Over the summer, members of the Catholic 20-Somethings in Austin celebrated the group’s 20th anniversary. When the group was formed in 2005 at St. Theresa Parish in Austin, the goal was to help young adults transition from a world of classrooms and structure into the world of work and freedom and at the same time grow their faith and love for the sacraments.

Jen (Jones) Crowley, who was a parishioner of St. Theresa Parish, founded the ministry in 2005.

“The mission of the Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry was to connect young adults through faith experiences and fellowship and build a strong community for young adults during a time of our lives full of so much transition. I hoped the ministry would serve as an anchor while we all navigated the beginning of our lives as independent, working professionals, really adulting for the first time, and trying to figure out our place in the world,” she said.

The Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry offered a variety of social, service and spiritual events centered around attending weekly Sunday Mass. A welcoming environment paired with an assortment of activities appealed to many who wanted to make friends close in age, whether they were devout or coming back to their faith.

The ministry changed many of our lives for the better. Some came back to church and had their faith renewed. Others found a community to grow their faith. Vocations were nurtured, and lasting friendships blossomed. Dozens of marriages have resulted from people who met through the Catholic 20-Somethings. Over the course of the nine years the group was active, it created a network of young professionals, new families, godparents, religious vocations, bridesmaids, groomsmen and a vibrant Catholic community across the diocese and beyond.

Father Trey Ange, one of the original coordinators of the ministry, was ordained a priest in 2017. Now as a pastor in Louisiana, he sees how important it is to empower parishioners thanks to his time in the Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry.

“Personally, I know that I would be an extremely different person without the Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry, and I'm not even sure if I would have become a priest. My priesthood is extremely enriched by my years in this incredible young adult community,” Father Ange said.

Recently, members gathered at St. Thomas More Parish in Austin for dinner, dancing, an outdoor picnic and Mass with their families.

“Getting together reminds all of us about the many things that we learned — including the need to get out and get in front of people and to live out our vocations in community,” Father Ange said.

Crowley said as she looks back at the 20 years that have passed she praises God for the endless fruits that have come from the ministry.

“From guiding so many of us in discerning our vocations — many to marriage and one even to religious life, to establishing solid friendships that still hold strong today that have been built on a foundation of shared faith, to challenging us to reach deeper into our Catholic faith and relationship with God than we ever might have done on our own, there are so many reasons to give thanks for the blessings the Catholic 20-Somethings Ministry gave to us,” she said.

Young adults need our support and connection as they are finding their independence, living somewhere new, dating, and discerning their vocation, all while navigating adulthood in this digital and secular world. Sometimes it simply takes a gentle nudge from a friend or the desire to make a friend or simply an invitation to come to Mass or join a ministry. We were made for community — to challenge and support one another. As a church let us support young adults and invite them to get involved in our parishes and ministries.

Young adults are invited to connect at centraltexascatholic.org.