Young men are in a transitory time of life and often feel lonely. This phase creates a need for fellowship with others experiencing the same thing. They may ask themselves:

• What am I supposed to do as a Catholic man?
• How do I develop a spiritual life, a life of prayer, and action rooted in a deeper meaning?

Thirty-five percent of young adults are less likely to be active in parish life because they feel older generations have too much influence. Fifty-six percent only participate in Catholic activities because of a sense of obligation to family and friends, not due to inspiration. There may be a lack of faith formation and opportunities for companionship, so other community groups may be more appealing to them.

Following are ways to recruit young men to the Knights of Columbus and then engage and retain them.

Cor: The council’s Cor sessions with like-minded men afford opportunities to learn more about their faith and to live it each day. It enables them to connect with others, form authentic Christian friendships, and grow closer to Christ. The experience that one young adult has will likely influence him to tell his friends about it. Remember, they don’t need to be a member to participate. You can slowly pitch the Order as time goes by and the pastor can be a strong advocate in getting them to join.

Recruitment: Recruit at all Masses. Ask young men to describe their favorite pastimes and explain how council programs will help them fulfill their needs. Make them feel welcome, and if applicable, give them an easy role so they feel involved. Young adults may find it difficult to encounter fraternity if there aren’t others their age to relate to, so provide occasions for them (maybe as a group) to support the parish.

Program Opportunities: Offer fun program opportunities. Hold events that are strictly young adult gatherings. Consider an outdoor activity, a chance to share a meal or to pray, or a hands-on activity to put their faith in action. Ensure a variety of family events are scheduled. Keep in mind, council meetings aren’t a priority for some.

Ask for Input: Encourage ideas from younger members and take their input seriously! Let them plan and execute the proposed activity. Be open to having them in leadership roles and urge them to take them on. Seeing a young, fresh face in charge will be appealing to other younger adults who are considering joining. Seasoned Brothers must make themselves available for mentorship because the younger members want their advice and fraternity.

Communication: Email isn’t the go-to means of communicating with young men. Texting and popular social media platforms like W