes “we even have some people who have wanted to become Catholic after they came, because it’s just the community that they were looking for.”
For parishes that do not have a young adult ministry, Flores insists on two key ingredients to build a successful ministry: simplicity and a willingness to listen to God’s plan. “Be willing to listen in prayer to what God wants to do and then just be firm in that, believe in that, and go from there…. That’s where you really get authenticity, that’s when people encounter the Lord, when you simply obey what He wants and follow.” For example, letting the Holy Spirit work through each participant as they prayerfully read Scripture and share what stands out to them allows the focus to be “on Jesus and what He desires to say in that particular moment” rather than a preplanned agenda.
“Sometimes you don’t necessarily have a young adult community, but if you have that foundation with Jesus and allow Him to work, He can do just such an amazing thing,” said Chrissy. She recommends drawing close to Jesus in the Eucharist through the liturgy and Adoration to build a relationship of depth and trust in the Lord.
Flores said there is an open invitation to all young adults in Volusia County “to come and be open to a personal encounter with Jesus.” She encourages anyone interested to take the first step and join them on “this amazing adventure with our Lord and our Blessed Mother.”