Religion to Reality Episode 4: Generational Differences in Discipleship

Quick Summary

In this thought-provoking episode of Religion to Reality, hosts Dave Plisky and Fr. John Gribowich explore the significant generational gap in Catholic discipleship and church attendance. Drawing from their recent discipleship study of mass-attending Catholics, they examine why younger generations are largely absent from churches and what can be done to bridge this divide.

The hosts speak with three experienced Catholic leaders who share practical insights on meeting the unique spiritual needs of different age groups: Mike St. Pierre (Diocese of Allentown Superintendent and former Catholic Campus Ministry Association Executive Director), Paul Morisi (Principal of Bay Ridge Catholic Academy and former Director of Youth and Young Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Brooklyn), and Friar Rick Riccioli (Franciscan Pastor in Brooklyn).

In this Episode, We Explore:

Opening Discussion: The Generational Church Gap [00:00:00 – 06:00]

• Study results showing 75% Baby Boomer/Gen X participation vs. 2% Gen Z
• Why young people aren’t attending mass
• The hunger for in-person community among digital natives
• The impact of mediated society on human connection

Interview with Mike St. Pierre [06:00 – 15:30]

• Moving from “saying prayers” to “prayerfulness” [07:00]
• Family prayer laboratory concept [11:00]
• COVID as catalyst for spiritual leadership [10:30]
• The challenge of spiritual parenting and overcoming resistance

Conversation Analysis [15:30 – 21:00]

• Practical prayerfulness: 3 minutes of intentional listening [18:00]
• Individual spiritual charisms and the “spiritual laboratory” approach [20:00]
• Moving beyond one-size-fits-all religious education

Interview with Paul Morisi [21:00 – 32:00]

• Adapting Catholic education for 2024 realities [22:00]
• Finding “on-ramps” for individual students [25:00]
• Measuring interior spiritual growth [27:00]
• The shift from factory model to individualized formation

Interview with Friar Rick Riccioli [34:00 – 42:00]

• Managing parish demographic shifts and legacy infrastructure [35:00]
• The heartbreak of failed faith transmission [38:00]
• Funerals as powerful evangelization moments [40:00]
• Working with aging congregations while attracting youth

Closing Reflections [42:00 – 48:00]

• The limitation of Eucharist-centered faith without life integration [42:00]
• Mortality encounters and ritual hunger [44:00]
• The importance of welcoming rather than judging returning Catholics

Key Takeaways

1. The “How-To” Gap: Churches excel at teaching doctrine but struggle with practical spiritual formation
2. Individual Approach: Moving from factory-model religion to personalized spiritual development
3. Family as Laboratory: Homes should be experimental spaces for different prayer styles and spiritual practices
4. Generational Bridge-Building: Older parishioners can be allies in youth ministry when they understand the mission
5. Crisis as Opportunity: Major life events (especially funerals) provide powerful evangelization moments
6. Integration Over Compartmentalization: Faith must pervade all of life, not just Sunday worship

Meet Our Guests

Mike St. Pierre

• Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania
• Former Executive Director, Catholic Campus Ministry Association
• Focus: Campus ministry, family spiritual formation

Paul Morisi

• Principal, Bay Ridge Catholic Academy, Brooklyn
• Former Director of Youth and Young Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Brooklyn
• Focus: Catholic education innovation, youth engagement

Friar Rick Riccioli, OFM

• Franciscan Friar
• Pastor of Most Holy Trinity/St. Mary Parish, Brooklyn
• Focus: Urban parish ministry, demographic transition management

Memorable Quotes

• Mike St. Pierre on Prayerfulness: “We don’t typically as a church have a problem with what to believe. It’s how to live out that belief… I think most people are really more hungry for, well, tell me how to do that on a Thursday in December when I’m feeling stressed.”
• Paul Morisi on Church Evolution: “The Church of today is ready for it to be 1980 again. That’s our structure… But that’s not the reality. The Church I grew up in, the Church you grew up in is gone.”
• Friar Rick Riccioli on Young People: “It’s not their anti-church. There’s no connection to church. It’s like they’ve written it off completely.”
• Father John Gribowich on Individual Gifts: “Every child already contains everything that they need and everything that they will be able to contribute to the world. Your task as a parent is to get out of the way of what already is.”

Resources Mentioned

• UCAT (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults) – Alternative to traditional textbook religion curriculum
• NET Ministries – Youth retreat organization
• Called Learning Community – Co-founded by Father John Gribowich (calledcommunity.com)

Connect & Continue the Conversation

Website: religiontoreality.org
Community: Called Learning Community at calledcommunity.com

Next Episode Preview: Spiritual Direction – exploring accessibility and role in discipleship

Religion to Reality is an initiative of DeSales Media, created by Dave Plisky and produced by Connor Donnelly. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and help others discover the show by leaving ratings and reviews.