‘Name, know, nourish’ Gen Z Catholics
Youth ministers and clergy heard a poignant message on engaging and fostering faith within Gen Z and Gen Alpha communities at the Archdiocese of Newark Youth Ministry annual gathering on Jan. 31. That message: notice them and walk with them.
The keynote speaker was Ela Milewska, Executive Director of the Department of Youth Faith Formation of the Archdiocese of New York, who gave a presentation focused on methods for engaging with Generation Z and Generation Alpha, the challenges they face, and opportunities for fostering faith.
“One of the things that Pope Francis consistently reinforces is that we need to get to know the younger generation individually,” Milewska said. “It is so important for young people to have people of faith in their life who can notice them, name them, and walk with them through this journey of life.”
Gen Zs were born in the late 1990s to the early 2010s and are high school and college students, and young professionals. Gen Alpha is the population born after. In her presentation, Milewska emphasized that ministers must adapt and connect with the unique characteristics of these generations for the sake of the future of the Church.
She noted a decline in faith among members of Generation Z — 34% of 19- to 25-year-olds identify as unaffiliated with any religion, and 60% did not attend religious services during their upbringing. Of those who were brought up Catholic, the average age to stop practicing their faith is 13. Although 85% of teens say they believe in God, parishes are reporting a decline in youth participation, she told the over 300 people who attended the gathering, she said.
Still, Milewska’s attitude toward ministering to the youth of today remains positive. The key to increasing youth engagement at church is individual engagement, she said. Youth ministers and others who walk with young people should seek to “name, know, and nourish” the young people in their parish.
Faith is needed now more than ever for our youth, she said. While members of Gen Z are smoking and drinking less, rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide are on the rise, Milewska added.
The American Psychological Association’s 12th annual Stress in America Survey found that Generation Z reported the highest rates of anxiety and depression among any generation, at 27%, compared to 15% of Millennials, 13% of Gen X, 7% of Boomers, and 5% of older adults.
Milewska emphasized the importance of guiding young individuals to rely on their faith and encourage them to seek assistance from both God and the people around them when dealing with mental health challenges.
“We need to help them recognize that when you are a person of faith, you are never alone,” she said. “You’ve always got the Lord and you’ve always got the Church.”
Due to technology, Gen Zs and Gen Alphas are very aware of the world around them — the good and the bad.
“They are looking at the world and they are saying, ‘This is a hot mess.’ And they want to fix it. They are more realistic about the world they are walking into, but they are optimistic about their ability to do something about it,” Milewski said, adding that 60% of Gen Z individuals want to make the world a better place.
“They volunteer more than any generation, and they are seeking work that has meaning,” she said.
To connect with Catholic youths, she said, service opportunities and action plans for addressing critical issues are necessary. By offering hands-on experiences to live out their faith, parishes can inspire young people to come to Church.
Milewski said she is inspired by the optimism, activism, and passion of today’s young people.
“Kids these days are amazing. We need to remember that,” she said. “I am so optimistic for the world if the young people of today hold onto their passion. We need to help nourish that passion.”
Milewska is the Executive Director of the Department of Youth Faith Formation of the Archdiocese of New York, supporting parishes in their ministries to form young people and their families from baptism to twelfth grade. She has trained youth ministry and catechetical leaders, catechists, and educators across the United States and internationally and also has been blessed to minister in a variety of environments, from a small community in West Virginia to a large parish in Raleigh, N.C.
The event provided a platform for youth ministry leaders, clergy, religious, campus ministers, parish catechetical leaders, Boy Scout and Girl Scout leaders, and youth ministry volunteers to come together. The event included multiple presentations by ministry leaders and information tables from various departments within the Archdiocese of Newark.
“We truly hope between the presentations, the tables from the various RCAN departments, and Ela’s presentation that the night was beneficial,” said Rich Donovan, Associate Director of the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Archdiocese of Newark.
Featured image: Youth from the Archdiocese of Newark at World Youth Day in Portugal last summer.
