Where are the Young Adults

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Where are the Young Adults?

• Putting Out Into Deep Waters

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• "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

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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

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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

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Where is their relationship with Church?

• "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. . .

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• "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,"

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Colleen Carroll, 'The New Faithful,'
But be careful not to make blanket statements!!!

• 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."

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To begin look in your own backyard. . .where are
the active young adults in the parish?
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First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered

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First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered
• Pre- Cana

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First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered
• Pre- Cana
• Baptismal Prep

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First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered
• Pre- Cana
• Baptismal Prep
• Lectors

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First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered
• Pre- Cana
• Baptismal Prep
• Lectors
• Coaches for sports teams

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First, Look in your own backyard. . .

• At Mass, but not registered
• Pre- Cana
• Baptismal Prep
• Lectors
• Coaches for sports teams
• RCIA

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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

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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

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Can we name one or two young adults in these
categories that we would like to specially reach
out to?

• 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

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STRATEGIZE AS A COMMUNITY How would we reach
out to young adults who are
ACTIVITY
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STRATEGIZE How would we reach out to young
adults who are at

• Coffee Houses or Happy Hour

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

• Gyms

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STRATEGIZE How would we reach out to young
adults who are

• Looking for Volunteer Opportunities

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STRATEGIZE How would we reach out to young
adults who are

• On the Web

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STRATEGIZE How would we reach out to young
adults who are

• In area colleges or not in college

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

• Mommy and Me (Flier there for Moms prayer group)

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

• At Bridal Expos/ Bridal Shops

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What are they looking for?
A place to call home
A chance to meet new people who are Catholic

• Spiritual Direction

• Catechetical Opportunities

• Mission Trips

• An opportunity to contribute

Retreats