News

Parishes chosen for Young Adult Initiative

Friday, February 23, 2018

Sixteen parishes have been chosen to participate in the Young Adult Initiative of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, St. Meinrad, IN.

The program is funded by a $1.38 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to improve parish outreach to young adults and better engage them with the Catholic Church. Parishes were invited to apply for the program, and Saint Meinrad received 96 applications.

The parishes that will participate in the program for the next four years are:

• Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Knoxville, TN, Diocese of Knoxville
• Christ the King Parish, Ferdinand, IN, Diocese of Evansville
• Church of the Holy Angels Parish, Indianapolis, IN, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
• Holy Family Parish, Brentwood, TN, Diocese of Nashville
• Holy Spirit Parish, Bowling Green, KY, Diocese of Owensboro
• Immaculate Conception Parish, La Grange, KY, Archdiocese of Louisville
• Mary Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, Lexington, KY, Diocese of Lexington
• Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Jeffersonville, IN, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, New Albany, IN, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
• St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish, Zionsville, IN, Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana
• St. Augustine Parish, Lebanon, KY, Archdiocese of Louisville
• St. Bartholomew Parish, Columbus, IN, Archdiocese of Indianapolis
• St. Cecilia Parish, Cincinnati, OH, Archdiocese of Cincinnati
• St. Clare of Assisi Parish, O’Fallon, IL, Diocese of Belleville
• St. John the Evangelist Parish, St. John, IN, Diocese of Gary
• St. Monica Parish, Mishawaka, IN, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend

The parishes represent five states and 13 dioceses. Parishes range in size from 259 households to 2,578 households.

“We went through a lengthy but thorough selection process and prayerful discernment to find a wide variety of parish settings and situations,” said Michal Horace, director of the Young Adult Initiative. “The partner parishes include small, mid-size and large parishes, as well as rural, urban and suburban parishes. Many of the partner parishes have multicultural congregations.”

In partnership with Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, parishes will explore the demographics of their communities, learn more about today’s young adults (ages 23-29), and develop innovative strategies to better meet the spiritual needs of the young adults in their parish.

“The overwhelming response we received to our call for applications is proof that the Church is paying attention to the needs of young adults,” said Tammy Becht, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Formation at Saint Meinrad. “I think that outreach and ministry to the young Church is going through a time of rediscovery and redefinition. We’re honored to be part of the New Evangelization by creating dialogue and an atmosphere that focuses on the young Church with these 16 congregations.”