OBC | 2026 Annual Spirit Retreat

“It’s a New Day, Yes, It Is! Empowering a Young Adult Spirituality of Synodality” invites participants into a hopeful and honest reflection on how the Church is called to walk differently with young adults in this new moment. Grounded in the lived realities of our unique, cultural experiences, this talk acknowledges the limitations of traditional engagement models shaped by an aging population, while honoring the faith, resilience, and wisdom that sustained earlier generations. It challenges the Church to recognize today’s social, cultural, and ecclesial realities facing adults ages 18–39, and to move beyond nostalgia toward a spirituality of accompaniment that listens deeply, shares power, and trusts the Spirit already at work in young adult lives. In the spirit of the Synod on Synodality, the talk emphasizes co-responsibility, mutual learning, and communal discernment, calling the Church to not merely invite young adults to the table, but to walk with them as partners in shaping the Church’s present and future.