Father Andrew Rauenbuehler, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport, speaks to young adults on the sacraments Sept. 17 in McCarthy Hall at St. Pius X Parish in Rock Island, Ill.
By Anne Marie Amacher
The Catholic Messenger
Young adults in the Quad-City area are invited to participate in QC Catholic Young Adults and its Growing in Faith speaker series. Claire Bonnstetter of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport and Lydia Olson of St. Pius X Parish in Rock Island, Illinois lead Growing in Faith.
Previously young adult Catholics gathered for talks and fellowship through Theology on Tap, but that organization’s licensing agreement costs were too expensive, Bonnstetter said. “We value and still want to uphold all of the wonderful aspects of Theology on Tap,” she said. “We hope that (through Growing in Faith) young adults will find inspiration from the speakers to grow and deepen their faith as Catholics.” The group welcomes single or married people ages 18-35.
“We’re still very much figuring things out as we go and seeing where the Lord takes it. Up to this point and for the rest of 2023, we have been having monthly activities and we are hosting them at St. Pius X’s McCarthy Hall,” Olson said.
“We are working to build young adult ministry in the Quad Cities as a whole, and Growing in Faith is just one piece of that. Other events we’ve held this year include an Epiphany party, game days, cookouts, trips to museums, and an upcoming autumn party,” Bonnstetter said.
Olson also started a young adult women’s group called At His Feet in the fall of 2021 at St. Pius. Young adult women in the Davenport Diocese and Peoria (Illinois) Diocese attend the weekly meeting on Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. in Farrell Hall (at St. Pius) for Bible study, prayer and fellowship.
The growth of At His Feet inspired Olson and Bonnstetter to continue serving more young adults by hosting events for Catholic young adults throughout the Quad Cities. “At the beginning of 2023 we began working together to host monthly events. The events have grown and we are now putting together a committee of young adults to help plan and host future events,” Bonnstetter said.
“As Pope Francis stressed at World Youth Day last month, young adults are such an important part of the Church. We saw a need, and felt the Holy Spirit urging us to do something about it.”
The remaining talks this year will take place at St. Pius, where snacks, water and lemonade are provided. In 2024, the two women plan to move the talks to a restaurant or bar where participants can purchase food and drinks.
Father Ben Snyder, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Bettendorf, kicked off the Growing in Faith series July 23, speaking on the parable of the sower and how people can apply it to their lives. Father Andrew Rauenbuehler, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Victory Parish in Davenport, spoke Sept. 17 on the importance of the sacraments — especially confession and the Eucharist.
On Nov. 19 from 3-5 p.m., Deacon Ryan Burchett of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport will speak on the importance of the Advent season and how to make it fruitful.
An Our Lady of the Rosary autumn party is planned for Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in St. Paul the Apostle’s McEleney Hall, beginning with recitation of the rosary in the church. Afterwards, participants will paint pumpkins and enjoy a potluck. Bring a dish to share.
Young adults participate in Mass the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, followed by beer and snacks.
Other young adult activities this summer included a day of fellowship at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque (Iowa) and the Putnam Museum in Davenport.
To view more activities, visit QC Catholic Young Adults on Facebook or email qc.catholic.ya@gmail.com.
