Mission Statement
The Culture Project is an initiative of young people set out to restore culture through the experience of virtue. We proclaim the dignity of the human person and the richness of living sexual integrity, inviting our culture to become fully alive.
The Culture Project returns to Philadelphia
Founded by Ms. Cristina Barba Whalen, a graduate of Archbishop John Carroll High School, The Culture Project missionaries visit Catholic middle schools, high schools, parish religious education, and youth ministry programs, and young adult settings to speak about human dignity and sexual integrity. All sessions and talks are free of cost for any location within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The Culture Project offers students an encounter with other young people who are inspiring witnesses of counter-cultural virtue.
Through dynamic presentations, compelling personal stories, and one-on-one encounters, the Culture Project missionaries draw young people back to the basic truth that all human beings have inherent dignity and worth, evidenced by Church teachings and biological facts. After establishing this groundwork, they address chastity, sexual integrity, and social media best practices. Their work is steeped in St. John Paul II’s teachings on the Theology of the Body. It is an invitation to the beauty and greatness of a life of virtue.
Who are the Culture Project missionaries?
The Culture Project missionaries are a team of six vibrant, faithful young adults (recent college graduates) who have committed a year or more of their life to outreach in the Diocese where they are stationed. Before they begin work, the missionaries undergo months of extensive training from nationally and internationally renowned psychologists, theologians, medical doctors and youth ministry leaders. This training is strengthened by their commitments to daily mass, daily holy hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, continued personal formation and intentional community life. To get involved in The Culture Project in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, click below:
Schedule a visit
Missionaries are available to speak to teens (7th-12th grade), young adults, and parents at schools, parishes, conferences and community events, October through May. Scheduling for the 2026-2027 School Year has begun! To learn more or schedule a session, please visit https://thecultureproject.org/plan/.
Meet the Missionaries
BERNIE SENGER IV graduated in 2024 from Southeastern University with a degree in Organizational Leadership. He grew up in Califon, NJ and went to Immaculata High School where he first began to discover a passion for mission and theology. In his last year of college he felt the call to serve God more radically, and after finding The Culture Project online he knew that he wanted to help share the message that all people are created in love, for love by God. In his free time, Bernard enjoys lifting weights, motorsports, and studying philosophy and theology.
LAURA HILKERT was born and raised in Danville, Pennsylvania where she attended and graduated high school. She loves sports and played soccer and lacrosse throughout her years of schooling. After discerning out of college, Laura joined the work force but eventually felt a call to do mission work. The Culture Project reached out to her after a referral from a friend and she fell in love with the message of creating a culture that is fully alive through encouraging others to live a life of virtue. “I became a missionary to encourage others in a way that wasn’t available to me growing up. The idea of sharing the truth about authentic love with newer generations gives me hope that our culture can be restored.”
JENNA ESPIRITU is a 2024 graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University, where she earned a B.S. in Business. She grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where her faith and community shaped her heart for service. Jenna was introduced to The Culture Project through other missionaries who encouraged her to look into the mission. As she learned more, she was drawn to the mission’s commitment to proclaiming human dignity and engaging young people in conversations about love and identity. Jenna believes today’s generation is longing for truth, even if they do not realize it.
CARLOS HERNANDEZ is a 2025 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, holding a BA and a Master’s in Business Administration. He grew up in Grapevine, Texas, where he ran cross country and track through both high school and college. The Culture Project’s talks and presentations on human dignity and its beauty at SEEK 2025 planted a seed in his heart. A year later, that idea took root, and he pursued the opportunity to serve as a Culture Project missionary. “The realization that everyone carries a deeper longing for a love that this world alone cannot satisfy is what leads me to want to share this truth and help others find and receive it.”
SABRINA VIZURRAGA graduated from Benedictine College with a BA in English. She grew up just south of Denver, Colorado. During her time in college, Sabrina studied abroad in Chile in 2023 and participated in the Catholic Worldview Fellowship during the Jubilee year. She loves the Eucharist, JPII, and Theology of the Body, which slowly but surely led her to The Culture Project. Initially, Sabrina planned on being a high school English teacher, but realized her passion was not for literature, but for sharing Christ’s radical love with high school and middle school students. “I hope to shine a ray of the Father’s love for His children. We are made for love and by love Himself. We must embrace this identity as beloved.”
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Resources
CONTACT US
P.O. Box 86 • Wynnewood, PA 19096
1 (800) 315 8684 • [email protected]
https://thecultureproject.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ TheCultureProjectIntl
Instagram: @thecultureprojectintl