What Is Young Adult Ministry?

Young Adult Ministry in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, reflecting the vision of the Catholic Church in the United States, are the opportunities for prayer, community, service, and evangelization for and with the young adult community offered through the church parishes and larger archdiocesan gatherings.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) define "young adults" as:

Persons in their late teens, twenties, and thirties who represent diverse cultural, racial, ethnic, educational, vocational, social, political, and spiritual backgrounds. They are college students, workers, and professionals; they are persons in military service; they are single, married, divorced, or widowed; they are with or without children; they are newcomers in search of a better life.

During this broad stretch of time, young men and women experience significant growth, maturity, and change. Young adults in this age group are starting higher education, relationships, careers, families and, potentially, starting them all over again in the course of these two decades. 

Young Adult Ministry can, at times, focus on specific sections of this demographic (for example, college campus ministry,) but should be opportunities from all in this age range to come together.

The USCCB grouped the many concerns of  young adults into four tasks. Young adults are focused on:

1. Developing Personal Identity
2. Developing Relationships
3. Developing a Meaning of Work
4. Developing a Spiritual Life

Sons and Daughters of the Light, the USCCB's pastoral plan for Young Adult Ministry written in 1996, highlight four goals of all ministries to young adults, be it on the parish or diocesan level:

1.  Connect Young Adults with Jesus Christ
2. Connect Young Adults with the Church
3. Connect Young Adults with the Mission of the Church in the World
4. Connect Young Adults with a Peer Community

Young Adult Ministry - U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website

"Sons & Daughters of the Light" [1996] - U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Pastoral Letter on Young Adult Ministry

2018 Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment
Christus Vivit! (Christ is Alive!) [2019] - Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis

For information or to talk with someone about Young Adult Ministry in your parish:
Contact James Behan, Jr., Associate Director for Young Adult Ministry