YOUNG ADULTS ENCOURAGED TO BECOME ‘BRIDGE BUILDERS’

WHITING --- When asked to describe a perfect Church, a room of young adults responded with the following traits: happy people, camaraderie, multicultural and diverse, much humility, and inspired.

Now, where do those young people become part of that Church? How do they connect as Catholics when, according to studies, they make up 40 percent of the Church but perhaps only a quarter of then attend Mass regularly?

Nearly 40 participants shared their hopes, concerns, and frustrations at “Generation Christ,” a daylong diocesan symposium for and about young adults, ages 20-30, at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Feb. 13.

Some are college students. Some are in their early 20s, just starting careers. Some are in their 30s, married with children. Some are active in their parishes, while others are searching for a parish that can be their spiritual home.

These men and women came together to hear guest speakers, then break out into small-group discussions. Their comments were presented to a panel that offered additional feedback. The day concluded with Mass celebrated by Bishop Dale J. Melczek, followed by dinner and a social.

“We got a lot of networking and communication with other parishes,” said Dan Mills, a group facilitator from St. James the Less, Highland. His wife, Kelley, added, “We got a lot of great ideas to take back to our own parish, how we can reach out to others.”

Kara Hornyak, a young adult form St. Mary, Griffith, called the symposium eye-opening, “knowing I’m in the same boat that other people are in.”

Lori Adler, from St. Mary, Crown Point, said she was “excited to meet so many young adults wanting to get involved. Hopefully we can do some things together.”

Mike Byers, a Marian University freshman from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Valparaiso, said he realized “there are a lot of young adults who want to be included in the Church, still trying to make a difference.”

The Saturday program at CCSJ was the first such diocesan event for young adults, said Kevin Driscoll, director of the Office for Youth and Young Adults. Comments made at the symposium will be included in print and Web resources.

“I’ve heard everything about what we need. It’s time to get moving,” Driscoll said, adding that by holding such programs, “the seeds are being planted that I hope will bear much fruit.”

In gathering feedback from participants, Driscoll noted two themes: the desire to connect with other young adults and the desire to delve deeper into their Catholic faith, e.g., adult faith formation or Bible study.

Guest speakers included Jorge Rivera, coordinator of Hispanic young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago; Paul Jarzembowski, director of young adult ministry for the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., and executive director of the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association; Father Kevin Huber, priestly vocations director for the Diocese of Gary; and Driscoll.

Relating his experiences in the Hispanic community to young adults in general, Rivera said, “We have to become bridge builders. Today is an opportunity to build that bridge. We have to reconstruct relationships. We have to develop all our potential.”

Rivera works with 146 parishes, of which 50-60 have active young adult ministries. Sharing, praying, studying, celebrating, and participating in Jesus’ message --- those apply to all young adult ministries, he said.

Driscoll cited a study that showed that 73 percent of unchurched young adults ages 20-29 consider themselves spiritual. Other speakers noted how this age group is mobile yet open to networking with others. Young adults communicate electronically, through such means as Facebook.

So, if young people have all this potential, why aren’t they in the pews on Sunday? Father Huber and Driscoll outlined five challenges or obstacles young adults face. These include no young adults in leadership positions in parishes; quality of preaching by clergy; young adults’ attitudes toward organized religion and their relationships with clergy; and lack of youth/young adult programs.

Responding to comments about clergy, Father Huber noted that priests may be dealing with thousands of parishioners. He encouraged young adults to make the initial move to reach out to clergy. The priest was also among speakers to call upon young adults to assume leadership roles.

Jarzembowski, a product of this diocese, originally from Dyer, noted that despite an aging clery – 90 percent of U.S. pastors were born before 1960 – and more people leaving the Church, young adult ministry is growing nationally. He observed that, thanks in part to World Youth Day, this generation of young adults has had more contact with the universal Church and the popes. He suggested using a regional, as opposed to parish, model for ministry.

“The Church needs your perspective,” Jarzembowski said. “Be assertive. Assert yourselves as leaders. Be an evangelist.”

SNAPSHOT: YOUNG ADULTS
What do young adults bring to the table? Also, what are young adults looking for in terms of their faith? Here is a sampling of comments from the “Generation Christ” symposium.

Young Adult Attributes:

Numbers—they represent 40 percent of the Catholic Church.
“Fresh blood” and the drive to change the Church.
Desire to share the faith.
Better educated, very techno-savvy.
Understanding of global sense of Church.
Very much into social networking.
They question more.
More energy, new perspectives.
Willing to volunteer, accept leadership roles.

What they seek from Church:

More networking among parishes.
More young adult activities.
Searching for their niche, their Catholic identity
Support from clergy, others in parish.
Continuing education in their faith.
Starting from the bottom up to mend the disconnect between the Church and themselves.