Millennials key to future of church, consultant tells Diocesan leaders
October 7, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and executive director of pastoral life and mission, introduces John Poitevent, the convocation's keynote speaker, who gave two online presentations.
Updated Oct. 7, 2025
“A parish without millennials is a parish without a future.”
That’s how John Poitevent, founder of Great Catholic Parishes, led into his two-part presentation focused on how parishes can accompany young Catholics on their spiritual journey and help them become more engaged in the life of the parish community.
“We don’t just care about reaching the generations out of fear of losing the Church and that we won’t have people to fill our pews,” he said. “We care about them because we are called to care about them. We are called to pass on the goodness and love of God of the Gospel so that emerging generations may also know that God loves them and has a great future planned for them.”
PHOTO GALLERY: 2025 Convocation of Parish Pastoral Councils
Hosted by the diocesan Office of Pastoral Life and Mission, the Sept. 27 convocation in St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, drew 115parish pastoral council members, parish staff and youth and young adult ministers from 28 parishes around the Diocese.
“With few exceptions, every parish [in the Diocese] has people under 45 living in their territory,” said Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and the office’s executive director.
“There are millennial Catholics and Generation Z Catholics in your parish. There are also nones – people with no religious affiliation out there waiting to be invited,” she said.
“If they are out there, how do those of us who have already found a ‘faith home’ in our parish community engage others? How do we become communities of radical hospitality where young people feel welcome?” she said.
Exemplary and saintly model
The convocation included Mass celebrated by Father Peter James Alindogan, pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, who stood in for Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.
In delivering Bishop O’Connell’s prepared homily, Father Alindogan said the day marked the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity.
Vincent, who inspired lay movements such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, “knew that charity without organization is fleeting and that organization without charity is sterile,” Father Alindogan said. “Vincent held both together – spirit and system, heart and ledger, prayer and planning.”
“To serve on a pastoral council is not merely to sit at a table – it is to kneel at the feet of Christ,” Father Alindogan said. “It is to ask ‘Lord, what would you have us do with these resources, these buildings, these budgets, these people? It is to recognize that every dollar is a seed, every meeting is a mission, every decision and recommendation to your pastor is a chance to build the kingdom.”
Map to millennials
Poitevent presented a detailed overview on the distinguishing characteristics of millennial groups, which he said were key to understanding what is important to them and how they view their faith.
“When you think about how millennials see the world, think about the reality they grew up in,” he said, citing advances in technology, social media and “living in an on-demand world.”
He said research shows that many millennials are indifferent to organized religions, but others are showing a renewed interest in their Catholic faith.
Because of the magnitude of the millennial population, Poitevent said it is critical to the future of the Catholic Church that priority be given to successfully engaging them through intentional strategies that will “lead us to invite them to participate in our faith.”
Poitevent discussed strategies for engaging millennials to volunteer in their parishes and how to make their efforts more meaningful to both them and the parish.
The key way to engaging volunteers is through invitation, Poitevent said.
“When millennials volunteer in the parish, do they feel valued or just needed? There’s a big difference between really feeling welcomed and feeling like you really belong,” he said.
Convocation Takeaways
Beverly H. Linane, recorder in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting’s PPC, said she gained deeper appreciation for strategies on reaching out to millennials.
“It is critical to the future of the Catholic Church that our priority should be to successfully engage millennials through intentional strategies that will lead us to invite them to participate in the faith,” said Linane. “The discussion was full of hope and provided a deep understanding of the issues and was action driven to assist parishes in effecting the necessary changes.”
Being a millennial, Colleen Lindsey, director of family faith formation in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Long Beach Island, said Poitevent was “spot on” in his description of her age group.
“Hearing about the values, behaviors and motivations of my generation brought clarity to why so many things are happening the way they are – in ministry, in the workplace and even in our Church communities,” she said. “I just kept thinking ‘I wish every parishioner and pastor could hear this.’ It would be a game-changer, not only in hiring and leadership but in bringing new energy and perspective into parishes that are ready for renewal.”
Father Dave Swantek, pastor of St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, and members of his parish pastoral council, discuss points made during the keynote addresses.
Bishop: Pastoral Council members are heirs to the vision of St. Vincent de Paul
Friday, December 05, 2025
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Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and executive director of pastoral life and mission, introduces John Poitevent, the convocation's keynote speaker, who gave two online presentations.
Updated Oct. 7, 2025
“A parish without millennials is a parish without a future.”
That’s how John Poitevent, founder of Great Catholic Parishes, led into his two-part presentation focused on how parishes can accompany young Catholics on their spiritual journey and help them become more engaged in the life of the parish community.
“We don’t just care about reaching the generations out of fear of losing the Church and that we won’t have people to fill our pews,” he said. “We care about them because we are called to care about them. We are called to pass on the goodness and love of God of the Gospel so that emerging generations may also know that God loves them and has a great future planned for them.”
PHOTO GALLERY: 2025 Convocation of Parish Pastoral Councils
Hosted by the diocesan Office of Pastoral Life and Mission, the Sept. 27 convocation in St. Catharine Parish, Holmdel, drew 115parish pastoral council members, parish staff and youth and young adult ministers from 28 parishes around the Diocese.
“With few exceptions, every parish [in the Diocese] has people under 45 living in their territory,” said Terry Ginther, diocesan chancellor and the office’s executive director.
“There are millennial Catholics and Generation Z Catholics in your parish. There are also nones – people with no religious affiliation out there waiting to be invited,” she said.
“If they are out there, how do those of us who have already found a ‘faith home’ in our parish community engage others? How do we become communities of radical hospitality where young people feel welcome?” she said.
Exemplary and saintly model
The convocation included Mass celebrated by Father Peter James Alindogan, pastor of St. Veronica Parish, Howell, who stood in for Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M.
In delivering Bishop O’Connell’s prepared homily, Father Alindogan said the day marked the feast of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity.
Vincent, who inspired lay movements such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, “knew that charity without organization is fleeting and that organization without charity is sterile,” Father Alindogan said. “Vincent held both together – spirit and system, heart and ledger, prayer and planning.”
“To serve on a pastoral council is not merely to sit at a table – it is to kneel at the feet of Christ,” Father Alindogan said. “It is to ask ‘Lord, what would you have us do with these resources, these buildings, these budgets, these people? It is to recognize that every dollar is a seed, every meeting is a mission, every decision and recommendation to your pastor is a chance to build the kingdom.”
Map to millennials
Poitevent presented a detailed overview on the distinguishing characteristics of millennial groups, which he said were key to understanding what is important to them and how they view their faith.
“When you think about how millennials see the world, think about the reality they grew up in,” he said, citing advances in technology, social media and “living in an on-demand world.”
He said research shows that many millennials are indifferent to organized religions, but others are showing a renewed interest in their Catholic faith.
Because of the magnitude of the millennial population, Poitevent said it is critical to the future of the Catholic Church that priority be given to successfully engaging them through intentional strategies that will “lead us to invite them to participate in our faith.”
Poitevent discussed strategies for engaging millennials to volunteer in their parishes and how to make their efforts more meaningful to both them and the parish.
The key way to engaging volunteers is through invitation, Poitevent said.
“When millennials volunteer in the parish, do they feel valued or just needed? There’s a big difference between really feeling welcomed and feeling like you really belong,” he said.
Convocation Takeaways
Beverly H. Linane, recorder in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Whiting’s PPC, said she gained deeper appreciation for strategies on reaching out to millennials.
“It is critical to the future of the Catholic Church that our priority should be to successfully engage millennials through intentional strategies that will lead us to invite them to participate in the faith,” said Linane. “The discussion was full of hope and provided a deep understanding of the issues and was action driven to assist parishes in effecting the necessary changes.”
Being a millennial, Colleen Lindsey, director of family faith formation in St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Long Beach Island, said Poitevent was “spot on” in his description of her age group.
“Hearing about the values, behaviors and motivations of my generation brought clarity to why so many things are happening the way they are – in ministry, in the workplace and even in our Church communities,” she said. “I just kept thinking ‘I wish every parishioner and pastor could hear this.’ It would be a game-changer, not only in hiring and leadership but in bringing new energy and perspective into parishes that are ready for renewal.”
Father Dave Swantek, pastor of St. Martha Parish, Point Pleasant, and members of his parish pastoral council, discuss points made during the keynote addresses.