(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Winter 2026 Issue #118)
By Kathleen Molaro, OFS • Youth and Young Adult Commission Chair
Diversity
“Today’s young adults represent the most culturally diverse generation ever seen in the United States,” according to the Bishops in Connecting Young Adults to Catholic Parishes. Young adults may be new parents learning how to pass on faith to their little ones, or newlyweds discovering how to live a sacramental married life. They might be attending school and/or working, still seeking a vocation. Some are contemplating life as a consecrated single, priest, brother, or sister. Add this to the many cultural, economic and geographical differences present in our country and we find a beautiful but challenging diversity. One commonality, though, is that young people who have chosen a life of faith have a deep desire to connect that faith with everyday life.
Faith and Action
Young people struggle often with time. It’s difficult to balance their many responsibilities along with developing a faith life. Recently, a young woman told me, as we stood outside of Mass, “I can’t wait until next Wednesday – I get to have a nap at 2:00!” Her friend shared a similar sentiment. “Every minute is accounted for. It’s tempting to stay home on Sunday mornings. I just spent the hour trying to contain my two toddlers. Why do I bother? I felt like I wasn’t even at Mass.” A young man standing with them commented, “The last words of the Mass tell us we’re to go out and be ‘Eucharist’ in the world. But how do we do that? What does that mean?” A lively discussion ensued. They encouraged one another, enjoyed the joy and laughter of community, and listened as a few of us older folks shared our stories after listening to theirs.
I’m sure we’ve all asked these same questions, and maybe still do. That’s the key, I believe. To keep asking the questions. Where does God want me? How can I serve others? What is He asking of me in this moment? Hopefully, we’ve learned as Secular Franciscans that living our faith isn’t just about attending Church. We are called to be present in the world, sharing our spirituality through our words, actions, attitudes and choices. Are the younger generations witnessing this? Do they see us as vibrant and loving communities of love?
Connecting our beliefs with action is powerful. Offering opportunities for younger Catholics to get involved in service, both within the Church and in the community; providing evenings of special prayer; inviting them on local pilgrimages are all ways to set an example of bringing the Gospel out into the world, as our mission calls us to do. We may be an aging Order, and perhaps we can’t physically work as hard as we used to, but we can still inspire young people with an energetic faith to the best of our ability. We can share stories of trust and joy, and offer encouragement.
Gospel to Life; Life to Gospel
In the new 2022 edition of The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, Tibor Kauser shares a reflection stating that we don’t wear a brown robe habit. “Our habit,” he says, “shall be our kindness, our visible love to God and to one another, our readiness to serve, our simple manner of life. Our habit is our prayer, our sacramental life …”
These are all ways to live our faith. So wear your habit with authenticity and dedication, and especially joy. Be out in the world as an inspiring example to the younger generations. Perhaps you’ll find ways to support them and at the same time enrich your own faith life.
This photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
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