By TARA CONNOLLY
Staff writer
A commission specifically designed to relay its pastoral needs to Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert officially convened for the first time Nov. 28.
The 12-member Commission for Young Adults met with Bishop Schlert to begin their role providing input into the direction of young adult ministry in the Diocese. It will serve as an advisory commission to the Bishop and the Diocese to further the mission of evangelization and growth in discipleship of young adults.
The members of the newly formed commission are:
- Hannah Adams, Our Lady Help of Christians, Allentown.
- Ed Burns, St. Stephen of Hungary, Allentown.
- Meredith Corrales, St. Joseph, Frackville.
- Sarah DeArment, St. John the Baptist, Pottsville.
- Andrew Ivankovits, Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown.
- James and Abby Maria, St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring.
- Talia Mazza, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Roseto.
- Sebastian Nieves, St. Ignatius Loyola.
- John Pellosie, St. Joseph the Worker, Orefield.
- Robert Rienzo, Diocese of Allentown seminarian.
- Christina Tran, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Whitehall.
- Emily Whalen, St. Joseph the Worker. Orefield
According to the bylaws, the mission of the commission is to find practical ways to improve and grow young adult outreach, ministry and evangelization in the Diocese so that more young adults come to know the love of Jesus Christ and therefore become his missionary disciples.
During the meeting, Bishop Schlert expressed his desire to learn from young adults about their needs and asked for ideas about how to bring millennials back to the Church.
Thea Aclo, director of the Office of Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry, who will serve as a liaison for the commission, said the commission will work together to devise plans to reach out to young adults who have drifted from the faith.
“Bishop Schlert has great concern that many young adults have left the faith and don’t even identify with any sort of faith. He would like the commission to address that, and eventually come up with a pastoral plan for the Diocese to address this,” said Aclo.
