The U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults

In 1996, on the eve of the third millennium, the bishops of the United States promulgated "Sons and Daughters of the Light," a document on pastoral ministry to young adults. Young adults, who range from 18-39 years of age, make up a large part of the Church and have the potential to contribute greatly toward the Christian mission. Noting that outreach to young adults has been largely neglected in the past, and that young adults provide a valuable and unique perspective to and for ministry that must be seriously considered, the U.S. bishops aimed to create a strategic plan to integrate young adults into the life of the Church in America, by taking into careful consideration the various stages of life and circumstances in which young adults find themselves.

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After wide consultation with dioceses, national organizations, and young adults themselves, the Committee on the Laity submitted the final draft to the plenary assembly of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults was approved on November 12, 1996, and is hereby authorized for publication by the undersigned.

Monsignor Dennis M. Schnurr, General Secretary, NCCB/USCC

First Printing, January 1997
Third Printing, September 1999

Scriptural excerpts from the New American Bible used with permission of the copyright holder, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, copyright © 1970, 1986, 1991. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 1996, United States Catholic Conference, Inc., Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

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A Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults

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Table of Contents

1. Dedication
2. Preface: A Message to Young Adults
3. Introduction
   • Why We Are Issuing This Plan
   • The Audience for the Pastoral Plan
4. Part One: The Young Adult
   • Who are Young Adults?
   • Tasks of Young Adulthood
     • Developing Personal Identity
     • Developing Relationships
     • Developing a Meaning of Work
     • Developing a Spiritual Life
5. Part Two: The Vision of Faith
   • Accepting God's Invitation
   • The Call to Holiness--Growing in Jesus Christ
   • The Call to Community--Nourishing Faith
   • The Call to Service--Living Faith in the World
6. Part Three: A Plan for Ministry
   • Introduction: The Church's Ministry with Young Adults
   • Principles for Ministry with Young Adults in the Parish, Diocese and Campus
   • The Parish and Young Adults
   • Goals, Objectives, and Strategies
     1. Goal One: Connecting Young Adults with Jesus Christ
        • Objective
        • Strategies to Implement Goal One
     2. Goal Two: Connecting Young Adults with the Church
        • Objective
        • Strategies to Implement Goal Two
     3. Goal Three: Connecting Young Adults with the Mission of the Church in the World
        • Objective
        • Strategies to Implement Goal Three
     4. Goal Four: Connecting Young Adults with a Peer Community
        • Objectives
        • Strategies to Implement Goal Fourth
7. Part Four: The Campus, the Diocese and Catholic Organizations
   • Campus Ministry Centers
   • Diocesan Strategies
   • Catholic Organizations and Movements
8. Part Five: Implementation of the Pastoral Plan
   • Getting Started
9. A Final Prayer
10. Resources
11. Notes

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