In August 2022, the Cathedral of St. Peter partnered with St. Clare of Assisi Parish, O’Fallon, receiving a grant from the Lilly Endowment through St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology for a focused effort in welcoming young adults more completely into the life of the parish. The grant program offers two workshops each year at St. Meinrad to help focus our work. The Young Adult Initiative staff at St. Meinrad has urged us not to engage a “youth group model” where we create events solely for young adults, but to provide opportunities where parishioners of other ages are given the opportunity to accompany young adults in faith and fellowship.
A Core Group for the Young Adult Initiative was formed, including Aaron Augustine, Sarah Daubach, Carissa and Johnny Reitano, Jane Stock, Greta and Rob Stock, along with Fr. Godfrey. As a result of one of the meetings of the Core Group, the idea of having a walk through the Mass was surfaced. On Thursday evening, June 29, Fr. Godfrey hosted a presentation, walking through the less-noticed parts of the Mass and offering time for Q&A. Approximately 50 people took part, including a good number of young adults from our parish and from other parishes as well. Participants seemed glad to learn something about the Mass. More liturgical catechesis along these lines will follow.
On Saturday morning, July 8, another presentation was offered on the topic of hospitality. As the first pillar of Parish Stewardship, hospitality is that spirit of welcome for everyone. Perhaps hospitality is also the first pillar of Young Adult Ministry as well, welcoming people who have a rightful place in our parish community and assuring that their welcome is appropriate. Using the book Radical Hospitality, Fr. Godfrey offered two talks on hospitality as an openness of the heart for the other, for Christ, and by Christ for us. Further, using the perspective of stewardship, he discussed how hospitality is wired into creation from the first days — described in Genesis 1. While stranger-danger is an appropriate perspective for children, an openness to the other is generally more helpful for adults.
Dozens of copies of the book, Radical Hospitality, were provided for the parish through the grant. The book seems to have ignited new energy around the topic of hospitality. Again, at this workshop, there was an excellent mix of young adults and other parishioners accompanying one another on the way to holiness.
The Young Adult Core Group is preparing for more events, including a social event with St. Clare, along with more catechetical events, geared primarily to young adults, but open to all. Young adults will also be engaged in the work of the Stewardship Renewal in August.
Hospitality is a necessary element to all that we do as a parish. The workshops on the Mass and on hospitality were both not only discussions of the concept but experiences of the values.