The Year One Project
Investing in Young Adults for a Thriving Parish
Young adults are the Church’s present and future, yet many parishes struggle to engage them. Too often, young adults drift away after high school or college, uncertain where they fit in parish life. Some return when they start a family, but many never do. This reality isn’t inevitable, it’s an opportunity. By intentionally investing in young adult ministry, parishes can build vibrant, faith-filled communities where young adults not only stay but thrive.
What if we could not only grow the number of young adults in our parishes but also shorten the time it takes them to commit?
In parishes with thriving young adult ministry, we see young adults go from visitor to parishioner in two to three weeks.
Verus Catholic is launching The Year One Project, a new initiative designed to help parishes start, reboot, or enhance their young adult ministry with clarity and confidence. Whether your parish is just beginning to think about young adult outreach, has tried before and struggled, or already has a ministry but wants to take it further, this program provides a framework, practical tools, and ongoing support to make an impact.
We are looking for a limited number of parishes that want to commit to young adult ministry in a real way. The Year One Project is an invitation to reach a season of life that is defined by change and often forgotten.
Why Invest in Young Adult Ministry?
Young adults are searching for deeper meaning, real relationships, and a place to grow in their faith—but they can’t do it alone. They need the Church, and the Church needs them. When parishes make a real effort to welcome and engage young adults, they don’t just show up—they step up. They become leaders, volunteers, and missionaries, bringing new life and energy to the community.
A thriving young adult ministry doesn’t just benefit young people; it strengthens the entire parish. When young adults are actively involved, they bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a passion for service. They help bridge the gap between generations, creating a parish that feels connected and alive for everyone, from families to seniors.
The reality is, the future of the Church depends on reaching young adults now. Studies show that when young people stay engaged in their faith during their 20s and 30s, they’re far more likely to remain committed for life. The Church can’t afford to wait and hope they’ll return someday—it needs to meet them where they are today.
How The Year One Project Helps
The Year One Project equips parishes with:
A Step-by-Step Plan
Personalized Coaching
Proven Strategies and resources for Engagement
A Support Network
Your parish doesn’t have to figure this out alone. The Year One Project makes it easy to take the next step, whether that means launching something new, revitalizing a stalled effort, or fine-tuning what’s already working.
Now is the time to invest in young adults. They are ready to engage with the Church, but they need a place where they are seen, heard, and invited to belong.
Join The Year One Project today and help build a thriving young adult community in your parish.
To begin follow the link and give us some information about your parish and current young adult ministry. We will reach out to you and set up an initial consultation. This is the first step to a vibrant young adult community. Filling out your information is not a financial commitment, there is no risk to set up your first meeting.
The Year One Project is an offering to a limited number of parishes. When we reach our capacity for this project, remaining parishes will need to wait for our next enrollment.
Questions?
Will the Year One Project have a cost?
Verus Catholic is a small business and for anything of quality, there is a cost. We do scale pricing appropriate to your parish and the Year One Project is designed to be affordable. Don’t let cost be an obstacle to starting the conversation!
What does the timeline for this look like?
We set realistic benchmarks to understand how your ministry is progressing. Young Adult Ministry is a repeating cycle of evaluation and action. We want your ministry to be sustainable in the long term and comprehensive. Each timeline looks slightly different, so let’s get started today!
Why are you launching the Year One Project now?
In roughly 2 to 3 months, parishes will be seeing the class of 2025 college graduates move back to their hometowns or set roots in new ones. If parishes invest now, those young adults can be engaged without any gap.
What if I have specific questions?
Email us! Reach out to Michael Specht directly at mspecht@veruscatholic.com
