Faith And Spiritual Life Of Young Adult Catholics In A Rising Hispanic Church

2023 Catholic Media Association Second Place Award, Pastoral Ministry – Youth & Young Adult 2023 Catholic Media Association Second Place Award, Future Church This book carefully explores the claim that young adults (18 to 35) are leaving Catholicism in the United States. According to primary empirical research, many young adults stay and do so living their faith in engaged ways. Most, however, do not do it in the traditional context of the parish. Young adult Catholics are living their faith and spiritual life largely in small faith communities, ecclesial movements, faith-based affinity groups, at home, and through individual practice. The description of research findings is supplemented by commentaries from leaders in evangelization and young adult ministry, from both a theological and a sociological perspective. In a church that is more culturally diverse and increasingly Hispanic, this book offers key insights to better understand the spirituality of young adult Catholics today. Contributors include Mark M. Gray, Michal J. Kramarek, Claudia Avila Cosnahan, Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ, Hosffman Ospino, Darius Villalobos, Patricia Wittberg, SC, and Thomas P. Gaunt, SJ.

This book carefully explores the claim that young adults (18 to 35) are leaving Catholicism in the United States. According to primary empirical research, many young adults stay and do so living their faith in engaged ways. Most, however, do not do it in the traditional context of the parish. Young adult Catholics are living their faith and spiritual life largely in small faith communities, ecclesial movements, faith-based affinity groups, at home, and through individual practice. The description of research findings is supplemented by commentaries from leaders in evangelization and young adult ministry, from both a theological and a sociological perspective. In a church that is more culturally diverse and increasingly Hispanic, this book offers key insights to better understand the spirituality of young adult Catholics today. Contributors include Mark M. Gray, Michal J. Kramarek, Claudia Avila Cosnahan, Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ, Hosffman Ospino, Darius Villalobos, Patricia Wittberg, SC, and Thomas P. Gaunt, SJ.

"Leaders of the American Catholic community want to and need to reach out to young adults. But effective ministry to young adults depends on an understanding of the attitudes and the needs of the current generation of Catholics in their 20s and 30s. This is why Dean Hoge, William Dinges, Mary Johnson, and Juan Gonzales began their study of young adult Catholics. How do they actually live their Catholicism? Are they alienated from the church? Are they cynical about the church's moral teachings? Do they take the pope's statements seriously? Do they attend Mass? Have significant numbers left for other churches? Do they want Catholic education for their children?" "Seeking answers to these and other questions, the authors conducted a national survey in 1997, supplemented by a telephone survey and then by personal interviews with over 800 men and women across the country. The interviews put a human face on the information provided, and they form a compelling part of this timely narrative. Of special interest is the focus on Latino Catholics. The authors underscore observations that include the strength and tenacity of Catholic identity in spite of many challenges, the high level of personal decision making among those interviewed and surveyed, and the readiness of young Catholics for institutional reforms."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Religious life is vitally necessary to the Catholic church today. But it will exist in new and varied forms which speak to the spiritual hungers of different societies, ethnic cultures, and generations. God’s Call Is Everywhere is the first comparative analysis of research in six countries investigating women who have entered vowed religious life in Catholicism in the twenty-first century. The data include survey responses from institute leaders, formation directors, and the women themselves, conducted in the United States, Canada, Australia, and France, along with focus groups and interviews in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France. Through a careful summary of these studies and comparing differences, readers of this book will have a better understanding of the hopes and concerns of those discerning a vocation to religious life and learn how to move forward in the future. God’s Call Is Everywhere includes six major points of comparison: Demographic characteristics of the women entering religious life and their personal and familial backgrounds What attracted them to religious life and to their specific religious institute What they find most satisfying and most challenging about religious life Their hopes and concerns for the future Experiences and programs that were helpful in their vocational discernment Aspects of the larger society, of the Church, and of the religious institutes which make vocational discernment difficult for women today The analysis is followed by six reflective essays, two of which discuss the implications of the findings for future vocational discernment programs and four of which compare the findings to religious life in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Christian Smith, Kyle Longest, Jonathan Hill, and Kari Christoffersen examine the development of the religious and spiritual lives of American Catholic teenagers as they grow up, graduate from high school, and leave home.

"Seeds of Hope asks what kind of Church we are inviting young people to join and then analyzes the contemporary social and spiritual landscapes in search of signs of hope for the future of the Church."--BOOK JACKET.

Jesus lives in our personal stories. This is the clear message from the young adult Hispanic Catholic authors in this exciting volume. They candidly share their joys and hopes, griefs and anxieties as they navigate life in the U.S. as Hispanics and as Christian disciples. Numerous young Latinas and Latinos are and want to remain Catholic. Many, however, feel abandoned by the institution and the faith communities that at one point introduced them—and their families—to the living Christ and his Gospel message. If you share in some way that sentiment, the stories in this volume are a reminder that you are not alone. Welcome to a communion of young women and men who find grace in sharing and listening to their particular stories of faith. Pastoral leaders reading this book are invited to listen attentively to young adult Latina and Latino Catholics as they forge fresh ways of being Christian in the United States. “It is so heartening to hear the voices of young Latino Catholics and their stories. Hosffman Ospino and Tim Matovino have assembled an inspiring collection of witnesses who lend hope for the future of our faith—it will be in good hands! All of us can hear the great Story anew through each of these fresh stories.” —Thomas Groome, professor of theology and religious education, Boston College “Young Latino Catholics! These fourteen heartwarming stories of Latino/a young adults call all of us would-be disciples to a life of zealous faith in the Spirit of Christ. Reading this book will stir hearts and ignite energies. The Reign of God Lives!!” —Nancy Pineda-Madrid, T. Marie Chilton Chair of Catholic Theology, Loyola Marymount University

Building on the largest national survey of teenage religion ever conducted, leading Catholic and Protestant experts recount in unprecedented detail the experiences of God, faith, community, youth ministry, and family among the fastest-growing segment of young people in the country--Latinos. Listen as young Hispanics describe their faith and hopes in their own words; gain understanding of the major issues affecting their religious development and life prospects; and improve your ministry or family life with insightful pastoral recommendations. Note: Please allow 7-14 days for delivery.