WINDSOR TERRACE — Young adults at the start of their professional lives might find that the Bible can be just as valuable to their careers as an MBA.
With that in mind, the Diocese of Brooklyn is forming a local chapter of Young Catholic Professionals (YCP), a nationwide organization that helps members grow closer to their faith as they climb the corporate ladder.
Bishop Robert Brennan has given his blessing to the formation of a YCP chapter in the diocese. That’s a key development, since new chapters cannot be formed without permission from a local diocese. There are currently 38 YCP chapters across the country in cities like Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.
The plan is to have the Diocese of Brooklyn chapter up and running by the spring of 2024, said Lucia Morales, associate director of Youth and Young Adult Formation for the diocese, who is spearheading the formation of the new chapter.
The leaders are hoping to attract young professionals in their 20s and 30s to join.
“We do have something similar in our diocese but it’s just voluntary and dependent on local parishes, or local young adults. So this [YCP chapter] would take more of a formal step with young adult ministry in our diocese,” she explained.
The new chapter will host networking events, Happy Hour get-togethers, mentorship programs, and professional development conferences featuring guest speakers.
However, Morales said, the chapter’s main focus will be Masses, to take place once a month. “We will be gathering together for Mass on a Saturday because it kind of combines everything — the networking, the Happy Hours, the mentorship. Prayer is at the center of everything we do.”
The diocese is receiving guidance from Derek McMonagle, the new chapter development associate for YCP, on how to organize.
The national group provides startup assistance, including guidance on appointments of chapter presidents and boards of directors, and has a representative stay with the fledgling new group during its inaugural year.
“Typically, when it comes to putting a chapter together, you have to get approval from the diocese and the bishop. That’s always first-off. Then, you work on logistical things like putting a team together with a board and assigning a chaplain,” McMonagle explained.
According to McMonagle, the national organization sees its work as a ministry — a sense of mission that filters down to the individual chapters.
“We have a deep passion for helping people bridge the gap between work and faith. We don’t want them to live separate lives. They have a passion in that they want to bring their faith into the workplace and live authentically Catholic lives in a very secular world,” he said.
The Diocese of Brooklyn is a perfect place to establish a YCP chapter, McMonagle added. “There’s a lot of young people here, particularly in neighborhoods like Williamsburg. And a lot of young adults are on fire for the Lord,” he said.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 14% of Brooklyn residents are between the ages of 20-29, and 17% are ages 30-39. In Queens, 13% of residents are 20-29 years old, and 15% are 30-39.
Morales, who recently joined Bishop Brennan on his podcast, “Big City Catholics,” to talk about the new chapter, said she sees it as an important evangelization tool.
“That is definitely something that as diocesan Catholic leaders, we always keep in mind,” she said. “We are constantly praying for them to feel at home, as well as return. We want them to find the connection that maybe they’ve lost, or if they haven’t lost it, to strengthen it.”