Young Adult Ministry – The Highway®

Many times, especially in parish life, there is some confusion as to who exactly is a Young Adult. We are often confused by who publishers and writers of fiction, like Judy Bloom, call Young Adults. For them, a Young Adult is a teen. And this makes sense as their product is often directed at a coming of age generation. But for the sociologists, psychologist, and the Church, those teens are Youth, not Young Adults. We define Young Adults as 18-35ish, though psychologists would classically go up to 40.

At Saint Lawrence the Martyr, we have dubbed our Young Adult Ministry, The Highway®. Why The Highway® you may ask. Young Adults are all on a life journey. They all have choices that will define their lives on this journey. As Catholics, we hope to acknowledge that, while on this path, Christ has shown us a better way, a Highway.

Even as we consider Young Adults 18-35ish, that encompasses a very diverse group.

There are Young Adults who are still in school or trying to figure out their lives, usually 18-25. In The Highway®, this group ministry will be called The On Ramp®. This group of Young Adults is still trying to figure out what their path is, but they are on the cusp of entering into their life’s journey.

The next group is made up of those Young Adults who have started a career or trade, most likely have moved out of their parent’s homes, but not necessarily. This ministry will be called The Fast Lane®. They have an idea of what their life path will be, but everything is moving so fast, sometimes it’s hard to see the decision, let alone make it.

The last major group is made up of those Young Adults who have begun to have families. This ministry will be called The Commuter Lane®. These Young Adults know their life path, but a family has changed the tempo of their lives, and to some extent, the rules.

Young Adult Ministry is the most complex single demographic group in the Church. But all the groups, all the ages, and stages of life have much in common, not the least of which is our Catholic Christian faith.