Coeur d’Alene teen lives to express his faith

Priesthood not out of the question for 16-year-old high school student

Coeur d’ Alene faith- empowered teens came out in in solidarity as a community on May 20, 2025 to participate in the first youth-led Eucharistic Procession in their hometown inspired and led by 16-year-old Owen Keith, above with processional crucifix. (Courtesy photo)

By Bryan Saye

For the ICR

It’s not every day you meet a teenager like Owen Keith.

Some might say, however, there should be more like him.

Keith, 16, lives in Hayden, Idaho, and is about to enter his junior year at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. In an era when convincing young people not to fear talking about their faith publicly or participating in parish life can be a challenge, he stands out as an unapologetic Catholic who isn’t afraid to express himself.

He leads a busy schedule, competing for the local swim club in Coeur d’Alene, concentrating on school and working on his car, but Keith still manages to find ways to display his faith publicly, something he regards as an “integral” part of his life.

Although he is involved with youth ministry at Pope Pius X Catholic Parish in Coeur d’Alene, he said lately he has “tried to involve [himself] more” as a leader.

He was inspired by what he saw during an Exodus 90 Lenten program with other youth.

“A lot of Catholic youth [were] getting involved,” Keith said of his peers during the Exodus program, citing some who were even younger than 16.

As Holy Week approached, he felt a strong urge to find a way to answer the call to serve and to live out his faith.

“When it comes to faith, so many people are on their own paths,” he said. “But they’re not [always] interested in getting other people [involved]. It loses the sense of community that we should have. Everybody should be hearing the voice of Christ. Everybody should be following the narrow path.”

That’s when he came up with the idea to organize a Eucharistic procession.

It just “popped into my head,” Keith said.

He believes that living the faith needs to extend beyond Sunday mornings, that it should be “every day, all day.”

Keith, who regularly accompanies his parents and grandparents to Mass, credited his entire family for the formation of his deep faith, but specifically cited his parents as the most obvious examples of how to live the Catholic faith.

“They’re both very devout,” he said. “They’ve taught me really well. Faith is the most important thing in my life.”

Having grown up in what he calls a “Catholic bubble,” he was anxious to share his faith.

“Why not take it to the public?” he thought.

Owen Keith (left) and Jason Chavez (right) in St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church before the start of the procession on May 20. (Photo/Lisa Ormond)

He brought the idea to his parish leadership, eventually discussing it with Jason Chavez, founder of Communio CDA and director of faith at Holy Family Parish, and Wes Miller, director of faith formation and coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Pius X.

Keith said he let the adults handle the logistics, but that he was key to bringing in the crowds, speaking before Mass, making flyers, and sharing stories on the social media site Instagram.

He was nonetheless unassuming about his participation.

“[It was just] regular event spreading,” he said in a manner indicative of his humble character. “I had the least part in it. Everyone had this yearning to do something.”

Over 300 Catholics joined the procession, making his efforts anything but “regular.”

“I don’t think it was by human doing,” he said.

When asked about public perception of the procession, he added, “It looked like they were thought-provoked. That’s the first goal, to make them think about it: ‘What’s this Catholic stuff all about?’”

He recalled seeing a young father pushing his infant children in a stroller during the procession and watching him express himself, uninhibited.

“He hit his knees and started praying. [It was] inspiring to see his faith in public,” Keith said.

The procession left a profound impact on him.

“I always want to reflect on the moment and think about the people and the amount of effort that went into it. The devotion of our community… really inspires me to be a better person.”

So, what’s next for Owen Keith?

“Maybe we’ll make this a yearly tradition,” he suggested, hinting that he’d like to combat the secularism of the month. While June, in recent years, has been reserved for secular agendas, Keith looks to reclaim it for the faith.

“It’s the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he pointed out, with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart falling on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost.

This year, it was celebrated on June 27.

When asked whether he’s discerning the priesthood, he replied with a chuckle, “It should never be out of the options. Just don’t tell my girlfriend.”