Alumni Create New Youth Ministry for Diocese of Toledo
Liam Brown ’21 and Elsie Noyes ’21 are the founding missionaries of Charity on Fire, a new ministry dedicated to Catholic youth evangelization in the Diocese of Toledo that operates out of Camp DeSales on Vineyard Lake in Brooklyn, Mich. Charity on Fire is a community of both full-time and part-time missionaries that host Catholic youth camps and other faith awakening retreats and events, where young people can grow in faith, build lasting friendships, and experience the joy of living out the Gospel.
During the summer, Charity on Fire helps to serve the mission of Camp DeSales, which is to create an environment for young people to encounter the Most Holy Trinity, initiate spiritual relationships, and inspire a next step in the process of lifelong discipleship. The program strives to continue the transformative work God has begun in the lives of young people through the Catholic youth camp programming, carrying that mission forward year-round in an intentional way.
“There are many missionary communities throughout the country and world that aim to minister to youth,” Liam explained. “These missionary communities come into our schools and parishes briefly, ministering with necessary gospel truth. We have seen, though, that it is not easy for real relationships to be forged in these models because of the quick turnover rate. Young people are starving for relationships. They not only want to be loved, but they want to be led… to be discipled. We desire not only to awaken faith in young people, but to sustain that faith into life-long discipleship.”
The model of Charity on Fire includes a full-time missionary program with Liam and Elsie working as two of the five current full-time missionaries who pray, serve, recreate, and live in community with each other. They are primarily based out of Camp DeSales, but do work in Toledo as well. “Many parishes, high schools, and youth groups in the Diocese of Toledo have been attending camp throughout the years, and it is their hope to continue life-long discipleship in some capacity in Toledo,” Liam said.
“The name ‘Charity on Fire’ reflects the passionate and active spirit of our mission to share Christ’s love and message,” explained Elsie. “Guided by the Salesian vision of a faith that transforms lives, we aim to kindle that same passion for Christ in every heart we encounter. At the core of our mission is a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - a powerful sign of His unconditional love and mercy. It reveals His burning desire for humanity, expressed through selfless, sacrificial love. At Charity on Fire, we are inspired by the Sacred Heart and strive to live out and share that love in all we do.”
Liam started serving at Camp DeSales right after he graduated from CCHS in the summer of 2021, and he just completed his fifth consecutive summer ministering at the camp as a missionary, worship leader, and now program director. During that time, he also earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Theology and Catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He coordinated a mission trip to the Bronx, the Dominican Republic, and to Poland, which was a life changing experience. “These experiences have deeply shaped my passion for ministry, leadership, and forming others in the faith,” he said. “It is a dream come true living for God!”
Along with his work in this new ministry, Liam also leads worship on guitar and piano, which he says is one of the greatest joys in his life. “To be able to glorify and love Him while simultaneously bringing others closer to Him with a talent He has entrusted to me is a blessing of a lifetime,” he said. “God has been opening many doors in this facet of my life, so I am excited to see where He will lead!”
After graduating from CCHS, Elsie attended Lourdes University and earned a bachelor's degree in theology with a minor in history. She was involved in youth ministry, volunteering at St. Joseph Parish in Maumee, and worked as a swim instructor, teaching lessons throughout her college years. In the spring of 2025, she taught freshman theology at St. John’s Jesuit High School.
Both Liam and Elsie feel that Central Catholic helped guide and prepare them for what they are doing now. “My experiences at Central Catholic laid the foundation for me to step into what God was calling me to,” Liam said. “Through refining relationships, diligent mentorship, and involvement in ministries and sports, God had His hand in my life, knowing exactly what He was doing in my time at CCHS. Central Catholic did more than just prepare me for my young adulthood, it positioned me to flourish as a disciple of Jesus.”
“The strong academic foundation at Central Catholic, paired with the daily encouragement of faith, helped deepen my understanding of theology and spirituality,” said Elsie. “The school’s community-focused environment also taught me the value of prayer, service, and building meaningful, Christ-centered relationships - principles that are now at the heart of my ministry. Through the many extracurricular activities and faith-based programs offered at Central Catholic, I gained the skills and mindset necessary to serve others and grow in my mission. I am deeply grateful to Jesus for my time at CCHS, and to all those who poured into me during those formative years. It is a blessing to now be part of giving that same kind of service back to the youth of Toledo.”
