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Bishop encourages young adults to be ‘Alive!’ Catholics
archived from: 2010-03-15
by: John Franko

When it comes to their faith, young adult Catholics want to know there is something better out there, and they want their faith to be more accessible. They are looking for a church that is relevant and welcoming to them.

Almost 100 of them had the opportunity to share their thoughts with Bishop David Zubik during a March 8 forum at Peter’s Place in Collier Township.

The gathering was the second in a four-part Theology on Tap Speaker Series sponsored by St. Bernard Parish in Mount Lebanon. The fifth annual series began March 1 and will run through March 22.

“This type of turnout clearly shows the desire that young adults have in connecting with their peers and with the church,” said Barbara Kralik, executive council chairwoman of the diocesan young adult leadership team.

“Young adults are the future of the church, and they want to play an active part in their parish communities.”

In asking the young adults what challenges they face in their spiritual lives with Jesus and the church, Bishop Zubik related his struggle with the question “Why am I here?” when he was named bishop of Pittsburgh.

He went on to note that God tells us it is up to him to know and for us to find out.

The bishop pointed to his pastoral letter, “The Church Alive!,” in which Catholics are challenged to make the faith more real in their lives.

Bishop Zubik examined the five components of the letter — Eucharist, catechesis, evangelization, formation and stewardship — and why they are important for an active church. He was frank in noting that the church has not done a very good job in passing on the faith to young people, and for adults for that matter.

The young adults responded to the bishop’s question of how can they become more active members of the church by expressing the desire to be taught the truth. They want to be open to sharing the love of Christ, and they spoke of being active participants in the Mass, not just spectators.

Adult education was also seen as a key.

“I need the education and the understanding,” one woman said.

Some spoke of the need for support in parishes and the importance of having a clear understanding of the difference between youth ministry and young adult ministry. Others asked how they could apply catechesis to their workplace.

Bishop Zubik responded by pointing out that he sees “a lot of creative energy going on” among young adults.

He said Pope John Paul II acknowledged that the laity have a greater chance to spread the faith because they have the opportunity to take it into the workplace.

The bishop challenged the young adults to “look in the mirror” and become leaders in the church.

“We have to step up to the challenge,” said Jenny Nansel, a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville. “We have to live our faith daily.”

Bishop Zubik said it is important for the faithful to share their experience of fears because we are all struggling for a sense of holiness and fulfillment.

And yet we must not be afraid, he noted, to be different from everyone else in our beliefs.

In responding to a question on how we can leave our comfort zones and reach out to others, Bishop Zubik likened it to falling in love.

When you fall in love with someone the love is going to get deeper to the extent you take risks, he noted. You move out of your safety zone to strengthen your relationship.

The same is true in a relationship with Jesus and the church. The more you love, the more you will invest yourself in the relationship. You begin to take risks and “put yourself out there.”

Bishop Zubik said in the Acts of the Apostles one can see the struggle of the early church to share the message of Jesus. Because of the risks the early Christians took, we are able to share the faith today.

“The reality is that when you take that risk you don’t take it alone,” he said. “The same Spirit that inspired the apostles in the Upper Room is inspiring you in this upper room tonight.”

He told the young adults that he would like to come back to one of their events in the future, adding, “This kind of event makes me excited about what I’m doing.”

Kralik spoke of the importance of having Bishop Zubik show a real interest in the young adults.

“(They) are hungry for a faith that is relevant in their daily lives,” she said. “While they live busy lives, they are willing to take time out of their busy schedules to listen to a speaker who guides them in applying their faith to their personal situations and life circumstances.”

Gary Slifkey, associate director of the Department for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, works with the young adult leadership team.

The gathering reflected the young adults’ desire to learn more about their faith and their interest in becoming more active members of the church, he said.

Slifkey noted the importance of parishes providing opportunities for young adults to come together.

“Young adult ministry truly has become alive in our diocese due to dedicated parishes like St. Bernard, who have made a commitment to young adults,” he said. “One of the goals for our leadership team this year is to work with parishes to make young adult ministry more accessible.”

St. Bernard has built one of the most comprehensive young adult programs in the country.

The third event of the series will be held March 15. Sister Mary Pellegrino, congregational moderator of the Sisters of St. Joseph, will talk about how young adults can serve God in their current situation.

The final session will be March 22 and feature Benedictine Father Paul Taylor of St. Vincent Archabbey. He will talk on what it means to be a young adult in today’s world.

Both will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Peter’s Place. The cost is $10 for a pasta bar and one drink. For more information, contact Erica Gamerro at in.terra.pax@gmail.com.

More information on the diocesan young adult program is available at: www.yampgh.org. Information on the program at St. Bernard is available at: www.stbernardchurch.com/young-adult.

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