GREENWICH VILLAGE — It’s not every day a workout starts off with a prayer. But then again, personal trainer Daniel McKenna doesn’t lead just any session.
In an effort to bring young adults together in faith and fitness, McKenna and Catholic wellness influencer Isabella Orlando organized a new event, the Catholic Workout, at a Greenwich Village gym on Oct. 4.
About 40 Gen Z members showed up at the first meeting to exercise, socialize, and grow closer to their faith. Instead of stretching exercises, the group began the session by praying together.
“Isabella came to me a couple of months ago,” McKenna said. “She had this concept of working out, bringing a bit more health and fitness to the Catholic community.”
McKenna, who is known for his Instagram posts under @theirish_yank, immediately said yes.
“I thought it’d be a great idea to get the Catholic community together because a lot of them are out running (and) they go to work out. So, let’s bring it together. And that’s where we can work out and worship,” explained McKenna, who attends Mass at St. Joseph Church in Greenwich Village.
Orlando, who posts on Instagram under @belovedhealthco, said she reached out to McKenna “because I knew that we were both in the health/fitness industry and we’re both practicing Catholics.”
The goal of the workout, aside from helping people stay in shape, was to give young adult Catholics the chance to socialize outside of church.
“I love going to Mass and having my reverent time with prayer and just in silence. It’s amazing,” Orlando said. “But you leave Mass, and the city is just hustle and bustle. Sometimes, you just really don’t get to talk to many people after Mass if there’s no social or coffee hour.”
The workout idea grew out of the Holy Girl Walk, an event Orlando led for women in Central Park earlier this year. Participants got their steps in while praying the rosary.
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The Catholic Workout participants, who worked up a good sweat from running, weight-training, and push-ups, said they loved the concept. For Olivia Flynn, the workout served two purposes.
“It is a good opportunity for me to get out there and meet some new people that have kind of the same beliefs as I, and then get a great workout in,” she said.
Nicholas Hanley, who said that as a Catholic, he enjoys meeting people, added that the friendly atmosphere of the Catholic Workout made it easier to socialize.
“I think in the gym, people tend to have this habit to isolate, for reasons of lifting and otherwise,” he explained. “So, this is a nice one that breaks the mold. There’s common ground. It’s really easy to approach people.”
Many of the workout participants attend Mass at St. Joseph Church, which is located near New York University and has drawn large numbers of Gen Z Catholics to its Masses in recent years. And its numbers are growing.
For example, at the Easter Vigil this year, 88 people were baptized or confirmed — an increase of 41 people over last year, according to church officials.
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The church enjoys a close connection to the Catholic Center at NYU, a gathering spot for religious-minded students that offers Mass, Bible study, lectures, and group meetings. At least 15 of the newly baptized at St. Joseph’s came from the Catholic Center.
Meanwhile, pleased with the turnout for the first Catholic Workout, Orlando and McKenna said they would like to organize more sessions, something Flynn said she would welcome.
“It kicked my butt. I’m as red as a tomato,” she said. “But I would definitely come back if there was another one.”