The Next Parish Staff Member
The Church isn’t always quick to adapt but the most lasting changes take time and discernment. In recent years, we have been seeing parish staff roles evolve in ways that make ministry more effective for our current times. The biggest example is the transformation of what used to be the parish bulletin editor. What was once a straightforward, practical position and the master of clip art, someone to manage the weekly bulletin, has become something much broader. Many parishes now employ a communications director, someone who oversees not just bulletins, but websites, social media, and other forms of outreach. This shift shows the Church’s commitment to staying connected with parishioners in the digital age, meeting them where they already are.
This transformation opens the door for other roles to evolve as well. One possibility that’s gaining traction in some parishes is a full-time young adult coordinator. This position would go far beyond just hosting young adult events. By combining responsibilities like OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) and marriage preparation, a young adult coordinator could be a familiar, welcoming face who guides people through some of the Church’s most life-changing sacraments. OCIA, after all, has always been a place where people—many of them young adults—come searching for a deeper understanding of faith and meaning. Giving these seekers a dedicated point person could make a real difference, helping them feel seen and supported.
The hope is that a model like this could strengthen the parish community by creating a natural flow between age groups and programs. Many young Catholics end up drifting away from the Church in their twenties and thirties, often due to a sense of disconnect as they move from one program to another. A more streamlined approach could ease these transitions. Picture this: a K-5 coordinator handling the foundational sacraments like baptism, first communion, and reconciliation; a youth minister for middle and high school, focused on confirmation; and finally, a young adult minister who would lead OCIA, guide marriage prep, and support parishioners as they enter young adulthood. Each role has relational responsibilities and participates in the Sacramental journey for parishioners.
This approach could reduce the “transition failures” that many parishes experience, where parishioners, especially young ones, lose touch with the Church after they complete a major sacrament. By establishing clear, ongoing support for each stage, parishioners wouldn’t just feel like they’re moving from one program to another. Instead, they’d experience a seamless journey of faith with consistent guidance from people who know them and have invested in their growth. If each part fulfills its mission, our parishes would end up with a lot more discipled and catechized adults. Then we might not have to say “but the laborer are few".
Of course, smaller parishes operate with smaller staff and multiple roles for one person. In a mid-sized to large parish though, this model is an investment that could lower stress and set an example for other Pastors who aren’t quite sure about young adult ministry in general.
In the end, this model is about creating a true parish community, one that isn’t just a collection of programs but a supportive, connected experience of faith. In the end, it’s about helping people feel like they belong at every stage of life—and building a Church that journeys with them.
