Series Recap: Embracing Parish Life

Posted by Carolyn Pirtle on Sep 25, 2019 7:05:00 AM

For the past four weeks, we've published a series of articles from Echo Associate Director Katie Diltz on the importance of not just participating in parish life at a surface level, but diving deep to embrace life in one's parish community more fully and fruitfully.

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Topics: Millennials, young people, parish life

Embracing Parish Life, Part 4: Getting Involved

Posted by Katie Diltz on Sep 18, 2019 7:12:00 AM

In thinking about writing a series for young adults on embracing parish life, I began by informally surveying young adult Catholics in my social networks. The 85 people who responded to my Google survey represent an atypical sampling of millennials (my social networks are exceptionally Catholic-y): 80% attend Mass at least weekly, 80% are registered at their parishes, and 83.5% donate to their parishes at least occasionally. And, yet, only 55.3% of this group can definitively say that they feel like part of their parish communities. 

We go to Mass, we’re registered, we donate, but we don’t feel like we belong. What are we missing?

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Topics: Millennials, young people, parish life, embracing parish life

Embracing Parish Life, Part 3: Tithing

Posted by Katie Diltz on Sep 11, 2019 3:35:46 PM

I love budgeting. It might be a slight obsession. My friends and co-workers can attest to my willingness to tell anyone and everyone how wonderful and important it is to budget.

The first expense category on our monthly budget is “Giving,” which includes two separate items: giving to our local parish and giving to a charity or cause (we choose something different each month). I share this not to gloat but to share our strategy; if giving wasn’t the first thing on our budget, we’d easily find other ways to spend our money.

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Topics: Millennials, young people, parish life, embracing parish life

Embracing Parish Life, Part 2: Registering

Posted by Katie Diltz on Sep 4, 2019 7:03:00 AM

Throughout my 20s and into my early 30s there have been some “defining moments” that have made me feel like I’m slowly but surely reaching adulthood. Getting my car’s oil changed, purchasing and cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, and planting tulip bulbs and various other flowers in my yard are just a few of those moments. Registering at my parish is another.

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Topics: Millennials, young people, parish life, embracing parish life

Embracing Parish Life, Part 1: Choosing a Parish

Posted by Katie Diltz on Aug 28, 2019 7:15:00 AM

Choosing a parish can be tricky. A few years ago, our parish experienced a few clergy transitions, which, as you might imagine, affected the “feel” of the parish. When that happened, my husband and I had to decide whether to stick it out and reinvest in our current parish or to take a look at some other parishes in our area closer to our home. Like many new college graduates and transitioning young adults, we found ourselves in the process of choosing a parish. 

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Topics: Millennials, young people, parish life, embracing parish life

Living and Handing on the Faith

The McGrath Institute Blog helps Catholics live and hand on their faith in Jesus Christ, especially in the family, home and parish, and cultivates and inspires everyday leaders to live out the fullness and richness of their faith in the simple, little ways that make up Church life.

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