Young Catholic professionals have a place to gather at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Vienna — an intentional community.
“Among people today there is a desire for intentional communities,” said Joseph McDaniel, a seminarian with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. “I hope it is able to be a place for people to be fed and we will offer nourishing opportunities.”
Joanna Beveridge, a parishioner, said the idea of meeting young professionals committed to their faith in her neighborhood drew her into the group.
“My parents have developed many close friendships through church, and the prospect of doing the same interested me,” she said. “I see many young adults at Mass and would love to form deeper connections.”
Beveridge said being able to connect with other young professionals will help her feel supported and able to live out her faith, especially in the workplace. “It can be tough to find other young adults who attend church regularly,” she said. “It is even rarer to find adults who want to attend church activities more than once a week. It is a comfort to find so many young adults in my own parish who long to deepen their faith and know God.”
Amy Winkler, director of Catholic Christian Formation at the parish, said the group will host a variety of social, service and spirituality events throughout the year.
Events will be geared toward young professionals and building community within this population of adults in their 20s and 30s, said Winkler.
The next event will be a talk on spiritual friendship Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The spirituality events will have a Salesian focus because the parish is staffed by the Oblates of St. Francis of de Sales.
“One of the main goals of this ministry is to connect young professionals with one another as they find themselves in the Vienna area,” said Winkler. “They seek to establish friendships with others with similar values and faith.”
