BY PRISCILLA GREEAR

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Catholic young adults at a town hall meeting July 30 expressed a desire for more inclusion in parishes, more Bible study opportunities, improved Catholic education classes and more interparish activities.

Approximately 150 young adults, clergy and other interested people from 34 churches gathered at Holy Cross Church, showing a desire for more involvement in the church.

"We are most grateful for your comments and for your expression of how you feel about yourself and the Catholic Church," said Archbishop John Donoghue, who opened the meeting. "You are responsible for the church's health--it is your spiritual family and within it there are an infinite number of roles for you to fill."

Attendees were divided into small groups and directed by Janice Murphy, archdiocesan director of young adult ministry. After table representatives expressed their ideas to listeners, participants began exploring within groups their needs from the church.

A prevailing theme was a desire for more substantial programs and activities for single and married adults ages 20 to 40 within parishes.

"A lot of people said they felt they were in a gap. They were Catholic, but they didn't belong," said Murphy. It is very important to give young adults opportunities to gather and to feel a part of a Catholic community, she said.

Damian Burke, a single parishioner at St. Andrew's Church, Roswell, said that churches focus more on developing ministries for married couples and families and young adults often lose or become less committed to their Catholic faith after high school because of a lack of available programs.

"I'd like to see more done to make single people feel its okay (to be single), to make church welcome young people and to make us feel like we are just as important," said Mandy Rice of St. Michael's Church, Gainesville.

Kelly Conley, a parishioner at All Saints Church, Dunwoody, commented that young adults live in transition and have constantly changing needs. Yet as singles her group does not feel supported by the church because they are not married or considering religious vocations.

Jeff Baker, a parishioner at Holy Trinity Church, Peachtree City, represented his group saying it is harder for their age group to become involved in older parishes with more members ages 40 to 60.

"Older people are welcoming, but there isn't really any group that reaches out to younger people--an invitation to become involved," said Tad Book, who attends the Georgia Tech Catholic Center.

Another group reported that members are beginning to feel more connected to other young Catholics through prayer groups, but also said, "There was a concern that they had to go outside their parish to get that support they wanted."

Participants expressed mixed opinions about how programs can be developed. Some said that young adults must take responsibility, while others feel that pastoral staff should closely assist, providing leadership and guidance. "We don't have a sense of ownership of our parish. It's not our parish to run," said Book.

"We should take it upon ourselves to volunteer...They (young adults) should consider it their responsibility and duty to get involved," said Joe Fradet of the Latin Mass Community.

Where programs already exist, needs were expressed for more Bible studies and more extensive Catholic education classes designed for young adults. Denise Flaherty, a graduate student at Emory who attends Holy Cross Church, said of past Masses, "I felt like I wasn't fed enough with God's word. We're so fed with liturgy and Eucharist, but I felt like I wasn't fed enough with the liturgy of God's word."

"They really want to know more about their Catholic faith in a way that they can learn it," Murphy said after the event.

Shelly Carter, a Kennesaw State student representing St. John Vianney Church, Lithia Springs, said her group agreed on a need for more Scripture and studies focused on worshiping God.

Fradet's group emphasized the importance of fully learning Catholic doctrine. Without this knowledge, "a lot of information they (Catholics) get to make about these (life) decisions comes from secular society. It's important that programs and people involved in education are well educated and are faithful."

"There's not enough core faith education on a broad basis. A lot of people can't argue their faith with a non-Catholic," said Mary Fulkerson, a married young adult from Corpus Christi Church, Stone Mountain.

Carter encouraged attendees saying, "If the young adults made more effort to attend events then they'd be more successful." She stressed the value of forming friendships at church and suggested churches hold more retreats and talks for their age group. To provide more fellowship opportunities, participants suggested more interparish activities. Fradet suggested an archdiocesan roster and calendar of events.

A need was also mentioned for more child care and homilies focused on young adult needs.

Archbishop Donoghue expressed gratitude for the strong attendance and said, "I want everyone in church to feel a part of the church. I want all of you to feel that you can call me or write me...I'm going to be looking to you to help me to meet these needs. You have a lot to offer and a great deal of talent and energy."

Young adults completed a survey which Murphy will use to report on the meeting to pastors. She is currently organizing a parish representative council and 10 committees to help implement programs and "Theology on Tap," a 12-week discussion series on life issues, beginning Sept. 12. She is also considering a directory, a monthly Mass rotating among parishes, clustering churches for events, a mission trip in early 1998 and a brief quarterly newsletter.