Diocesan News

Four Months In, Young Catholic Professionals Group Sees Signs of Staying Power in Brooklyn

Paula Katinas
By · Senior Reporter twitter sharing button
Published September 17, 2026  1:05pm EDT
“I love being around Catholics of all ages, but there is something special to me as a young person to be around Catholics my age,” says Kiana Carrington (center), president of Young Catholic Professionals Brooklyn, pictured with other group leaders at the launch party in May. (Photo: Courtesy of Young Catholic Professionals Brooklyn)

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — Only a few months after its launch, the local chapter of the national Young Catholic Professionals organization has taken steps toward its goal of creating spaces for young adults to network and grow in faith.  

“Our goal is to build a community,” Kiana Carrington, president of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP) Brooklyn, told the Tablet. “The biggest thing for us is being a consistent place where people can come to access other Catholic professionals in their area.” 

YCP Brooklyn, which is aimed at adults in their 20s and 30s, officially launched with an event on May 28 that drew 400 people, including Bishop Robert Brennan.  

Since its launch, the chapter has hosted multiple networking happy hours, attended by as many as 50 people, according to Carrington.  

RELATED: Young Catholic Professionals Launches New Chapter in Diocese of Brooklyn

“It’s been an exciting time. We’ve been seeing the same faces at our events, which shows that people are interested enough to come back,” Carrington said, adding that being active and seeing a community forming “has been beautiful.”  

YCP Brooklyn has also started a monthly speaker series, the most recent of which explored “The Virtue of Patience,” with Father Robert Adamo, pastor of St. Helen Church in Howard Beach, as the speaker.  

YCP Brooklyn membership costs $100 annually and covers entry into chapter events, Carrington said. Non-members can also attend the events for a fee. 

YCP Brooklyn was in the planning stages for three years before its launch in May. It’s the 45th chapter of Young Catholic Professionals, headquartered in Dallas, with chapters in cities including Boston, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.  

Carrington, a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi-St. Blaise Parish in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, got involved with the YCP Brooklyn at the suggestion of her pastor, Father Thomas Vassalotti. She joined the leadership team in 2024.  

“I was looking to meet other young Catholics like me, but I never expected to be part of the leadership team,” she said. “It’s a matter of taking a leap of faith and trusting that I’m doing this not for myself, but for others like me who are looking for a community and a place to land.”