"Multi-Parishional" Young Adults -- The Nomads of Parish Life

The times they are a changin' in the way our young adults look at parish boundaries. Here's a view by Julianne Donlon, diocesan adult faith formation director, at attitudes and ministry boundaries for young adults in our parishes today.

According to sociologists William V. D’Antonio, James Davidson, Dean Hoge and Mary Gautier, authors of the book Catholics in America: Their Faith and Their Church (Sheed & Ward), only 24 percent of young adult Catholics attend Mass every week, while 21 percent attend two to three times per month, They also report that 80 percent of young adult Catholics believe they can be a good Catholic without attending Mass weekly. It’s a belief that differentiates them from their parents’ generation.

A positive figure in the midst of all of this gloom is that Catholic young adults have the lowest conversion rate (18%) among all Christian denominations. Unlike their parents’ generation, many of whom enjoyed the cultural support of Irish, Polish, and Italian Catholic neighborhoods, today’s young adults inhabit locales that are far more socially and religiously diverse. Ethan Watters reported in his 2004 book Urban Tribes (Bloomsbury), that college-educated young adults often draw support from close-knit communities of friends—often from diverse religious or non-religious backgrounds—that form during the years between college and married life. Young adults often live, work, share meals, and vacation with these groups, which often function as family for twenty- and thirty-somethings living far from home.

Recently, a friend when asked to name the parish that she was a member of described herself as “multi-parishional”. This was a term that I had never heard before and I asked her why and how she could be a member of multiple parishes. She explained that a certain parish offered a monthly get-together for young adults so she often went there for Adoration and game nights. Across the city, another parish offered evenings of reflection that she enjoyed so she joined that parish for these opportunities. At what she called her “home parish” she is very active as a catechist and is engaged with the parish youth through the religious education program.

At a gathering of young adults I asked many of them if they belonged to multiple parishes and the overwhelming response was yes. In terms of planning and executing young adult ministry in the Diocese, this “multi-parishonal” status presents some obstacles but also opportunities for us to work collaboratively and regionally in order to reach young adults.

The Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership project, a joint effort of six national Catholic associations funded by the Lilly Endowment, commissioned a survey of Catholic young adults and published the results in the summer of 2008. Here are some strategies that were effective in reaching out to young adults:

Involvement in the Faith.
We can no longer assume young adults will be active in the life of the church. The survey reported that when young people are actively involved in the church, the likelihood that they will consider ministerial roles increases and the likelihood that they will stay connected to the Church increases. Young adults want to feel connected and involved in parish life. Find ways to involve young adults in liturgy, education and evangelization efforts.

Connecting with Young Adults through Technology:
The church needs to find ways to connect with young adults. An important way for parishes to reach young adults is through the use of technology. Parishes need active web sites. Some pastoral leaders record their homilies or classes as podcasts for young adults to listen to when they have time. Many young adults seek information on the faith through websites such as Busted Halo .

There is much cause for hope in our Diocese as groups of “multi-parishional” young adults have come together to reach out to their peers. What is most heartening is how these young adults describe themselves and what they are trying to achieve in their outreach efforts. One young adult group describe themselves as follows:

“We are Catholic young adults and college students in the northeastern Wisconsin area and beyond working together to spread the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ and His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in the spirit of John Paul the Great's call to the New Evangelization”.

Let's "Stay In The Day" During 2009

As winter begins to hit full stride, and the days are short, Green Bay diocesan religious education director Rosie Bartel gives us some tips we can use to keep our spirits up.

Let’s face it: sometimes the month of January can seem not much fun. You can feel stressed, irritable, overextended, sick of snow and so tired. Christmas is over and you may be feeling pangs of regret that you did not make them as enjoyable and meaningful as you planned.

There is a solution to this January plight that plagues many of us each year. The answer is to learn to live in the moment.

We all know people who are always looking back at the past or are stressing about the future. Both types lose the joy of the present moment and they do not even realize what they are missing.

My three year old granddaughter showed our family on Christmas Eve how important it is to “stay in the day” and live in the moment. As we were all hustling and bustling about the “tasks of Christmas preparation” she stopped all of us to announce loudly: “It is Jesus’ birthday!” After she had all of our attention, she quietly went back to playing her little-girl games. It left all of us, who were not so focused on the real importance of the moment, a little surprised that the youngest among us had the real meaning of Christmas down to a few words. The other surprise was that she knew the meaning of the day and was staying in the day.
This led me to think about ten tips on how to cultivate a “stay in the day” way of living.

Adjust Your Attitude. We are often our own worst enemy. We put unrealistic goals on ourselves with the idea that everything must be “perfect”. But what if you thought the exact opposite? What if you gave up on perfectionism and decided to just let life happen? The key to success is finding ways to appreciate each moment of every day. The answer is in “letting God”.

Eat Slowly. Savor your every bite you take. Appreciate those provided and prepared the food you eat. It is also wise to pay attention to what you eat. Moderation is key to good health.

Keep Moving. If you do not exercise, start slowly today. Go outside, fill your lungs with fresh air and appreciate God’s gift of nature.

Breathe. When people are stressed, they tend to hold their breath or hyperventilate. Neither one is good for you. The best way to regulate your breathing is to turn to prayer. Imagine that you are breathing in God’s love, then breath out tension, frustration or anything else that is troubling you.

Take Prayer Naps. A prayer nap is a lot like a catnap. The difference is that you imagine that you are resting in the arms of the Lord. Just find a quiet place and take a 10-15 minute prayer nap. You will notice a difference right away.

Relax. Set aside some “alone” time with God everyday. Concentrate on letting go of tension and relax every part of your body. Read an inspirational book or mediate on the daily scripture passage.

Laugh. Look for the humor in things that happen. Instead of complaining about something, make a conscience effort to laugh---even if you have to fake it until it comes naturally. Studies show that laughter reduces stress and elevates your mood. Learn to laugh at yourself. Remember, God has a great sense of humor.

Strive For Flexibility. Some of the greatest saints assure us that the duty of the moment is the will of God. That means you do not get upset by interruptions or changes in plans. You see these things as God’s way of directing you to whatever is important in the present moment.
Remind Yourself How Happy You Are. Cultivate feelings of gratitude for all of the good things in your life. Then look in the mirror and smile. Assure yourself that all is well. Thank God for the many gifts you have been given.

Make Memories. Treasure in your heart all the wonderful things that happen every day. These are the joys that you will carry with you throughout the years and way beyond 2009.

As you “stay in the day” in 2009, remember that the day is given to you by God. It is your opportunity to share your gift of Christ by sharing each moment with those you come in contact with each day.