Taylor Henry

BY CASEY LEE

The 2018 Synod on Young People, Faith, and Vocational Discernment concluded with the document, Christus Vivit. Pope Francis calls on the Church to consider how she can shepherd and accompany young people in refreshed ways. The Holy Father points out that young people are not only recipients but also agents in this mission. Pope Francis writes, “I am more concerned with helping young people to use their insight, ingenuity, and knowledge to address the issues and concerns of other young people in their own language,” (Christus Vivit, 203). Young people are at the center of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS). Approximately 90% of the U.S. military falls in the young adult age range, 18-39 years old. Roughly two-thirds of all DOD active-duty military personnel were ages 30 or younger in 2018. With this in mind, outreach to this age range is crucial to “Preach the Gospel” as a part of the mission of the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese desires to respond to this concern and will host its own Young Adult Ministry (YAM) Symposium later this summer, 6 – 9 August 2020, in Washington, D.C. The Symposium will host 75 participants to include military young adults, priest chaplains, chapel ministry leaders, and non-military pastoral leaders. It will take place at a hotel so that most events of the symposium such as

meeting space, lodging, dining, public transportation, and child care can be centrally located. It is important to note that the AMS will offset the cost to participants by providing the event space, lodging and food, and a $200 travel reimbursement.

The Symposium is an opportunity to renew the vision on young adult outreach across the Archdiocese. Military young adults will share their voice, including the challenges and opportunities presented in their military lifestyles that influence their ability to grow as followers of Christ. The Archdiocese has moved away from the programmatic approach, to young adult ministry and is placing an emphasis on young adult leader formation and evangelization training. This new focus allowed military young adults to form small communities of disciples at various military installations across the globe. Each group/ministry is unique with its own best practices and challenges. The symposium will enable military young adults to share these insights, as well as, support the Office of Evangelization toward updating some of the critical areas that became apparent during the Military Young Adult Ministry Roundtable held in 2011.

Upon registration, each participant will receive a copy of Christus Vivit and be asked to reflect on the themes that seem relevant to the AMS faithful’s experience of striving to live a life for Christ in the military setting. Military young adults will discuss what is aiding growth in their relationship with Jesus Christ and the Church along with what they are doing to build the Kingdom of God. As missionary disciples, how can the AMS faithful meet the unaffiliated (the “nones”) and invite them into the body of Christ and to the healing sacraments of the Church? This conversation will be facilitated by means panels, breakout sessions and table discussion.

Precautions will be taken to assuage any concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you would like to stay up-to-date on the YAM Symposium, please visit milarch.org/symposium/ or contact Casey Lee at YoungAdultMinistry@milarch.org. V