Raised in the Catholic faith, 36 year-old James Palen veered away from the church’s teachings and moved toward a more worldly lifestyle after high school. Eleven years later, the Bankers Hill resident found his way back and is now an active parishioner at St. Joseph Cathedral downtown.

Palen’s story represents a teaching moment for San Diego’s Catholic Church, which is, like other dioceses around the nation, struggling to bridge the gap between what millennials want and what the religion allows.

In recognition of the disconnect, the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego on Saturday formally recognized 24 proposals put forward by Palen and other young adult members under 40 from San Diego and Imperial counties. The event was the culmination of a two-month-long symposium — referred to as the Young Adult Synod — that involved more than 250 participants and focused on five themes, including identifying specific ways to reach out to millennials who have walked away from faith.

The recommendations, which will be implemented with the help of a specially convened council, include forming partnerships with local businesses, better training for parish staff and greeters, and even a millennial-friendly communications strategy.


In addition, Bishop Robert McElroy, who leads the local church, presented two of his own action items, the most radical being a mandatory leadership shakeup. By the end of 2022, each parish must have 25 percent of its leadership positions filled with young adults, he said.

“I think we’ve reached a time in our Catholic identity where we’re hemorrhaging young adults, specifically, in such a way that we’re not going to be able to turn the tide ... if we don’t do something about it now,” said Patrick Rivera, 37, who is the local diocese’s director of the Office of Young Adult Ministry. “We have a lot of rules without relationships. ... If there’s no relationship based around the rules, then there’s definitely a lack of interest. That breeds a sort of rebellion.”

Of adults who were raised Catholic, 41 percent no longer identify with the religion, according to Pew Research’s 2015 report on America’s changing religious landscape. The research outfit also calculated a 16 percent decline in the number of millennials who identify as Christians between 2009 and 2019.

“I feel like in this day and age a lot of people are stepping away from the church. So I think it’s important for us to get together and come up with ideas to make sure they are being involved in the church,” said Sophia Parian, 18, who attends Saint Martin of Tours in La Mesa and participated in the symposium.


The concern was echoed by 28-year-old Mark Villas of St. Mary’s in National City. He noted that most of the proposals put forward by the assembly are general in nature and will require a lot more work.

“I think it’s a good start,” Villas said. “We need support of the older generation. Our pastors, our priests, our clergy definitely need to help us in (implementing) the proposals.”

Rivera, the young adult ministry leader, is optimistic that local priests will heed the advice, but added that some changes will be harder than others. He hopes the exercise will accomplish at least one thing of significance: That young adults will know they’re not alone.

“Whatever they believe or don’t believe, whatever faith they are, if you come into a Catholic church, realistically I hope we can let them know that you are supported and we care,” he said.


The church, he said, has a reputation for rejecting young adults who are still finding their way in life.

“I would hope that we would be able to resolve that by having more young adults involved in the parishes, and by establishing better forums and functions where young adults can feel supported.”