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Cultivating Catholic commitment

Short essays about observed trends in Roman Catholic life - Pastoral trends

When does a person commit to being a Catholic? The answer used to be easy: by being born into a Catholic home. The membrane between Catholic and non-Catholic used to be thick, and above all Catholic culture used to be stronger and richer than it is today. This diminishment of Catholic culture is not altogether a bad thing: It reflects an increased emphasis on individual choice, freedom, and conscience as well as the sheer acceptance of Catholics within the wider culture in the United States. But that means certain realities are here to stay. The sacrament of Confirmation, insofar as it is received in early adolescence, is likely to continue as a "farewell" ceremony rather than an initiation into greater, adult engagement with the faith. Merely being born to Catholic parents is, today, hardly a guarantee that one will grow into Catholic faith and tradition. There will, of course, remain those Catholic young people who do follow such a pathway into profound commitment through family life, socialization, relationships, and personal choice at an early age. But it simply is no longer the "modal" way. For many, young adulthood is now becoming a critical point of entry in its own right, a time when people feel free to act on their own and explore deeper questions. Those who are connected to Catholic resources—whether through family ties, an openness to the church through early socialization, a pride in a Catholic college or university or high school they attended, friendship ties, or simply a positive ministry presence—will look more closely as they consider deepening their commitments. Some will never pursue more than a passing relationship. But others will make the choice for a deeper and more engaged relationship. That will happen for many as young adults rather than as teens, and the need for parishes to recognize this new way of entering into Catholic commitment is immense. Entering into Catholic commitment as a young adult, however, holds out no promise of becoming the new "modal" way of doing so. Simply put, we have entered a time in world culture when there is going to be no magic bullet, no single program or approach. "One size fits all" is over; there is no typical path of entry. What is certain is simply that young adulthood has the potential to become a major new point of entry—if and when local pastoral leadership takes the necessary steps to invite, receive, and engage. The language of invitation, engagement, positive support, and serious challenge will be critical for this emerging era. © 2009, Bryan Froehle.

Authors Bryan Froehle

catholic culture young adults

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Word of the Week

17 November 2024

Presider’s Chair

\'pri-sīd-ərs 'cher\

Also known as the presidential chair, the seat in a parish church from which the celebrant leads the assembly during Mass. Its meaning derives from the chair, or cathedra in Latin, from which the diocesan bishop presides (from Latin meaning “to protect” or literally “to sit before”). The chair is a liturgical symbol of authority and pastoral leadership.

Pronunciation Read more

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