8-04 Engaging and Accompanying Young People: The Challenge and the Blessing!

The research, Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics, by Saint Mary's Press focuses on young people who have left the Church. Now we need to identify the practical pastoral strategies that enhance affiliation and engagement with the faith community and examine implications for parish/school life, vocational discernment, liturgy, and pastoral ministry. We will explore how young people are crafting a religious identity in a secular age and consider Catholicism as a comprehensive way of living. As ministry leaders and as caring individuals, we will explore what it means to accompany young people on their spiritual journeys.

Dr. Bob McCarty is a pastoral ministry consultant and trainer and adjunct faculty at The Catholic University of America and The University of Dallas. He offers consultations, retreats, workshops and training programs in ministry skills and issues internationally. Bob serves as the project coordinator for the Saint Mary's Press research project, "Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics". His most recent book is, "Faith Talk: Having Conversations with Young People That Matter!" (Saint Mary's Press 2018).  Bob is a volunteer in his parish youth ministry and adult faith formation program at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fulton, MD. Bob has a D.Min. from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana and an MA in Religious Education from LaSalle University.