Young Adult Ministry (YAM) is a relatively new within the Catholic Church, and the Church is beginning to recognize the need for an outreach for and with young adults (YAs), especially those who are single. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops pastoral plan Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry With Young Adults proclaims a vision of life for YAs based on faith that calls them to holiness, community and service. YAM then is to address the four goals of connecting YAs with

• Jesus Christ
   
• The Church
   
• The mission of the Church in the world
   
• A community of their peers
   

YAM is for young people in their late teens, twenties, and thirties. The breadth in age range entails that start-up of YAM in a parish or area can thus pose several challenges, particularly in identifying where to begin, types of events and overall purpose of the ministry. Components associated with YAM include

• Catechesis
   
• Community Life/Relational Ministry
   
• Evangelization
   
• Justice and Service
   
• Leadership/Empowerment
   
• Celebration and Worship
   
• Prayer and Spirituality
   
• Advocacy

Some realities to consider when coming together as a group to start a YAM include:

• Several young adults who feel a need for a YAM are available and willing to make it happen
   
• Surface the group's expectations and each person's concept of and hope for the Church and YAM
   
• There is a difference between a YA group and YAM
   
• No YAM is going to meet the needs of all the YAs in the parish
   
• When inviting YA or help or participate, personal invitation works best
   
• Listen to one another and YAs not in the planning process
   
• YA s are already heavily committed to other activities and have a limited amount of time to devote to YAM
   
• A parish/area champion is ideal and pastor sanction needed
   
• Responsiveness is best when immediate and honest
   
• Be specific in tasks and event definitions
   
• Goals and activities need to be realizable
   

Although one can find “how to” steps for developing a YAM can be read and implemented by some YAs, having a YA minister or staff person work as mentor with YAs in starting a ministry can be a best practice.

The Office of YAM is available for YAM consultation and to support development of YAM core groups. In addition, mentoring of YAs in parishes wanting to develop a YAM is also offered in collaboration with Sr. Gloria Ann Fiedler, CDP. For additional information call (210) 734-1625 or .