Youth and young adults

In early June I attended the Catholic Theological Society of America Convention in Miami, Florida. Some 400 theologians gathered for the convention theme — “Generations.”

In the opening keynote address, a sociologist of religion, James Davidson of Purdue University, spoke of the four main generations of American Catholics and their common points of agreement and disagreement.

Roughly speaking the four generations are: 1) Pre-Vatican II — born before 1940 and making up 17 percent of American Catholics; 2) Vatican II — born between 1941 and 1960 and representing 35 percent of American Catholics; 3) Post-Vatican II — American Catholics born between 1961 and 1982 and encompassing 40 percent of the community; and, 4) Millennials — who were born after 1983 and are currently just 8 percent of the American Catholic community.

By far, the Vatican II group was the largest represented at the convention, something noted by the main speaker. Responding to him was a younger theologian, Maureen O’Connell of Fordham University. Three key points emerged, both in the keynote and throughout the convention, that are important to share with all those working to implement our “Road Map for Pastoral, Program, and Facility Needs 2008-2013,” especially our Implementation Commission, Ad Hoc Task Force for Youth and Young Adult Programs, and our parishes.

There is widespread agreement among the four generations in core beliefs, including beliefs about the Trinity, Incarnation, Resurrection, Real Presence, Mary, and the concern for the poor. This doesn’t mean that all generations have the same understanding nor the same capacity to articulate these beliefs, but these beliefs are clearly seen by all as core to what being Catholic means.

There is a need to connect theologians and those involved in religious education/catechetical programs. This challenges theologians to be more practical in communicating their knowledge to catechists. It also means that more attention must be given to linking theologians and catechists because they are two very critical faith formation resources.

 In generational studies, the critical time for faith formation is during the formative youth (high school) and young adult (college and early post-college) years. It is absolutely critical for the Church to focus its energies and resources on youth and young adults. The Church must dedicate to this group of people its best theological minds, most talented and educated teachers, and outstanding programs of study. It is in these years that core beliefs are learned and experienced, when commitment to the Church is formed, and when the experience of being Catholic is not only formed but is permanently defined into the future.

I found the Catholic Theological Society of America’s presentation extremely informative and validating for our work in the Diocese of Honolulu. The improvement of youth and young adult programs is one of the top recommendations of our Road Map. There is increasing collaboration between Chaminade University and the diocese in the area of faith formation and leadership development. Chaminade and the University Catholic Center at the University of Hawaii are dedicated to the spiritual formation and experience of community for our college age and beyond students. And our Catholic prekindergarten, elementary and high schools are seen as critical resources for addressing our Road Map priorities.

The Road Map also calls for creating a new diocesan office that provides resources, training and best practices, and acts as a hub of communication for parish and vicariate youth and young adult ministries.

The desired outcome of our joint diocesan efforts is to increase the number of youth and young adults who actively participate in parish life and ministries. I found the practical approach taken by fellow theologians to this fundamental issue most encouraging.

It will take the joint efforts of our entire Catholic community to lay the strong foundation that will form our future Church leaders. It is certainly a movement of the Spirit through the leadership of our bishop that asks our diocesan community to join in supporting this important work of the Church. And it is exciting to see this direction validated by the research and experience of theologians and sociologists.