Interested to Hear How Other Young Catholics Connect

[IrishDisney]

I am in my twenties and have tried Catholic singles groups at a couple of Orlando area parishes. The people who attend are in their 30s and 40s. Catholics in their 20s are in a very different phase of life - and those of us who don’t like the bar scene seem to have no options.

My sister in Pennsylvania has tried various Catholic singles groups there, and her experience has been the same as mine – the singles are people in their 30s or older.

Where are all the twenty-something Catholics?

I’ve started a meetup.com group for 20s Catholics to get together for Mass (on a weekday) and coffee following. I hope someone signs up or I’ll be the only person there. If anyone knows any Catholics in their twenties in the Orlando area, please ask them to come to Mass with this new group!
meetup.com/MassCoffee/

I would be interested to know what options other Catholics in their twenties have found to get together with Catholics of their own age.

Paul

 

[pensmama87]

Hi Paul,

I’m in my 20s and married with kids, but I’ve found Meetup to be a great tool. I am part of a Catholic moms group that coordinates all sorts of get-togethers there. We also have a young adult group at our parish, that specifies 20s and 30s, and it is for marrieds and singles. They do some activities that are OK for kids, and some that are just for the grownups. There are “nightlife” things sometimes, but we’ve also done retreats, lectures, dinners, etc. Our young adult ministry also works with Theology on Tap. Although it is for marrieds and singles, there’s lots more singles that attend (or marrieds without children yet), probably because their schedules are a lot more flexible. But from what I can tell the activities are enjoyed by all!

I think what you have is a great start. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one God calls to coordinate more activities for younger single adults in your area!

 

[Cojuanco]

If there’s a university nearby try their Newman Center. The main reason you might not see too many twenty somethings at your parish is that they’re likely at university this time of year. But at a Newman center, or a parish near a university, there’ll be plenty twenty-somethings, though most will be grad students.

 

[Brendan_64]

Where are all the twenty-something Catholics?

Probably out in bars and clubs like most other people of their age.

Singles groups, of any sort, tend to be used mainly by middle-aged people because they are too old to be heading down to clubs, or they just don’t like such places.

 

[IrishDisney]

Thanks for your reply. Glad to hear that Meetup has worked well for you - sounds as though you’ve found a really nice group of fellow Catholics at the same place in life (“married with kids” sounds as though you’ve won the lottery).

I’ve been to some Theology on Tap events, but again, I was the youngest person there (at age 26) – by about 10 years.

Thanks very much for your encouragement. If even a couple of people sign up for my Mass and Coffee group on meetup.com, maybe more will follow. Getting those first few members might be the hardest part - because who wants to attend an event that has only one other person attending?

Paul

Hi Paul,

I’m in my 20s and married with kids, but I’ve found Meetup to be a great tool. I am part of a Catholic moms group that coordinates all sorts of get-togethers there. We also have a young adult group at our parish, that specifies 20s and 30s, and it is for marrieds and singles. They do some activities that are OK for kids, and some that are just for the grownups. There are “nightlife” things sometimes, but we’ve also done retreats, lectures, dinners, etc. Our young adult ministry also works with Theology on Tap. Although it is for marrieds and singles, there’s lots more singles that attend (or marrieds without children yet), probably because their schedules are a lot more flexible. But from what I can tell the activities are enjoyed by all!

I think what you have is a great start. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one God calls to coordinate more activities for younger single adults in your area!