Where are the Young Adults?

“Putting Out Into Deep Waters”

"just over half of American Catholics said that young adults' lack of participation in the church is a serious problem,"

American Catholics Today: New Realities of Their Faith and Their Church

by William V. D'Antonio, James D. Davidson, Dean R. Hoge and Mary L. Gautier

So did you. . .When asked:

As a parish do we foster life-long formation by supporting an integrated catechetical plan which is regularly evaluated and meets the needs of Young Adults?

50% of the Archdiocese of Baltimore parishes who took the Parish Self Assessment answered “Seldom” or “No”

50 % of our parishes

So did you. . .When asked:

Do we work toward becoming a more welcoming parish by developing intentional outreach to young adults?

33.75% of the Archdiocese of Baltimore parishes who took the Parish Self Assessment answered “Seldom” or “No”.

More the 1/3 of our parishes

• "Barely half say they would never leave the church. . .

• Only one-fourth go to Mass on a weekly basis.

• Less than half believe that the teaching authority claimed by the Vatican is very important.

• A majority disagree with church teachings related to sexual and reproductive issues. . .

Where is their relationship with Where is their relationship with “Church”?“Church”?

"Many young adults feel they were never taught the basic truths of the Catholic faith. ...

They do not understand their faith enough to explain it to their children,"

Colleen Carroll, 'The New Faithful,'

a sizable number of young adults -- we estimate about 20 percent – attend Mass and go to Communion regularly, go to confession occasionally, think of themselves as 'orthodox' Christians and read the Scriptures whenever they can. ...

. . . They see themselves as the future of the church and are quite naturally offended when others describe young adults as the problem."

But be careful not to make blanket But be careful not to make blanket statements!!! statements!!!

To begin look in your own backyard. . .where are the active young adults in the

parish?

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

• Pre- Cana

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

• Pre- Cana• Baptismal Prep

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

• Pre- Cana• Baptismal Prep• Lectors

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

• Pre- Cana• Baptismal Prep• Lectors• Coaches for sports

teams

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

• Pre- Cana• Baptismal Prep• Lectors• Coaches for sports

teams• RCIA

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

• Pre- Cana• Baptismal Prep• Lectors• Coaches for sports

teams• RCIA• Parents of the younger

kids in parish or local public school

First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered• Pre- Cana• Baptismal Prep• Lectors• Coaches for sports teams• RCIA• Parents of the younger kids in

parish or local public school• Parishioners who may speak a

different language or be part of a different culture

• At Mass, but not registered• Pre- Cana• Baptismal Prep• Lectors• Coaches for sports teams• RCIA• Parents of the younger kids in parish or local public

school• Parishioners who may speak a different language or

be part of a different culture

Can we name one or two young adults in these categories that we would like to

specially reach out to?

STRATEGIZE AS A COMMUNITY:

How would we reach out to young adults who are:

STRATEGIZE: How would we reach out to young adults who are

at:• Coffee Houses or

Happy Hour

• Gyms

STRATEGIZE: How would we reach out to young adults who are at:

• Looking for Volunteer Opportunities

STRATEGIZE: How would we reach out to young adults who are :

• On the Web

STRATEGIZE: How would we reach out to young adults who are :

• In area colleges or not in college

STRATEGIZE: How would we reach out to young adults who are :

STRATEGIZE: How would we reach out to young adults who are at:

• Mommy and Me (Flier there for Mom’s prayer group)

• At Bridal Expos/ Bridal Shops

STRATEGIZE: How would we reach out to young adults who are at:

What are they looking for?

Mission Trips

Spiritual Direction

Retreats

A place to call home

An opportunity to contribute

Catechetical Opportunities

A chance to meet new people who are Catholic