Rosemary Cook

I’m what anyone would affectionately consider a “cradle Catholic.” My parents lead devoted lives and ensure that my brother and I maintain a strong sense of faith in all that we do. At 22 years old, I’ve only attended Catholic schools from St. Mark’s preschool to Saint Mary’s College. Having my faith cultivated at home and in school my entire life is a privilege and a blessing; however, it is not without its challenges. The world looks a lot different in 2017 than it did in the 90s when I was baptized, in 2002 when I received First Communion, and even in 2010 when I was confirmed. Currently, there’s a national narrative of individuality, technological progress, and competitiveness that seems to devalue the ancient traditions, mysteries, and uniformity of the Catholic Church. I am also different from who I was in those years. I am no longer an elementary, high school, or college student, but an adult on the cusp of impacting the world through my graduate studies and participation in the workforce. And, there are many others like me. I’ve observed many people my age dismiss Catholicism as something they grew out of like playing little league sports. In 2017, being a Catholic in your 20s is not particularly popular in my experience, while casting doubt on religion as an institution and lifestyle is. I know many members of my generation who are actively practicing Catholics, however, I feel too many more lacked spiritual nourishment past childhood causing them to consider religion irrelevant to their adult lives. For me, attending collegiate level theology courses was the first time I encountered the cornerstones of Catholicism in an adult way.
 
My academic learning was supplemented by immersions that allowed me to live out my faith and find its relevance in my daily life. I continued searching for ways to engage with the tenets of Catholicism at a more advanced level. I help at fundraisers, serve on the altar, and participate in community groups like the Italian Catholic Federation, St. Vincent de Paul, Girl Scouts, and the Liturgy Committee, among others. Also, I served in fields of Salinas, hillsides of Ensenada, streets of San Francisco, and orphanages of Guatemala. I was a pilgrim in Rome experiencing its theological and historical richness first-hand. Being where many saints and theologians lived, worked, and died, I felt connected to my faith in an unprecedented way and the constant religious celebration was refreshing. I deeply considered the nature of my own beliefs, why I hold them, and how I engage with them in ways that others perhaps do not. I’ve learned to appreciate my opportunities, be thankful for my privileges, and recognize my faith in action. This has made all the difference in expanding my convictions and finding my place in the Catholic and secular traditions of society.
 
What it means to be Catholic for my generation at this moment is unique and complex. Millennial Catholics are tasked with understanding the value of Catholicism in the context it was conceived while applying them to the rapidly evolving world. This is why spiritual nourishment of young adults is so important: it helps us learn how to be Catholic in our new roles in a new world. These themes and questions are lifelong explorations, but by placing ourselves physically and mentally in religiously significant contexts through study and service, we can encounter our faith in ways that make sense to us now. I’ve been fortunate to have experiences that challenge and reinforce my beliefs, building on the foundation of my Catholic upbringing and laying the groundwork for continual growth towards a mature understanding of faith. I pray that others, especially those in my generation, experience the same.