3 minute read
No Longer Alone: The Belonging Ministry
One of the great gifts of Christianity is that we don’t have to go it alone. As members of the Body of Christ, we are each mystically united, sharing in one another’s joys and sorrows (1 Corinthians 12:26). This rich sense of community is most fully felt when we have the opportunity to gather, share and grow with people experiencing similar experiences and stages of life. This new ministry is meant to provide young adults with fellowship and friendship to accomYet, for those characterized as pany them on the faith journey — and, in turn, helping them live out the faith in the world. young adults, this can at times be difficult to find within the Church.
“We see a lot of people my age lose their faith, and I think part of that comes from not having a solid support system around them,” says parishioner Emily Kite. “Those of us who went to Catholic schools our whole life, we were always surrounded by like-minded people. But when you go to college and then the real world, that isn’t the case. And so you have to sort of find that support system.”
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Now seeking to help build that support system for both herself and other Catholic young adults, Emily is part of the leadership of The Belonging. This new ministry is designed for unmarried young adults ages 19-29, serving as a place where relationships can be built, faith can be strengthened or restored, and young people can find that sense of belonging for which their hearts long.
“One of the biggest things that has come up again and again from people my age is that we feel secluded,” Emily says. “There are a lot of things for grade and high schoolers, and then once you get married there are things for you, but there’s nothing really for our age group. We wanted to help fill in that gap — to help build up that support system.”
As a teacher at Quincy Notre Dame and a mother of young adult children, adult volunteer Chris Altmix echoes Emily’s sentiments. Over the years, she’s witnessed many youth who were once committed to their faith fall away once they entered college and the work force. The Belonging, then, is a response to this crisis by providing a connection for young adults as they navigate this time of change and uncertainty in their lives.
“We really thought that if younger people had a full understanding of the Catholic faith and really felt connected to it, it would be so much harder for them to leave,” Chris says. “Our goal is to help people to feel like they belong and are connected to the Catholic Church.”
Currently, The Belonging gathers Tuesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Though location and topics vary, meetings consistently incorporate elements of formation and fellowship.
“We know everyone is super busy, so the meetings are only one hour and then people can stay and visit afterward as long as they want,” Chris says. “Usually the first half hour is focused on some sort of topic.”
“We’re wanting to move to a structure where one week we do something social, the next instructive, then prayer based, and then service based,” Emily adds.
Though still in its early stages, members are already reaping the rewards of the ministry. New friendships are being formed and young adults are realizing that they’re not alone in this journey. There are plenty of people ready to walk alongside them so that, together, they can live out their mission of aspiring to please Christ, whether at home or away (2 Corinthians 5:9).
