Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:10] Speaker B: Welcome to this week's edition of Big City Catholics. I'm Bishop Robert Brennan, the Bishop of Brooklyn, serving in Brooklyn and Queens, and I have as my co host today Luzeris Manzanares, who is our associate director for Youth and Young Adult ministry. Today we'll be talking with Kiana Carrington, who is the president of ycp.
But Lucier, why don't you start us off with prayer?
[00:00:33] Speaker C: Absolutely. Thank you, Bishop. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with your love. Father, we thank you for this season, for the month of June, for the month of the Sacred Heart, for all the ways that you draw us closer to your heart, especially as the day for consecration comes closer, we ask that you continue to help us conform our hearts closer to yours. And from an act of in the way that you would and love in the way that you do, we give all glory to you as we pray. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
[00:01:06] Speaker B: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Very good. So Lucero, today as this podcast airs, is the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Of course, we're recording earlier in the week and I'm recording from down in Orlando where the US Bishops are meeting and where on Thursday so would have been yesterday when this airs, we had the consecration of our nation to the Sacred Heart and we'll have more conversation about that in a future episode. But we just passed through the wonderful weekend with the ordination of now Father Paul Zorlock and then the Feast of Corpus Christi.
[00:01:43] Speaker C: Yes. And it's a beautiful season where it just feels like the church is very alive. And I think it goes hand in hand with the Sacred Heart in just the month of June. It just feels awesome, alive and it feels whole. It feels like coming home and even being at the ordination. I've never met Father Paul. I've never had the pleasure to work with him, but it was there. I was just there to get to pray for him and it was great.
[00:02:04] Speaker B: You know, on the one hand we had seven last year. We only had the one ordination this year. I hope we don't have one ordination against for a long time to come. But on the other hand, having one ordination made it very focused in on that one person. And it was a different dynamic, but it was just such a powerful moment of faith to see everybody there and everybody praying, asking the Lord to send us a good holy priest. So that was beautiful. And then of course Corpus Christi. I was back at the Cathedral of St. James. Where were you for Corpus Christi?
[00:02:34] Speaker C: I actually got to be here at the Co Cathedral for the 6pm Mass, because afterwards they have the. Usually there's a young adult gathering and it's closest to home, so that's great. I got to see pictures from around the diocese, from the different youth groups. Even the youth groups are posting it. Of all the different processions that Happen, I saw St. Paul here in Corona did one. I saw St. Thomas Aquinas did one. They did one down in Rockaway. So just like, really beautiful to see the church and the family of the church gather really beautifully for Corpus Christian having such a big profession of their faith to the public.
[00:03:08] Speaker B: It really is beautiful. Welcome. Kiana Carrington, our president of ycp. How was your weekend?
[00:03:14] Speaker A: It was beautiful. We also did a procession in my parish, and one of the things that was kind of cool to see is, like, when you're walking by some of the cafes and stuff, like, people are making the sound of the cars.
[00:03:24] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:03:25] Speaker B: Isn't it true? Yes. People are very moved. I have to say, I'm glad I don't read lips and see what they might be saying in the cars that it stopped in traffic.
But I get the feeling that even sometimes when they see what it is, you see people showing great patience, and we're so grateful for that. But, you know, for years when I was in Ohio and when I first came here, I would always say that the faith is deep. Where there is faith, it's deep, and there are signs of it all around. And we're talking about a little bit of a revival among young adults, but I've always sensed that there's. There's something there. I always wish it was a little wider, and I'm glad to see that it's getting a little bit wider. But it is deep, and it is so encouraging to see the profound nature of so many people's faith.
[00:04:12] Speaker A: Yeah. And I think more and more people are getting comfortable to express it in a way that is beautiful to see, because even for my parish, like on Sunday 1, there are more people in the pews than I was expecting, which was beautiful. And then many of them stayed for the procession. So it was a combination of, like, you came, but then you also took the invitation to be part of this, too, which is beautiful to see.
[00:04:39] Speaker B: So beautiful. Speaking of some of these beautiful things to see, we had our launch of Young Catholic Professionals, YCP here in Brooklyn, and boy, was I ever impressed. Lucero and I had the chance to talk with a few people from YCP before the launch. But I wanted to go back over the day with you. I was so impressed by the work you and your team did to get the word out to invite people. And I'm so impressed by the response. What was your impression?
[00:05:09] Speaker A: Yeah, I would say the same. I was like, the room is full. We did it.
And also, like, it's the kind of thing where we had been talking about it for a while. So YCP had been in formation. YCP Brooklyn had been in formation for about three years. And I joined that maybe at the two years before the launch. So we've been talking about it for a while of what we hoped it would be, what we wanted people to feel. And I remember one thing very clearly was like, we want people to walk in and say, wow, this is nice.
I feel like that was definitely the impression from as people walked into the space and got to meet the others in the room. And just seeing the outpouring of community as well. A lot of people that I met along that two year journey showed up for the launch from different Catholic groups, Bibles and brunch or Catholic Affinitas, which is like a speed dating kind of like Catholic matchmaking group. And then shalom. So, like, it was nice to see, like, people I had met along the way come out and like, celebrate with us as well as just the outpouring from the diocese as well. We had so much, so much love in that room. So much community in that room.
[00:06:21] Speaker C: Really was even just seeing it all come together. Like you said, Kiana, I only got to be one year out of the three with you guys. And it's been great to see how there's been so many people coming, coming into place and so many pieces coming into place to make this happen and then to see the response of the young adults.
Because in the last year, I think this is the most young Catholic adults I've seen gathered in Brooklyn and Queens, which is really, really beautiful. And we've seen pockets here and there of our different young adult communities that we have throughout the diocese. And we have such a big diocese to have them all be there. I saw people from Corona and I saw people from Bay Ridge. And it was these young adult communities that we've gotten to see, like you said, throughout these past three years grow. And now they get to, oh, we're not alone. And there's other people that we can grow in community with. There's other people that want this, and there's other people seeking for this. And I think you guys did a great job. I think everybody was impressed the second they walked in. Just even with your team being there, that you guys were there greeting them at the door, you were very much. Yeah. Guiding them. And there was so much detail that you guys put into the day that maybe not everybody noticed, but we were there and we knew that it was happening.
[00:07:28] Speaker A: So I mean, in a way that's a good thing, right?
[00:07:31] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:07:32] Speaker A: People to. They to leave with a feeling. And that takes a lot of detail and some of it, like I, I work in events, so certain things I'm like, guys, we need to, I know it might not seem that important, but we need to make sure to do this because you want people to have a certain experience. I know. For me, I left feeling very full, both from the people who came, the people who helped us out. Like your, your team was amazing and it was just the fulfillment of so much time and effort and hard work and especially for the team as well. Like, I know everyone was just, they're like, we did it. It was great.
[00:08:09] Speaker B: One of the things that struck me is that for a first time event with a big group of people, a tremendous turnout, it just felt like everybody was at home.
It seemed like, well, we've been doing this for three years altogether. In fact, it's been three years worth of planning and preparation. Everybody was just so at home. And I thought that was really very, very nice. I love the venue. One of those places that I never would have guessed existed behind those doors.
[00:08:39] Speaker A: Right. And that's the other. It's very like you walk in and you're like, I don't know, you're looking at the entrance and you walk in
[00:08:46] Speaker B: and say, wow, just this big open space. Yeah.
[00:08:50] Speaker A: And in some ways that's kind of like an analogy for ycp, right?
[00:08:53] Speaker C: Exactly.
[00:08:54] Speaker A: If you're not, you know, you haven't been to church in a while, or maybe you just, you, you have been where you're like, I don't really know what this professional part is about. So you might be a little apprehensive at the start, but then when you come in, right. That welcoming, that feeling of home that, you know, you found community here is what we're hoping people get out of it.
Because when we talked about what we're building, it really was about creating a space where people could feel comfortable to be their whole selves and to be able to maybe have conversations. They might not in other places because it doesn't always feel safe to talk about your faith or you don't always know maybe what. How to. How to start that conversation. But if you're in a place where it's like, okay, this is our thing, like, we. I know everybody in here is. Maybe they might not be Catholic, like, I invited friends of other denominations, but we all are on this journey with Christ, so I know that I can have these conversations and feel free to have them.
[00:09:53] Speaker B: That's great.
[00:09:53] Speaker C: There's also the added factor of mentorship. You can have the younger professionals be paired with a seasoned professional, somebody that maybe is in their field and has gone through the struggle of how do I incorporate my faith life into my work, secular life, and what does that. What does it look like to be a missionary disciple in my everyday 9 to 5 job, and how do I honor God even in this? Which I think is incredible to learn from those seasoned professionals. And something that's very beautiful that YCP offers.
[00:10:21] Speaker A: Yeah. And even, you know, being on the team, as it's my first time, like, being in such a prominent leadership role, like, I'm always happy to be the second. You know, I'll be in the. I'll help you out. But to be the person who's like, okay, no, I'm in charge. I'm the face. I'm also the person, you know, talking the most to the board. The same thing that you're talking about Lucero, the years of experience that they're able to pour into me in that relationship. I'm, like, so happy to be able to offer an opportunity for others to receive that same kind of experience. Because it's. There are things that I'm like, oh, it's not that deep. And they're like, no, you need to do this because it's important for, you know, it might be important for sponsors or important for legal reasons or important for, like, things that I wouldn't have considered or know about. And one of the beautiful things of YCP is that you have access to mentors locally. So if you want to see someone, maybe in Brooklyn or in Queens, we can help with matching you with someone you can meet in person for coffee or something like that. But then there's also a national network of people, both young adults and seasoned professionals, that you can tap into as well. So there's a lot of opportunity for, really, whatever. Maybe there's not someone here in your field, but if you join as a member, you might be able to find someone in Texas or in, you know, Philly, and you guys can, you know, meet up and do something like that. So it's nice and then you also have access to the national chapter events as well. So if you're traveling throughout the country, you know, maybe you're taking a trip to Colorado and there's a chapter out there, you can go to an event if you're a member.
[00:12:00] Speaker B: You know, we talk about these three years. It takes a lot of patience, but it's not like we just threw it together overnight. You know, you worked with you forming a board and working with a board for these three years. So it's very well founded. You have a strong foundation.
You have a strong, strong foundation at the event. Kiana, you were asked to speak and give a sense of your own hopes. I thought you were superb. You talked about this experience of YCP being an answer to something you had been looking for, something you've been searching for. Tell me about that a little more.
[00:12:34] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. Similar to, I think, a lot of people's experience.
You know, you grow up in the church, confirm you maybe join a youth group.
And then at this certain point it's like, all right, I'm kind of too old to be with the 18 year olds and the 16 year olds, but I'm not quite ready for, you know, Legion of Mary with my grandma. Right.
So there's this void of like, what do I.
What do I do? Where do I belong? And also, like, I have questions, but I'm not necessarily sure who to ask or if there's even a space for that. And so I have always been of the, the mind of like, well, if I. If it's not there, let's make it happen.
And that's how I got involved with ycp because actually my pastor had recommended that I. He recommended me to national. And they found me through that learning that it wasn't just me one, that there was actually a national movement happening and that there was an organization that was able to help it sustain. I think that was the other piece for me because I've definitely been on the, you know, your parish is doing a group and now it's you doing a group.
And that can be very taxing.
[00:13:49] Speaker B: Right.
[00:13:50] Speaker A: So the, the structure that YCP offers to make the programming sustainable and you can come in as a volunteer and not burn out were really big factors for me. And so seeing that I could grow professionally, because when I applied, like I said, this is all new for me as far as like being a president of something.
And I remember when Derek, he was our person at the time, he talked about praying for discernment. But also, like, through the application process, we have to apply to be chapter members. I just started writing, and I was. I was originally going to go for the director of operations because I do events. So I'm like, oh, yeah, can do that. That's easy. And started kind of writing both applications. And in that, I feel like the Holy Spirit just moved because in writing my answers out, I'm like, these are all the reasons why I can do this. These are the skills that I have that I can bring to this. And so that was kind of how I ended up being here. I think it's. It was a mixture of searching and then allowing the Holy Spirit to move, which is something that I don't think I would have even put together as a sentence two years ago.
So that's a beautiful thing. I think I wouldn't have considered myself an evangelist or anything like that. I'm like, I'm not looking to, you know, save souls. Right. It's not something I would have said previously, but I feel like through this process, I've grown so much deeper in my faith as well as, like, the skills of, you know, leading a team and, like, how do you manage personalities and projects and those kinds of things? So I feel like in my own work with ycp, I see the value and I'm able to bring people along. Like, that's. That's definitely the plan is, like, there are ways to live out that faith through your work, and here's what it can look like, or here's what it has looked like for me. Because when you're able to give that personal testimony, it's so much more powerful, too.
[00:15:50] Speaker C: Yeah, absolutely. Especially even in these. With these young adults, like, they want to hear from somebody that's like them. Somebody going through the same things as them.
[00:15:58] Speaker A: Absolutely.
This has been a growing season.
[00:16:02] Speaker B: So what are some of the things we can look forward to with young Catholic professionals? Brooklyn.
[00:16:06] Speaker A: We'll be having monthly programming. So starting in, what, maybe two, three weeks, we'll have our next networking happy hour in Ridgewood. So you can register for that if you go to ycpbrooklyn.org or check us out on Instagram @ycpbrooklyn, and you'll be able to see more information about that. And then after that, we'll be going into our speaker series. So YCP has different types of programming, networking, happy hours where people can just come, meet new people, have conversation. We have executive speaker series where we invite a seasoned professional to give a talk on how they've been able to use faith in their work. And then we also have executive like panels. So that's where we'll have one religious, one young professional, and one seasoned professional. Talk about a virtue. I think we chose patience as the first one. Given our own experience, we were like, no, we could all give a talk on patience.
And then once a year, we'll also be doing a half day retreat for young adults in the borough.
[00:17:13] Speaker B: Very, very nice. You mentioned that the next event will be Ridgewood. So we're coming into Queens.
[00:17:18] Speaker A: Yes, that is the plan. Like, I'm like, we got a lot of space to cover. And I do. I would like to do Brooklyn and Queens. Like, this one's in Brooklyn, the next one's in Queens, next one's in Brooklyn to make sure that we're hitting everyone.
It's been also interesting seeing, like, the groups that came because I'm like, okay, wait, where are you located? What parish is this? Like, St. Thomas of Aquinas brought a van of young.
[00:17:40] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:17:41] Speaker A: Like, that is beautiful. Okay, we need to come see y'. All, like, you know, those kinds of things.
[00:17:47] Speaker C: And even with that, like, taking that into account, like, I know something that we're doing with St. Thomas Aquinas is hoping to have a young adult women's night. So, like, even using those connections of. We met through YCP and saw other people there. So it's like, how do we work with that? And even, like, like you said, the networking. More people get to see where other groups are from. And like, oh, I didn't know you were. By me. Like, now I know that there's a community by me.
[00:18:08] Speaker A: Yeah. So I met two people. I'm like, we're neighbors. You live five blocks.
That's the hope. And then also offering people opportunities to. To connect with each other, but then also use that. So whether it's like, I met a couple people who are in events as well, and they're like, we'd love to collaborate with you. Or, you know, you find some mentors through this process as well. A couple of people were like, sign me up. Where's the membership thing? I want to, you know, give an hour a month to mentor some young adults.
[00:18:37] Speaker C: So it's because you guys even had people sign up to be members for YCP before the launch party. And then at the launch party, you had more. And then you've had more people register since then.
[00:18:47] Speaker A: Exactly. And it's worth the investment, you know, like, for maybe like 8, 9amonth, which is an app or a coffee, you're able to get access to, like, through ycp. You have the mentorship Network, they do have like, job boards and stuff like that, so you can see what is possible through there. Then there's also like weekly professional development sessions. So they'll have just online zooms you can hop into through the national. So I haven't had a chance to like, hop in there. We've been so busy. But I've definitely seen a couple. I'm like, oh, that would be cool. Just on like, skill building and things that might be of interest. So the. I think the national team puts a lot of effort into making sure that the membership is worth every dollar. And I feel like through that there's so many opportunities to both build your network nationally, like not just in Brooklyn and Queens, and then also build your faith.
[00:19:40] Speaker B: I was familiar with YCP before coming here, but I did not know all the resources that were available through the program. That's wonderful. And so, you know, just talking about some of the young adult experiences. Sarah, you spoke about St. Joseph's Cathedral and the 6 o' clock mass there. We're seeing more and more where there are places and it's not necessarily an organized thing. It's not like somebody designates this as the youth or the young adult experience, but there's something about young adults being able to find each other and support each other, and that seems to be happening more and more.
[00:20:14] Speaker C: Yeah, I think there's the ache for community. There's the ache for I want to be with my people and I'll go where they are. Like, I know between. I get to live with four other Catholic women that are in the diocese. So a lot of times we'll text where we're going to Mass and sometimes they'll go over the bridge to the Manhattan, which happens. But we'll like, we. We want to go to Mass together because it's. While it is something that is part of our routine, it's still something that's really beautiful and it's something that we want to partake in together. And it's also really fun that after Mass, I just get to walk home or get. Get to walk with some of the young adults and talk about the homily that Monsignor Ogle just gave on Trinity Sunday and talking about the new encyclical and about AI. Like, these are things that we want to talk about and conversations that we want to have because, yeah, they bring us back alive and they closer to God even in. In this way. So I think there's a desire for more people to do that. And even this past Sunday, I know that Father Henry, at his parish at Mary Nazareth, he had a young adult mass and he had another few. Quite a few young adults show up because more people are seeking that. And it feels like you're finishing off the week weekend with Mass and starting off the week with Mass and it's really beautiful.
[00:21:21] Speaker B: Good, good, good. Keanu, you spoke about other experiences. Something about Bibles and.
[00:21:27] Speaker A: Oh, Bibles and brunch. I met her at YCP Manhattan, and she runs. It's like a Bible and brunch, go eat, open the Word, you know, hang out kind of event. And it was so nice because I met her only the one time. I haven't actually gotten to get over there. But then she was like, do you remember me? I met you here. And I was like, I do hugs. Like, it was. It's really nice to see people remember you. People show up. Like, it's the fact that I met her at a YCP event. She came to this one, you know, like, these are the kinds of things that we're trying to foster because I don't think I meet most people once and I'm like, hey, hugs. Like, you know, like it feels different,
[00:22:09] Speaker B: you know, Actually that brings me to one other question. I'm going to ask you. What other advice would you give to somebody who may come across this or somebody may send it to a young adult who say, well, you know, it sounds interesting. It's something I'm longing for. But walking into a big room with two or three hundred people who I don't know, is a little overwhelming. Any advice? They just come on down.
[00:22:35] Speaker A: I would say kind of similar to like what we talked about when people were coming in. Right. Like, you might be a little apprehensive. You're not quite sure what you're going to experience on the other side of that door. Right. But opening that door, I think opens you to a lot of opportunities. And you won't know unless you start, I think even if you're not quite sure, you know, maybe if you belong or like what that belonging could look like if you want to be there. Like, you won't know until you try.
[00:23:04] Speaker B: So come on down and maybe bring a friend or two with you. So you anchored somewhere. Now after hearing you, they know they can meet you there.
[00:23:13] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. Come see me.
[00:23:15] Speaker B: That's great.
So exactly. Give it a shot and come and meet the people. Even if it's just from the executive board, they'll be glad to kind of connect you with other people. You know, at our launch party, we had YCP national representatives with us and spoke about the why the C and the P. Young is pretty obvious. It's people, young adults, 20s, 30s, that range C Catholic. It's a place where we can express who we are and what we believe and the values that we're trying to live by together. The P, the professional.
Explain that a little bit.
[00:23:51] Speaker A: Yeah. And also to add to the young, I think it's the young 20s and 30s, but also the young at heart, because we are also looking for that mentorship piece and people who maybe want to help, but aren't necessarily, you know, target audience in terms of, like, attendance. But we are also, like, for professionals. I think it's professionals in the most expansive version of the word. It's not just white collar. You know, I work in an office. If you are working, if you are looking for work, you are a professional. You have skills, you have ambitions, and we want to help you reach those. So it's. It's a mixture of any kind of work that you are doing or could be doing. You are a professional. You are welcome here. Definitely.
[00:24:38] Speaker B: Beautiful. That's so important. We want people to feel at home. And that was, again, I started there, I'll finish there. When you're there, you're at home. And it was just so good to see so many people at home at YCP Brooklyn. Kiana, thank you and thanks to all your team for stepping up. I'm so proud as a bishop in Brooklyn. I am so proud of a lot of the great things that are going on, but I'm so glad to see YCP up and off the ground. I know how hard you've been working, and I'm glad to see now the fruits of all of your prayer and all of your labor. Lucero, thanks for co hosting with me today. It's always good to have you as a partner in the podcast. And indeed, this podcast is being released on the Feast of the Sacred Heart and a beautiful, beautiful feast of the love of Jesus Christ this year. The reading is Jesus saying, come to me, all you who labor and are burdened. I will give you rest, take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me. And you know the yoke is an instrument of work, of burden. And yet, you know, our responsibilities and burden. We can look to either side, and we're going to see alongside of us that Jesus Christ is shouldering the burden with us.
[00:25:50] Speaker C: Amen.
[00:25:51] Speaker B: Why don't we close? Asking God's blessing on this most holy feast.
[00:25:55] Speaker C: The Lord be with you and with your spirit.
[00:25:57] Speaker B: Lord Jesus, we thank you for the many blessings of your sacred heart which you have revealed to us so that we might know the depths of your love for each and every one of us.
Help us to know that love in our lives and help us to be instruments of that love to those who are in need in any kind of way. And may the Lord bless you and keep you his face shine upon you and be gracious to you, may look upon you with kindness and grant you his peace. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[00:26:35] Speaker A: Amen.
[00:26:36] Speaker B: Thank you for joining us for this week's edition of Big City Catholics. Please join us again next week. Let's keep each other in prayer.
