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Young Adult Ministry: Building a Community Rooted in Fellowship and Accountability
Most Catholic parishes do a great job of ministering to children, youth, people with older children, and senior citizens. However, one group of people that sometimes falls into a gap is young adults. Here at St. Timothy Catholic Church, we're aware of young adults' needs for spiritual fellowship, and we are blessed with the Young Adult Ministry to serve that group. St. Timothy Formation Specialist, Randolph Davidson, leads this ministry and is a young adult himself.
“After graduating from college, some young people are at a loss for what to do next,” Randolph says. “If you live in a new area, that can be hard.”
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The group meets weekly at 7 p.m. on Monday nights in the Youth Center for Bible study or another faith-based study. In the summer, many college students who are home for the summer join the group. About once a month, they do a fun activity like go to Disney World or a baseball game, play Bingo, or enjoy a movie or trivia night. In addition, they often collaborate with other local, Catholic young adult groups.
“All times are critical, but it can be lonely as a young adult,” Randolph says. “It’s important to keep your faith up and find your solid faith community.”
Randolph says that, as a young adult, it can be easy to unintentionally fall away from the faith. Suddenly, there’s no community or accountability. With this very much in mind, any young adult is welcome — most members are single adults between the ages of 23 and 32.
“The Young Adult Ministry helps you keep up your faith,” Randolph says. “It’s a way to seek out that faith community, which is necessary to live a good Catholic life.”
Randolph has been in his position here at the parish for about three years. Being the leader of this group helps him grow in his own faith. He says it’s very humbling to be leading his peers and others who are older than him in this program — he doesn’t feel that he knows more than anyone else.
“It has helped me to try to see myself how the Lord sees me,” Randolph says. “He sees, for now, that I am called to do this work. I am willing to help this group of people grow in faith.”
Randolph is thankful to have met many new people through this ministry. He feels blessed by all those he’s interacted with over the years.
“Every year, it has been a different group of people,” Randolph says. “It’s very fluid as far as who is here, and that’s okay. You don’t have to attend every event to be part of this group.”
