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Diocese to celebrate Young Adult Sunday Aug. 1
archived from: 2010-07-26
by: Pittsburgh Catholic Staff Report

Participants encouraged to make a difference in the world

Parishes throughout the diocese will host socials, cookouts and Masses to celebrate Young Adult Sunday on Aug. 1.

The celebration targets singles and couples in their late teens, 20s and 30s, and encourages them to make a positive difference in the world.

“The more young adults fall in love with Christ and the faith, the greater impact they will have on transforming society,” said Christopher Chapman, consultant for secondary catechesis and associate director of the Department for Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

The college years, Chapman noted, are often years where people are challenged to make their faith their own in a new way. If they do not meet the challenge, they usually fall away from a sacramental life and struggle to live morally. If they remain in the church, however, they can be a vital source of new energy, enthusiasm and initiative.

“Just as young adults are maturing and taking a fuller place in society, so the church beckons them to mature in the faith and the life of virtue,” he added. “We want to highlight opportunities for the life of Christ to take deeper root in the souls, for the sake of their salvation and the need to mature in Christ.”

Young adults make up an estimated 30 percent of the population in the United States.

In a letter to priests of the diocese, Father Kris Stubna, secretary for education, pointed out that in their document, “Sons and Daughters of the Light: A National Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults,” the U.S. bishops described how young adults can enrich the church and be a sign of God’s presence.

“Our hope for Young Adult Sunday is to bring an awareness of their presence in our parish communities and to let young adults know that we need them to become active members of our church,” Father Stubna wrote.

St. Peter on Pittsburgh’s North Side hosted a Young Adult Sunday kickoff Mass on June 19. Following the Mass, the Young Adult Ministry Leadership Team coordinated a tailgate party before the Pirates took on the Cleveland Indians.

More information on Young Adult Sunday is available at: www.yampgh.org., or by calling the Department for Youth and Young Adult Ministry at 412-456-3140.

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