At the end of the day, I look back and wonder: What did I really accomplish? Was I present to others? Was I present to the Lord? Did I live today, or did I just fill my time?
Read
We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
Read
This season, above all, is a season of joy. Death becomes life, darkness becomes light. The sorrowful are comforted, the despairing have hope, and the ground is teeming with the possibility of new life. We just experienced the greatest gift of our lives: the life-giving death of Jesus Christ. It seems backwards by human reasoning – how could life come from death? It’s one of the profound mysteries of our faith, and it points to the power, creativity, and mercy of God.
Read
We asked our Partner Parishes to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a story that they'd like to share. Here are their answers.
Read
Judas sold Him out. Peter, James, and John couldn't stay awake for His vigil in the garden. Peter eventually betrayed Him. His own people wanted to kill Him. But these are the very people who should bring us hope.
Read
Friends, how is the garden of your heart looking now that we are well into Lent? The pre-Lent preparatory work has given way to mid-Lent preparatory work – we are never truly finished growing.
Read
Lent is about encounter. It’s about going out into the wilderness to meet the Lord. It’s about rejecting those things that get in the way of our relationship with Him and moving closer to His heart. It’s a time of healing.
Read
Here are some resources that our Partner Parishes found helpful in 2023.
Read
I always have a feeling of anticipation before Lent. The Mass readings seem a little more intense. Places of growth in my heart are rising to the surface. Bad habits are becoming more obvious. Ideas for how to approach the season with intentionality flash through my head. The air feels a little more charged. And God feels a little bit closer.
Read
As we reflect on the previous year of ministry with young adults, here are some of the biggest lessons and insights from our partner parishes...
Read
You are a gift, and your life is a gift simply because you were created intentionally by a God who loves you. He didn’t need you (He doesn’t need any of us, really), but He wanted you to exist and so you do.
Read
Saint Meinrad recently attended the SEEK Catholic conference in St. Louis where 20,000 participants – most of them college students – gathered to worship, share in community, and learn about our common call to discipleship.
Read
Every year in January, I’m reminded to take a moment (or many) to plan my goals for my little farm. There’s no grand resolution or major lifestyle change, but an ever growing, evolving, and learning process to improve. So, too, in our faith life do we need seasons of rest and planning.
Read
"Through a word of the year, we can become more attuned to God’s voice in Scripture or in our prayer. Oftentimes, when my word shows up in the Liturgy of the Hours or I hear it proclaimed in the Sunday readings, it captures my attention and refocuses me on what the Lord is speaking to my heart. "
Read
Written by Jocelyn Alvarez who recently completed Alpha at St. John the Evangelist Parish. "Before Alpha, I was seriously doubting that God even existed. I grew up Catholic following my parents’ faith, went to a Catholic school, and did my holy sacraments. I do not have a strong faith background other than sometimes going to Mass on holidays and being promised a good breakfast after on Sundays... ...I would pray so much in my childhood, praying for the bad situations that came out of my household to change, but they never have and they unfortunately still haven't. Coming to Alpha I have realized God was listening and maybe not able to change my situation but giving me His ultimate love and strengthening me to continue to live under His guidance."
Read
Originally published December 2022
Read
Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies.
Read
A reflection for the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Read
Insights on mental health and ministry from our time with Beth Hlabse, M.S., LMHCA, director of the Fiat Program on Faith and Mental Health at the McGrath Institute for Church Life.
Read
Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies.
Read
I was looking back through my journal and came across a reflection I had written while in Adoration earlier this year. It felt very timely to relive this experience, since our Church is inviting us to return to the Eucharist – the source and summit of our faith – during the National Eucharistic Revival...
Read
Today is the feast of Saint Thomas the Apostle. At Mass, we hear one of my favorite Gospel stories of all time: the appearance of Jesus to His disciples in the upper room...
Read
Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies...
Read
When I was in college, I was asked to give a witness talk for our Catholic center’s annual retreat. I was really excited…that is, until I received my topic: resolution and commitment...
Read
On April 28-30, the Young Adult Initiative hosted our Spring 2023 Gathering – a semi-annual meeting of partner parish representatives at Saint Meinrad. Our presenter for the weekend was Katherine Angulo V., M.A., from the McGrath Institute at Notre Dame. She spoke to our group about multicultural parish and young adult ministry...
Read
Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked to tell us about a ministry moment, an encounter with a young adult, or a place they experienced God this month. Here are their testimonies...
Read
A reflection on John 21:1-19 by Cassie Schutzer, director of the Young Adult Initiative...
Read
Leaders from our ten partner parishes were asked, “Where did you see God at work in your life this month?” Here are their testimonies...
Read
The National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) recently hosted an online conference on “What’s Working in Parent, Family and Adult Faith Formation” and invited our director, Cassie Schutzer, and Dr. Tracey Lamont from Loyola to speak about ministry with young adults...
Read
As we reflect on the last year of ministry with young adults, here are some of the biggest lessons and insights from our partner parishes...
Read
Saint Meinrad recently attended the SEEK Catholic conference in St. Louis where 17,000 participants – most of them college students – gathered to worship, share in community, and learn about our common call to discipleship.
Read
We are built for community, and we were never meant to live a life of faith on our own. We desire spaces where we are seen, welcomed, and known. We desire people in our lives who love us despite the qualities we deem unlovable. We desire a place to share our God-given gifts with others.
Read