By Geoffrey Stumpo
For Proclaim!
As news reports are showing an uptick in conversions to the Catholic faith, particularly among young adults, the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown is seeing many fruitful young adult ministries from throughout the Diocese bear good fruit.
One such group is the Johnstown Catholic Young Adult Group which marked its three-year anniversary in March with an Episcopal Visit from Metropolitan Archbishop William Skurla. The group welcomes all 18–39-year-old young adults and their children from all faith backgrounds to join in a like-minded community of faith and fellowship.
Back in March of 2023, the Very Rev. Matthew Baum, Rector of Saint John Gualbert Cathedral and Pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Johnstown, was the inaugural guest speaker speaking to a crowd of 21 young adults.
Through the following three years, the group has grown to over 215 members strong and average attendance for their main monthly Theology on Tap event has risen from 30 to 35 to about 45 young adults in recent months. The group continues to grow with at least one new member continuing to join every single month over the last three years and counting.
The Johnstown Catholic Young Adult Group meets for Theology on Tap at the Boulevard Grill in Johnstown (165 Southmont Boulevard) on the last Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. and for other events on the second Friday and/or Saturday of every month at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Theology on Tap consists of social time, a buffet-style communal meal, a guest speaker with a Q&A, and opening and closing prayers. There is no cost to attend and a cash bar. The group collects a freewill offering to help cover the cost of the food and guest speakers while various donors make up the difference.
The weekend monthly events typically have smaller attendance (anywhere from 11-25) and have included Benediction and board games, Rosary and bonfire, nerf battle and night prayer, Catholic trivia night, nature hikes, service projects, and outdoor Mass and picnic events among others.
Many of the group’s members are from the Greater Johnstown area, but they have also been joined by young adults from as far as Altoona, Indiana, Harrisburg, Cumberland Maryland, and they have even been joined by Seminarians from Texas, Mexico, and Italy.
The faith backgrounds of participants include cradle Catholics, converts, reverts, and “Catholic curious” Protestants, Orthodox, agnostics, and atheists. Some members have even joined OCIA and became Catholic while others are discerning the Priesthood and religious life.
The group has seen many fruitful friendships and relationships blossom, and they are witnessing the first round of couples getting married, having children, and even seeing some of their members applying to and being accepted into seminary.
Matt Hoover, a member of Prince of Peace parish in Northern Cambria who joined the group while attending the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, spoke about the group saying: “I enjoy going to the Young Adult Group because it’s a venue for me to meet and socialize with other local young people with similar interests and values. It’s interesting to hear engaging Catholic speakers on a variety of topics related to the faith. I’ve made several rewarding friendships through the Young Adult group and have grown in my faith because of a number of the presentations I’ve attended at Theology on Tap.”
Nicole Fratrich, who attends the group from the Diocese of Greensburg, added: “Even though we’re all at different stages in our lives, it’s refreshing to come together and share our faith in casual settings. Many of us come from parishes with an older population, so it’s comforting to find unity and fellowship within our generation, since we are the future of our local church communities. The group offers such a welcoming environment, even for young adults in neighboring dioceses and non-Catholic Christians looking to deepen their relationship with Christ.”
Evan Kundrod, a member of Saint Benedict Parish in Johnstown, expanded on these points saying: “The Johnstown Young Adult Group is an amazing community of young Catholics. I am very thankful to have found this group as it is a great example of the Catholic Church’s unity. Christ gave us a church because our faith is meant to be shared, experienced, and practiced together in love. I am so happy to be a part of it!”
Guest speakers for Theology on tap over the last three years have included many locals as well as guests from as far as Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin. The speakers have included laypeople, diocesan priests, deacons, religious sisters from the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, and priests and brothers from Franciscan, Benedictine, Carmelite, Passionist, and Dominican communities as well as three bishops, including one Archbishop.
The next Johnstown young adult group events are Benediction and Board Games at the Saint John Gualbert Cathedral Activity Center on May 8th at 6pm and Theology on Tap at the Boulevard Grill on May 27 at 6:00 p.m. with Father Justin Hiers, OSA, speaking on Friendship in Saint Augustine and Our Mother of Good Counsel. Father Hiers is an Augustinian Friar currently serving in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
For more information, contact Geoffrey Stumpo at (814) 659-7415 or geoffstumpo@gmail.com. All young adults aged 18-39 are encouraged to attend. You can also visit the Altoona-Johnstown Young Adult Catholics Facebook page for details and livestreams.
The Johnstown Catholic Young Adult Group is sponsored in part by Knights of Columbus All Saints Assembly 954, Knights of Columbus Council 10409, Saint John Gualbert Cathedral, and a grant from the Independent Catholic Foundation (phone: 814-201-2080; website: www.icfdaj.org).
