Vocation Awareness
The majority of young Catholics ages 18 to 25 seem to drift away from the Church. I take that back; they seem to run away from the Church at speeds that would impress Olympic coaches. Although this has been happening for the last forty years, there is evidence that young adults are staying in the Church at a higher percentages in recent years. We have a long way to go, but there is evidence of some really good news, evidence we can clearly point to in our own diocese.
First, there is the young high school Catholics who, after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, call themselves X-Cons which means they are post-confirmation Catholics who are proud to profess their faith and live the Christian life. They already see themselves playing many vital leadership roles in the Church such as participating in their youth choir, leading middle school and high school youth groups, participating in various ministries for the Mass as well as outreach programs for the Church.
A second group of young Catholics call themselves Reverts. Reverts are young Catholics who left the Church for some time period, but by the grace of God they have returned with a new vitality and with a deeper understanding of their faith. They are invigorated, lit on fire to spread the Good News. They were lost but now they are found (Luke 15:32).
A third group of young Catholics is the convert. These too bring much vitality to the faith. The majority of young converts have some history of Catholicism in their family yet others come having conversions from atheism, agnosticism, another faith, or another Christian denomination, all trying to find the Way, the Truth, and the Life. As young adults step out into the world on their own they see the need to be rooted in faith to survive so they naturally want to learn more about the Church that has weathered the storms throughout the centuries and still remains as the Light to the world, the Catholic Church.
Marriage time! Yes, this is one of greatest moments of a person’s life and it’s also the perfect moment to draw closer to Christ and the Church. Young engaged couples, who are preparing for marriage, are looking for unity and security, love and holiness for their marriage so they naturally find themselves talking to their priest and the marriage preparation team at the parish. What we hope they encounter and discover is the beginning of a treasure that Christ offers them through the Church for a life fulfilling marriage of unity and the beginning of a new family. While we naturally want to congratulate newly engaged couples, we also have an obligation to have them talk to a priest right away or direct them to the marriage preparation program of the Church (even more so when a mixed marriage is involved, a Catholic and non Catholic) so that they may find unity where there is tension, security where there is mistrust, love where there is selfishness, and holiness where there are holes in their relationship with God. Starting on the right foot can be all the difference in any marriage and the fruit is self evident. I have officiated at so many wonderful weddings where the couple really grew up in their faith and love for each other, in the Church and in Christ during their process of marriage preparation.
There remains yet the largest group of young Catholics who, like the convert, steps out into the world on their own for the first time and they too begin to search for answers to life’s struggles. They too find real answers in the faith they had received by the Church but took for granted. I, myself, fall into this category. All I needed was a bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to get started and to grow in my faith; others need more encouragement. They may need to go on a retreat, or join a young adult Catholic group who meets in the parish, or be welcomed and encouraged to join an organization within the parish. I am simply amazed at how young adults respond to their faith when they are given a sense of welcome and a sense that they are vital to the Church community; “If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, a parts share its joy” (1 Cor. 12:26).
Yes, we have a whole lot to be thankful for, yet it is true that many young Catholics are Catholic in name only, without the benefit of truly knowing their faith and who drift away out of ignorance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Church. We have an obligation to labor day and night to continue to close these gaps and mend the nets so that one day none of our children will be separated from goodness of the Lord nor the rock by which Christ built his Church.
