09/03/2016
TPO - this Thursday Sept. 8
Sep 8
Truth Poured Out -- young adulthood!
6:30pm at The Brick House - 110 W Pine St, Lake Charles
Truth Poured Out - discussion on young adulthood! - Thurs. Sept. 8 2016
Scripture: Luke 15:1-7The Parable of the Lost Sheep.
1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So to them he addressed this parable. 4 “What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy 6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB):
"There are many opportunities to touch the lives of young adults, and these should be seen as moments for evangelizing outreach. Some of these may require a change in the way we approach evangelization so our outreach is more dynamic, taking the Church into the community where young adults gather rather than waiting for these men and women to come to us." - Sons and Daughters of the Light
Challenges
- Young adults have been captivated by the consumerism and materialism of the society in which they grew up and have became apathetic and cynical.
- Young adulthood is sometimes a world of boredom, disillusionment, and indifference to the Church.
- Young adults need a non-threatening place where they can freely express their questions, doubts, and even disagreements with the Church and where the teachings of the Church can be clearly articulated and related to their experience.
- Young adults make some of the most important decisions in their lives about their Christian vocation, their career, and their choice of spouse.
FOCUS (Fellowship Of Catholic University Students:
The “fastest-growing religious demographic in the United States” are people who list their faith as “unaffiliated.” - The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (Pew, 2008)
Almost 80% of those who leave the Catholic faith do so by the age of 23. - Faith in Flux: Changes in the Religious Affiliation in the U.S. (Pew, 2009)
Only 30% of American who were raised Catholic are still practicing. - Sherry Weddell, “Forming Intentional Disciples
“Dear young people, we didn’t come into this work to ‘vegetate’, to take it easy, to make our lives a comfortable sofa to fall asleep on. No, we came for another reason: to leave a mark. It is very sad to pass through life without leaving a mark. But when we opt for ease and convenience, for confusing happiness with consumption, then we end up paying a high price indeed: we lose our freedom.” - Pope Francis WYD 2016
Prayer to St. Monica:
Dear St. Monica, troubled wife and mother, Many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime. Yet you never despaired or lost faith. With confidence, persistence and profound faith, you prayed daily for the conversion of your beloved husband, Patricius, and your beloved son, Augustine.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience and trust in the Lord. Intercede for me, dear St. Monica, for (mention your petition here) and grant me the grace to accept his will in all things, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
A Prayer for Fallen Away Young Adults:
My Lord and my God, I humbly come before you knowing that without you, I will lose my way. Please touch the hearts of all who have lost their way in faith and in love for you. In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, find and bring back all of your lost sheep, especially (mention intentions here) - reconcile them to yourself and to your Church. Make me like the Good Shepherd as an instrument of peace and mercy to bring souls to Christ. In a special way, I ask the Blessed Mother’s intercession for all young adults, especially ones who have abandoned their faith. Hail Mary…
St. Monica, pray for us. St. Dominic, pray for us. St. Jude, pray for us.
Further Reading:
https://focusoncampus.org/content/a-deadly-vaccine-3-reasons-catholics-leave-the-church
http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/
http://www.fathersforgood.org/ffg/en/month/archive/mar09/bert.html
http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/07/30/full-text-pope-franciss-address-at-world-youth-day-prayer-vigil/
https://focusoncampus.org/content/the-saint-that-proves-praying-for-people-actually-works
Discussion Questions:
- How do you experience challenges in your faith? How do you experience challenges to keep the faith since high school? Since college?
- Where do you go / what do you do to re-energize your faith? To help with “dry spells”?
- Do you know any young adults who have lost their Christian faith since they left high school? Since college? What is their story? How did they get so lost?
- What are some ways that we could help these lost sheep?
- What can we do to help those who are not yet at that point? Who haven’t left school yet?
- How can we as young adults spread the word about these statistics and warn other young adults (or soon-to-be young adults) about their threatened future?
