Young people today are experiencing epidemic levels of loneliness. In fact, for the first time, young people are considered the most lonely group instead of older adults.
We are in the middle of a trust revolution.
Most young people say they have three or fewer meaningful interactions per day and about one-third say nobody knows them well.
These eye-opening facts were gleaned from research conducted by Springtide Research Institute for its inaugural report, “Belonging: Reconnecting America’s Loneliest Generation.” Joshua Packard, a sociologist, college professor, researcher and executive director of Springtide, presented Springtide’s research during a Sept. 15 gathering of youth ministers from the eight-county Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Several priests also attended the program.
The group also heard from Bishop Edward Malesic, Father Michael McCandless, vocation director for the diocese, and Francine Costantini, diocesan director of youth ministry, who organized the event.
Packard’s presentation, “The State of Religion and Young People,” sought input from young people ages 13-25, a much younger demographic than surveys typically use. Findings show that young people today don’t believe like previous generations did. Packard said many say they are spiritual, but the question is what do they believe. About 10% said they became more spiritual in the past year.
“We’re telling ourselves the wrong story about religion and young people. We’re telling a belief story,” he said, but we need to tell the bigger story. “We’re in the middle of a trust revolution, not a belief revolution.”
Packard said young people think adults don’t care about the same things they do. “The trust revolution led to a belonging crisis, not a belief crisis,” he added.
Social isolation is a major issue for today’s young people, he said, explaining that it’s important to combine attendance with a meaningful relationship. Data shows that loneliness declines when this occurs. Using the analogy of a sports team, Packard said showing up for practice and belonging to a team does not mean you have a sense of belonging. Feeling excluded is painful, he said, stressing that “the belonging piece is critical. Belonging precedes believing.” And participating is not the same as belonging. It’s more important to care.
Virtual services didn’t resonate with many young people because the relationship component was missing, Packard said.
Generation Z is trying to figure things out, which is encouraging, he added, noting they read, pray and engage with nature. But trust and meaningful relationships are critical for young people. When these two things occur, they say they feel like their lives matter; they are less stressed and more trusting.
Families remain the most important component in terms of early formation of a faith life, Packard said, explaining it’s rare today for young people to adopt their parents’ faith wholesale. “We’re called to form these young people and they mistrust us, thinking we’re trying to get them to trust us so we can form them to fit into a certain box.”
He said noticing them, naming and knowing them are the keys to establishing a meaningful, trusting relationship with young people.
“The art of being a youth minister is knowing when to step in. You have to be innovative about how to do religion,” Packard said.
Bishop Malesic said he agreed with Packard’s presentation, including the finding that belief often comes after belonging, which is why it’s important to help people live the Gospel more authentically.
“My vision for the diocese isn’t important,” he said. “But God’s vision is.”
The bishop said we must believe in Jesus, live the Gospel and proclaim Christ to our community. And young people must be engaged in this. “They love to be of service,” he said, and can be included as lectors, ushers, etc. “Make them a part of the Church.”
There is no magic wand or formula for this; each parish needs to figure it out.
On Oct. 17, the bishop said a synod will be convened in the diocese and around the world at the pope’s direction to determine how we can walk together better. Father Damian Ference, vicar for evangelization, and Lynette Saenz of the Parish Life and Development Office, are coordinating the diocesan effort.
“I’m a parishioner just like all of you, but I happen to be the bishop. We all have a role to play. The pope wants us to recover the nature of a Church as pilgrims, a Church on the way,” Bishop Malesic said. During the synodal process, he said men, women, young, old, rich, poor – all need to walk together and listen as we put all under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
“Young people are not the Church to be; they are our young Church. We need to make sure we listen to the youngest and the least in authority,” he said.
Youth ministers play an important role because then can help make the connections young people need. For example, the bishop said a youth minister could call a campus minister to help a young person connect with at college.
He encouraged the youth ministers to be included in the “how” by praying, evangelizing, accompanying young people and having a relationship as a mentor/guide and teaching them to be missionary disciples.
People should be in the pews because of the message of eternal life. “God’s vision is that we should all be saints. That’s the language of salvation,” Bishop Malesic said.
Father McCandless thanked the group for their work, noting that 75% of those currently discerning the priesthood or religious life had a first contact about their vocation from a priest, campus minister, CORE team member, etc. “Those ‘first touches’ or encounters lay the groundwork. Then you plant and water,” he said regarding vocation cultivation. “The crux of a vocation is discernment,” which means the person must feel loved, accepted and in communion with what they seek, Father McCandless said.
Too often, he said parishes are entrenched with systemized sacramental numbers, which is the wrong perspective. “It’s all about discernment. Every said is a saint because they moved into their vocation,” he added.
Previous research has shown that the biggest reason people didn’t consider religious life or the priesthood is because they were never asked. Of those who entered religious life, 80-85% were asked by a priest to consider it. Yet, only about 30% of priests actively invite someone to consider the priesthood, Father McCandless said.
“We have a fabulous vocation culture here because of our priests. They make those ‘asks,’” he said, thanking the priests for their efforts.
The goal for a young adult group should be that every person should either be in a vocation or discerning one – priesthood, single life, religious life, marriage, etc., Father McCandless explained.
Using the analogy of growing tomato plants, he said these young people should be surrounded by discerners who will support them. “If you stake a tomato plant once, it falls over and dies. If you stake it again and surround it with support, it will be much more productive.”
Father McCandless said hosting events and inviting young people to socialize and have fun is one way to begin making the important connection about a possible vocation. “Get them there and get them interested.”
Costantini spoke about the role she and her office can play to help support youth ministers. “I’m in a relational ministry. The sweet spot is when lives are changed,” she said, explaining that that she is there to assist the youth ministers. “You are the boots on the ground.”
Communication is critical, she said encouraging the youth ministers and priests around the diocese to let her know what they need and how she can help them. Costantini shared some startling statistics indicating thousands of babies are baptized every Sunday, yet only 85% receive their first Communion, 58% are confirmed and only 9% are still active in their faith at age 22. “That hurts. Many of you are working so this doesn’t happen.”
Also, she said 13 is the average age at which a young person decides whether he or she will leave the Church. “Even if their parents continue to drag them to Mass, they are already checked out,” she said.
Costantini, herself a former parish youth minister, said youth ministers provide opportunities for youth to encounter Christ and the most likely places that happens includes retreats, conferences and camps, often during adoration.
“They know that Jesus loves them, but they want to know us and by walking with them, they learn that,” she added. But it’s a tough job. She said the hours are long and irregular, there often is little support, a small budget, low pay and unrealistic expectations. “The ministers come in on fire, plan events and are excited, and then nobody comes,” she said, noting the average tenure of a youth minister is 9-18 months. “My goal is to focus on supporting youth ministers and helping them to support each other.”
That includes asking pastors/priests how they want their youth ministers trained, asking the ministers what they want to learn, sharing ideas and collaborating.
Raising awareness of the importance of youth ministers is crucial because only about 55% of parishes in the diocese have a youth minister and there are only about 30 full-time youth ministers. “Eighty-seven percent of our seminarians come from parishes with youth ministers. They are fueling vocations,” Costantini said.
“What you are doing is vital.”
Contact Costantini at fcostantini@dioceseofcleveland.org or 216-696-2334 for more information about youth ministry, upcoming youth ministry programs and events.
Click here to learn more about the Springtide research.
Contact Father McCandless at 440-943-7631 or click here.