BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--A pastoral plan for ministry with young adults was adopted by the U.S. bishops Nov. 12, 1996 during their fall meeting in Washington, D.C.

The plan, entitled "Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry With Young Adults," is to serve as a comprehensive and workable plan of action for ministering to Catholics in their late teens, 20s and 30s.

The plan says a successful young adult outreach will connect young adult Catholics in four ways: with the church, by inviting and welcoming their presence in the church community; with Jesus Christ; with the mission of the church in the world; and with a peer community in which their faith is "nurtured and strengthened."

The U.S. bishops said they also wanted "to state firmly that we, as members of the church, must actively invite and welcome young adults into the life of the church."

Young adults will participate in the church, "when they perceive that the invitation is authentic and their participation is constructive," the plan states. However, it notes "the invitation to participate may need to be issued a number of times because young adults may not believe that they are truly being invited because of past experiences."

The document includes a set of 12 principles "to guide the development of effective ministry with young adults" in parishes, dioceses and campus ministry settings. It also recommends specific pastoral steps to take in ministry with single adults, newly married couples and couples with young children.

As a prelude to writing the document, diocesan town hall meetings with young adults were held around the country, including the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association and the Catholic Campus Ministry Association.

Comments gleaned from young adults in their late teens to those in their 30s were inserted throughout the plan.

In response to this plan the Archdiocese of Atlanta created a Office of Young Adult Ministry in December 1996. Janice Murphy was named director.

Murphy's background includes 12 years of youth ministry at All Saints Church, Dunwoody, St. Jude the Apostle, Sandy Springs, and St. Theresa's Church, Douglasville. In addition to her work with youth ministry she had been involved with the planning, organizing and marketing of the 1996 Olympic Games and World Cup 1994.

The Office of Young Adult Ministry was established to assist existing young adult groups with resources, programming and structural ideas, networking and leadership training. It was also intended to provide support, encouragement and resources for parishes wanting to develop new young adult programs or make existing programs more young adult friendly; to offer inter-parish events; to evangelize young adults who are not currently attending Mass and to increase awareness of issues that affect young adults.

"Sons and Daughters of the Light: A Pastoral Plan for Ministry With Young Adults" is available in English and Spanish editions from the U.S. Catholic Conference Office of Publishing Services for $9.95. For information call (800) 235-8722.