Diocese of Joliet

and seminars on marketing, evangelizing, ministering, and supporting young adults

in the Church. For a full list of presentations offered to parishes, click here.

Office and is meant for pastors, parish leaders, and parishioners looking to better connect with men and women in their late teens, twenties, and thirities.

For more information or for help in implementing this evangelization plan, please contact Paul Jarzembowski at (815) 834-4047 or email him.

	Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry with Young Adults by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB Publishing, 1996) This document outlines the purpose, mission, and goals of young adult ministry, and suggestions from the United States bishops on effective strategies for evangelization.

	Googling God: The Religious Landscape of People in their 20s and 30s by Mike Hayes (Paulist Press, 2007) This book takes a look at the two generations of young adults in the Church today (Gen Xers and Millinnials), and what is unique about ministering to them. Mike Hayes gives practical suggestions on how to minister to two young generations in the midst of the era of Google.

	Seeds of Hope: Young Adults and the Catholic Church in the United States by Tim Muldoon (Paulist Press, 2008) Tim Muldoon looks at the state of the Church today, then considers five key areas of concern: theology, ecumenism, liturgy, spirituality, and moral authority. The book outlines ways that laity and clergy can respond to today's young adults in these areas.

	The Basic Guide to Young Adult Ministry by Fr. John Cusick and Dr. Katherine DeVries (Orbis Press, 2001) Using the "young adult ministry model" they have created in the Archdiocese of Chicago as a framework, Fr. Cusick and Dr. DeVries explain creative ways to get started and to maintain a Young Adult Ministry experience on the parish, regional, and diocesan level

	Connecting Young Adults to Catholic Parishes: Best Practices in Y.A. Ministry by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB Publishing, 2010) What are churches around the United States doing to connect with young adults already present in the life of the parish? This resource builds on "Sons and Daughters of the Light" and looks at the implementation of the bishops' document and its use in pastoral settings.

	Souls in Transition: The Religious & Spiritual Lives of Emerging Adults by Dr. Christian Smith with Patricia Snell (Oxford University Press, 2009) The follow-up to Dr. Smith's "Soul Searching" follows young adults who have emerged from their teenage years. Drawing on samples and data, Smith and Snell paint a captivating portrait of the relationship between young adults and organized religion. The book is heavy on data, but vital for all to read now.

	Young Adult Catholics: Religion in the Culture of Choice by Dean R.Hoge, William D. Dinges, Mary Johnson, and Juan L. Gonzalas, Jr. (University of Notre Dame, 2001) This sociological study takes a look at the trends, practices, needs, and concerns of young adult Catholics, practicing and non-practicing alike, in the United States today. This is a great resource to have on hand.

	Losing Your Religion, Finding Your Faith: Spirituality for Young Adults by Fr. Brett C. Hoover (Paulist Press, 1998) Losing one's religion is part of the growth process, says Fr. Hoover in this book, but the real challenge is helping young adults find their adult appreciation of faith. Aimed primarily at young adults themselves, this book is good for ministry leaders to know how best to respond to young people as they struggle with Church.

	The Next Generation of Pastoral Leaders: What the Church Needs to Know by Drs. Dean R. Hoge & Marti R. Jewell (Loyola Press, 2010) What does Church leadership look like for the next generation of pastoral leaders - currently in their 20s and 30s? This book presents the findings of the five-year study of the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Project. What it says about young adults and their role in shaping the Church is important for all in Church leadership to know and understand.

	After the Baby Boomers: How 20- and 30-somethings are Shaping the Future of American Religion by Robert Wuthnow (Princeton University Press, 2007) Another look at the sociological implications of Generation X and the Millennial Generation on the religious landscape of the 21st Century, focusing on worship, spirituality, politics, marriage and single life, family and work, technology, and their role in society at large. Heavy on data, this book gives a fascinating look at the relationship of churches and men and women under the age of 45.

	American Catholics Today: New Realities of Their Faith and Their Church by William V. D'Antonio, James D. Davidson, Dean R. Hoge, and Mary L. Gautier (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2007) This book is the most recent volume in a series of sociological studies on Catholics in the United States. This book gives data on adults of all generations, with revealing information about Gen Xers and the new Millennial Generation, and some conclusions on what this might mean for the Catholic Church in the future.

	God Moments: Why Faith Really Matters for a New Generation by Jeremy Langford (Orbis Books, 2001) In this book, author Jeremy Langford is a young adult who shares what is truly great about his Catholic faith and inspires other young adult seekers and searchers to walk with him on his spiritual journey. This is a great book from the perspective of a young adult trying to find relevant answers in his religious traditions.