Origins of the Initiative

In addition to forming priests, Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology prepares and enriches deacons and lay ministers for ministry in the Catholic Church, including those who minister with young adults. In December 2016, Saint Meinrad received a $1.38 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to begin a five-year initiative intended to improve parish outreach to young adults and to better engage them with the Catholic Church. Fifteen Catholic parishes were selected and began a process of evaluating their young adult engagement.

With the renewal of the Lilly Endowment grant in 2021, we began Phase 2 of the Young Adult Initiative, which will last until 2026. We will continue to work with five returning parishes and five new parishes as they deepen the sense of belonging among their young adults. As the project unfolds, we will share its challenges and successes for the benefit of parishes across the country.