SAN DIEGO — As Auxiliary Bishop Felipe Pulido visits parishes across the region, he sometimes wonders, “Where are the young people?”
He offered an answer at the diocese’s Annual Young Adult Adoration and Mass.
“You are signs of hope that Christ still matters,” he told the estimated 400 young adults in attendance, “that the Church still matters.”
Sponsored by the diocesan Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, the Mass was held July 14 at The Immaculata Church on the campus of the University of San Diego.
The evening began at 5 p.m. with an hour of Eucharistic adoration, during which priests were available for the sacrament of reconciliation. At 6 p.m., Bishop Pulido presided over a Mass, which was followed by a reception in an adjacent courtyard.
In his homily, Bishop Pulido noted that one of the priorities identified through the diocesan synod process had been “making disciples,” or how to “pass on the faith to the next generation.”
“When I celebrate Mass in different parishes, I see the youth in the pews, but I don’t see many,” the bishop lamented.
He noted that he and the other bishops of the diocese recently confirmed about 4,000 youth in the diocese.
“Sometimes, when I visit parishes, I wonder: Where are they?” he said.
Citing Matthew Kelly, founder of Dynamic Catholic, Bishop Pulido said that 85% of Catholic young people will leave the Church within five years of being confirmed.
“In the midst of all of this data and research, are there any signs of hope?” he asked rhetorically.
He told the young adults, “You are signs of hope that Christ still matters, that the Church still matters, (that) the Holy Eucharist still matters, that loving God and our neighbor is still the message that we are called to pass on to the next generation.”
“You … might say, ‘I’m not a preacher, I’m not a priest, I’m not a prophet; I’m just a young adult person who is searching, who still has a long way to go,’” said Bishop Pulido. “Well, the Lord calls you.”
“Our young people are still searching, and we can show them – you can show them – that what they are looking for is found in Jesus and in the sacraments,” he said. “You might say to yourself, ‘I’m not equipped.’ … Remember that God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called.”
The liturgical music for the Mass was provided by Ruach, the young adult choir from St. Therese of Carmel Parish in Carmel Valley, which is co-led by young adults Catherine Marshall and Nicky Knuff.
Evelyn Beale, associate director of the Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said it was exciting to have them lead the music this year.
“They’re an active young adult choir that sings every single Sunday at the 5:30 p.m. Mass” and “they breathe life into that Mass,” she said.
“I think it’s a great testament to show the young adult community what being really involved in a parish could look like,” Beale said of Ruach.
Toward the conclusion of the Mass, all young adults who are leaders in young adult ministry were asked to approach the altar to receive a blessing and commissioning from Bishop Pulido.
Some young adults shared their thoughts during the reception.
First-time attendee Danielle Boggs, 25, is a member of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Scripps Ranch.
“How the young adults were able to fill that large church is super impressive,” she said, adding that young adult events like these provide encouragement “to go out and spread the word and just be that light for everyone.”
She said that having the opportunity to meet other young Catholics, especially in a city the size of San Diego, is “huge.”
Justin Cruz, a 25-year-old member of San Rafael Parish in Rancho Bernardo, is a returning attendee.
He said, “It’s amazing to see a whole bunch of young adults passionate about their faith come together for one large Mass.”
Reflecting on the importance of a community of young adult Catholics, Cruz said, “The Lord doesn’t want us to walk alone. He blessed us with amazing community, and love, and joy from His holy people.”
