FLATLANDS — If you believe statistics, it would seem that Gen Z isn’t as religious as people from earlier generations. Try telling that to Christopher Mendy, a junior at Hillcrest High School who was one of 1,600 young people who took part in the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic Youth Day celebration at St. Thomas Aquinas Church on Nov. 23.
While a 2023 study by the Public Religion Research Institute found that only 20% of Gen Zers regularly attend religious services, Christopher hoped the day would inspire others to love it like him.
“I keep going because I want to gain some wisdom from God,” said Christopher, a parishioner of St. Joseph Church in Jamaica. “Me and my siblings all go to Church, and it’s a big part of my life.”
The day brought together two generations — Gen Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) and Gen Alpha (those born after 2012) — with the high schoolers serving as helpers to their junior high brethren.
The goal of Catholic Youth Day, which is filled with fun and games, music, prayer, and inspirational guest speakers, is to bring young people closer to Jesus Christ, said Father Dwayne Davis, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
“We’re hoping that these young people will come away with hope that they will have a renewed relationship with Jesus Christ and that they are hopeful that there is a better tomorrow,” he explained.
The centerpiece of the day was a Mass celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan, who reveled in the joy of being around the lively, loud, and boisterous group. He urged the youngsters to be steadfast in their faith, telling those in attendance: “We do have to hold firm in what we believe.”
The Mass enjoyed such a large audience that the church had to set aside an overflow room with a live feed of the Mass for those who couldn’t fit in the pews.
“It tells us that the future of the Church is bright,” Father James Kuroly, director of youth and young adult ministry for the diocese, said of the turnout.
The key, he added, is to give young people the kind of spiritual renewal that lasts.
“We have them only for a few hours today. The world has them for the rest of the time,” Father Kuroly said. “What we’re hoping for is that they leave here being able to pinpoint a moment where they’re able to experience how truly and deeply loved they are.”
The day meant a lot to Salvatore Palmeri, a parishioner of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church in Mill Basin. He was impressed by the presenters, who included motivational speaker Oscar Rivera.
“I really liked the way they were explaining things because I feel like it really got to people. It got to me,” Salvatore said. “I won’t forget what happened here today.”
