Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities for Young Adults in the Church: A Conversation with Tanner Kalina

Tanner Kalina, the Mission Outreach Manager for the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC), shared his insights on the unique challenges and opportunities facing young adults in the Church today. This discussion touched on Tanner’s experiences, the evolving landscape of young adult ministry, and the critical role young adults play in the Church’s future.

The Complexity of Young Adulthood in the Church

Tanner kicked off the conversation by acknowledging the complexity of young adulthood, especially within the context of the Church. “Young adults, we have it hard,” he said, highlighting how this stage of life is marked by constant flux—career changes, varying life stages, and the pressure of finding one’s path in both life and faith. Unlike other age groups, young adults are often juggling multiple transitions, making it challenging to find a stable place within the Church community.

This transient nature of young adulthood poses a unique challenge for ministry. Tanner noted, “Everything is in flux. When you have young adults in the Church, it’s like, how do you get all these groups of people together? How do you get them moving towards the goal of holiness?” This challenge is compounded by the fact that many young adults are seeking authenticity in a world that often feels superficial.

The Role of the Eucharistic Revival

Amidst these challenges, Tanner sees hope in the current Eucharistic Revival. He believes it provides a clear and focused mission for young adults to rally behind. “With this Eucharistic Revival, it’s really prophetic because our bishops have called us to the source and summit of our lives,” he said. This focus on the Eucharist, as the central element of Catholic faith, offers young adults a tangible way to deepen their spiritual lives and find community.

Tanner expressed excitement about how young adults are embracing this movement, using their creativity and familiarity with digital platforms to promote a deeper connection to the Eucharist. “Young adults are cool. We’re creative. We’re chasing the authentic thing—the Eucharist,” he remarked, emphasizing that this generation is not content with mediocrity but is instead striving for the fullness of truth, beauty, and goodness.

Evangelizing to Young Adults

Addressing the pressing question of how to bring young adults back to the Church, Tanner shared a key insight: the power of personal invitation. He cited a statistic that 83% of people who leave the faith do so by age 23, often making the decision by age 13. Despite this alarming trend, Tanner emphasized that the method modeled by Jesus—walking with and investing in individuals—is the most effective way to evangelize.

“Jesus invited people, and He invested in people,” Tanner explained. He shared a personal story from his time as a FOCUS missionary, where consistent, unreciprocated invitations to a student eventually led that person back to the Church. This story underscored Tanner’s belief in the importance of persistence in evangelization, even when the initial response seems discouraging.

The Digital Age and Evangelization

In today’s hyper-connected world, Tanner discussed the overwhelming amount of messaging young adults are exposed to daily—up to 3,000 advertisements, according to some estimates. This bombardment of information has led to what psychologists call “hurry sickness,” where people feel constantly rushed and stressed. In contrast, Tanner highlighted the importance of slowing down, a lesson he draws from the Eucharist.

“Our Lord is not fast. He’s not a quick fix,” Tanner said, urging young adults to embrace the slow, steady journey of faith. He also sees potential in using digital platforms for evangelization, acknowledging the role these tools play in reaching young adults where they are. However, he cautioned that these tools should be used to complement, not replace, the deeper, more personal aspects of faith formation.

Building Community Across Generations

Tanner also touched on the importance of intergenerational relationships within the Church. He encouraged older adults to take an active role in mentoring young adults, sharing their wisdom and experience. “Older people, pour into the younger people. And younger people, we’re really receptive to it,” he said, emphasizing the mutual benefits of these relationships.

He shared examples of older parishioners who successfully started young adult groups, proving that age is no barrier to fostering vibrant, faith-filled communities. This approach not only helps bridge the generational gap but also ensures that young adults feel supported and valued within the Church.

Final Thoughts

As the session wrapped up, Tanner left the audience with a powerful message: the importance of invitation and witness. Whether through personal relationships, consistent invitations, or simply living out one’s faith authentically, these actions have the potential to transform lives, even if the fruits are not immediately visible.

“Don’t stop inviting, don’t stop pursuing the Lord deeply, and trust that your witness will go a long way,” Tanner concluded, encouraging everyone to take an active role in the spiritual growth of those around them.

Tanner’s insights provided a hopeful and practical roadmap for engaging young adults in the Church, reminding us all of the power of community, persistence, and authentic faith in bringing about spiritual revival.