by John McCarthy
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Millennial Catholics are playing a unique role in their local parishes and will no doubt play an important role in shaping the future of our church. However, as a young Catholic myself, I can't help but notice how few resources there are for people to live out and explore their faith. Young people are no longer satisfied with Sunday-school-style catechism but want to learn their faith and apply it to the world around them.
I've compiled a list of organizations, blogs, apps and tweeps (Twitter peeps) I consider to be genuinely helpful. The list is by no means thorough; please add to it and share it with the young people in your life. We need many more people involved in this dialogue.
I'd be remiss not to mention National Catholic Reporter's own efforts at raising up the voices of young Catholics. NCR deserves special credit for being one of the only mainstream Catholic news sources giving young people such a prominent seat at the table.
Mike Sweitzer-Beckman, one of NCR's Young Voices columnists and a co-founder of Young Adult Catholics, does a wonderful job at coupling a theological background with real-world commentary. He's put together a wonderfully talented group of writers who share their personal stories and individual faith commentary.
In many ways, Millennial Journal perfectly represents the future of young intellectuals in the church. They perfectly weave together current events and the Catholic intellectual tradition and have assembled quite an impressive group of commentators. The journal is a project of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and follows its tradition of finding real-world practicality to Catholic theology.
OK, OK, it's not Catholic per se, but it can be an important tool for the over-extended collegiate Catholic. Many of my peers have a hard time setting aside time in the day to pray or mediate. Fear no more! You can keep track of the time you pray, take notes of your intentions and take notes. When you're done, make sure to hit "Amen" to close out!
Listen, I know it's hard to rank your sins and plan out your time in the confessional. Fear no more, and sinners, take notice! This useful little app helps you go through a list of sins and how they change your spiritual life.
While not entirely reserved for young Catholics, this blog is one of my favorites. Daniel Horan is one of those hip young priests that the new evangelization dreams of. His blog is easy to read, based on everyday life and strong on theological background. It also covers such a wide array of topics, you never know what you're going to get.
The Catholic Apostolate Center
The Center's website is a go-to resource for anyone looking to explain their knowledge of the faith. Anything you're looking for -- and even some stuff you didn't know you were looking for -- can be found under their resource section. They also have some great webinars focusing on the new evangelization.
While not necessarily written for young people, it's written by a young person. Rocco Palmo has emerged as a powerful insider reporting on the church and the individuals who lead it. His efforts demonstrate how young Catholics are utilizing the Internet to add transparency and commentary to the church.
Well, that's my list. I'm sure I missed some individuals and groups along the way, so please add them in the comments below. What is your favorite resource for young Catholics?
