Reaching the Next Generation in the Catholic Church - Joel Stepanek | Ep. 103 | Ron Huntley Leadership Podcast

Parents and youth ministers in the Catholic church want their children to grow up and attend a parish where they can get sustained formation. The problem is that many parishes are not actually equipped with leaders who can do that effectively.

Even with well-trained youth leaders, the capacity is limited in parishes that are not well-led and where the culture isn't healthy at its core. This is how your best people end up burnt out because they aren't being given the support needed to thrive.

As parish leaders, we're often waiting for the "next generation" to come to us, or perhaps they're already here, but they're leaving because we aren't connecting in the way that they need us to. It's vital for us to address these growing concerns, be willing to break away from what no longer works and reimagine the way that we reach the next generation with the love of Jesus!

This week's guest helps parishes create a culture where this type of change can happen.

Joel Stepanek is the VP of Parish Services at Life Teen, an organization that provides a safe and fun place for youth to experience Catholic community, get answers to their questions, and, most importantly, experience Jesus in a profound and personal way.

Our conversation dives into some of our deep-seated cultural norms and offers incredible insight about how we can more effectively engage young people in the Church.