In 1996, the U.S. bishops put together a pastoral plan for ministry to young adults entitled “Sons and Daughters of the Light.” Since then, dioceses have been making young adult ministry a ministry staple, but everyone has gone about it differently.
Some have focused on trying to establish ministries in parishes and others have created diocesan or vicariate (regional) ministries. Here in the Diocese of Honolulu, we’ve taken a mixed approach. Nearly half of all our parishes have young adult ministries. We have monthly vicariate young adult events with the Young Adult Speaker Series and Theology on Tap.
In the central Oahu vicariate, joint meetings of several parishes have borne great fruit. Once a month, these meetings put into action the reality of the Catholic Church — we are many different parishes, yet part of the same church body!
It seems we often forget this. This is why I always refer to “my parish” instead of “my church.” It not only helps others realize this, it reminds us that we are the universal church … the Catholic Church.
Makana Aiona is the diocesan coordinator for Young Adult Ministry.