A Young Problem

Here's a problem, or dilemma, which is open for discussion and suggestions from all of you dear readers.

Simply put: How do we attract young people to church?

As you know, young people always know best. By the time they are 19 they know everything there is to know in the world and beyond, and they are not open to suggestions, advice or coercion from any old foggy aged over 35.

If you visit our church, (and other churches too around here), you'll find the average age of the attendants is well over 50.

I don't know whether this is only a Catholic thing, or whether it happens to other denominations too.

Are we Catholics that boring? Or is it perhaps our use of incense that puts the youngsters off?

The long and short of it is that they don't attend church. We've tried encouraging parents to bring youngsters in, and indeed we do have those under ten or twelve, but above that age ... not many.

We've tried visiting universities and colleges ... not much success there either.

Someone suggested, (was it me?), to give away free pizzas after Mass. (You can guess the response to that).

So ... it is now over to you.

How do you encourage young people aged 18 to 25, who would soon be parents and influencing the next generation, to attend church regularly?

Yes ... we've tried prayers ...  so please suggest something else.