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Young adult ministries celebrate growth at annual Mass

Zoey Maraist | Catholic Herald Staff Writer

Bridget Mullen (left) prays after Communion at the Mass for Young Adults Oct. 27. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Michael F. Burbidge blesses Erica and Luis Apaestegui after the Mass for Young Adults at Church of the Nativity in Burke Oct. 27. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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More than 400 young adults gathered at the annual Mass for Young Adults. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Father Robert C. Cilinski, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Burke, reads the Gospel. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Bishop Burbidge receives the offertory gifts from Stephen Foster (left) and Luis Arias. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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Mary Arsena (right) prays after Communion with her husband, Steven, and their daughter, Luciana. ZOEY MARAIST | CATHOLIC HERALD

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After graduating college, Sara Prince
was hired as a choir director at her home parish, Church of the Nativity in
Burke. Though she knew other 20-somethings at Nativity, Prince was usually the
youngest person at church events. “You had youth ministry and all these college
ministries and then you were on your own until you had kids,” said Prince. “If
you don’t (have something for young adults), that’s a really easy way to lose
members of the parish.” 

So in 2013, she and a few friends began
the young adult group at Nativity. Five years later, the Fairfax Theology on
Tap  they help host draws more than 100 people regularly. The monthly
praise and worship night has 50-60 participants. The weekly Bible study grew so
large that it was split into two. Father Robert C. Cilinski, pastor, hired
Alison Fram to be the parish’s Director of College, Young Adult and Family
Ministries.

“I knew the young adults were out there,
we just needed to have specific events where they could feel comfortable,” said
Prince. “I think that’s been the primary catalyst to my faith growing — that I
had that peer group.”

More than 400 young adults attended the
annual Mass for Young Adults with Bishop Michael F. Burbidge at Nativity Oct.
28, hosted by the Office for Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries. At the
same time in Rome, Pope Francis, bishops and young adults from around the world
were concluding the Synod of Bishops on young people, faith and vocational
discernment. 

“You can be assured, dear friends, that
the post-synodal document that will be issued will be one that we will study
here in the diocese,” said Bishop Burbidge. “But let me say, you are a gift to
our church, to our diocese and to me. Thank you for all that you bring to help
us move forward.”

In his homily, Bishop Burbidge reflected
on the Gospel where Jesus healed a blind man named Bartimaeus. “Jesus turned to
the blind man, and said, ‘What do you want me to do?’ He responds, ‘I want to
see.’ What’s interesting to note is that the evangelist does not highlight the
miracle or the cure but rather the faith of Bartimaeus,” said Bishop Burbidge. 

“Why don’t you hear Jesus saying to you,
‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And tell him exactly what you need, in
great faith,” said Bishop Burbidge.  “Of
course, God is all knowing, but we surface our needs in a humble way so that
we realize what is in the depths of our hearts, and the one alone who can
satisfy our hearts.”

After Mass, Bishop Burbidge, Father
Cilinski and the young adults went to mingle, eat and listen to live music at a
reception. Pablo Barrios, a parishioner of All Saints Church in Manassas, was
one of them. Barrios met other young adults in his parish while volunteering
with the youth ministry. He and his friends all also attend events specifically
for young adults, such as the Manassas Theology on Tap, P3 (prayer, penance,
pub), retreats and trips to the St. Lucy Project food pantry. “We’re all a part
of the same mission,” he said. “Growing closer as friends and bringing other
people and each other closer to Christ.”

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