City On A Hill Young Adult Apostolate

CITY ON A HILL'S MISSION IS TO BE THE COMMUNITY THAT INSPIRES AND FORMS THE YOUNG ADULT GENERATION TO BE SAINTS. OUR CORE VALUES ARE RADICAL HOSPITALITY, PRIMACY OF HOLINESS, FORMATION IN LAY APOSTOLATE, AND GROUND-UP LEADERSHIP MODEL. CITY ON A HILL WILL CULTIVATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF RADICAL HOSPITALITY FOR THE COMMUNITY OF YOUNG ADULTS IN KANSAS CITY. CITY ON A HILL WILL AIM TO INSPIRE YOUNG ADULTS TO ORDER THEIR LIVES AROUND FULFILLING THEIR PRIMARY VOCATION OF HOLINESS. CITY ON A HILL FORMS YOUNG ADULTS TO EMBRACE THEIR CALL AS LAY FAITHFUL TO BE CHRIST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD; BE IT AMONG FRIENDS AND FAMILY, OR IN THE WORKPLACE AND NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CITY ON A HILL STAFF PROVIDES OUR LEADERS WITH FORMATION, ACCOUNTABILITY, SUPPORT, AND GUIDANCE, BUT LEADERS MAINTAIN FREEDOM TO SHAPE THEIR INITIATIVES AS THEY BEST DISCERN.

CATHOLIC CHALLENGE SPORTS' (CCS) MOTTO IS "MORE THAN A SPORTS LEAGUE," IT OFFERS SIX SPORTS YEAR-ROUND ALONG WITH FIVE ONE-DAY EVENTS, SUCH AS WIFFLEBALL AND CORNHOLE TOURNAMENTS, TO NAME A FEW. CCS OFFERS A UNIQUE DRAFT SYSTEM TO PARTICIPANTS, MAKING IT EASY TO GET INVOLVED WITH A SPORT EVEN WITHOUT KNOWING ANYONE INVOLVED. THIS INITIATIVE LIVES OUT BEING "MORE THAN A SPORTS LEAGUE" AS TEAM CAPTAINS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PRAY WITH THEIR TEAMS BEFORE THE GAMES AND INVITE PLAYERS TO UNIQUE PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES OR SERVICE EVENTS, SUCH AS VOLUNTEERING AT HARVESTERS REGIONAL FOOD BANK. IN THE 2022 CALENDAR YEAR, CCS LOGGED OVER 1,000 REGISTRATIONS FOR THEIR SPORTS, THE SECOND LARGEST MULTI-SPORT LEAGUE IN KANSAS CITY FOR YOUNG ADULTS. CCS DRAWS YOUNG ADULTS IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA INTO A HEALTHY, ACTIVE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY CAN BUILD FRIENDSHIPS AND GET MORE INVOLVED WITH CITY ON A HILL. A CCS PARTICIPANT SHARED WITH A MEMBER OF OUR STAFF THAT SHE HAD MOVED TO THE AREA AS AN ENGINEER, GOT INVOLVED WITH CCS, AND MET SOME INCREDIBLE FRIENDS, EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS NOT CATHOLIC. THIS TESTIMONIAL IS NOT UNUSUAL, AS WE ESTIMATE THAT 10-20% OF YOUNG ADULTS IN CCS ARE NOT CATHOLIC. THIS YOUNG WOMAN SHARED THAT BECAUSE OF HER COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE WITHIN CCS AND CITY ON A HILL; SHE DECIDED TO ENTER RCIA AND BECOME CATHOLIC! WE HOPE TO MULTIPLY THESE KINDS OF STORIES OVER THE YEARS.

CITY ON A HILL, NEWLY INSTITUTED AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, HAS BEEN HARD AT WORK THIS YEAR, REACHING AND CONNECTING WITH ABOUT 2,000 YOUNG ADULTS THROUGHOUT THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA. CITY ON A HILL SEEKS TO HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS, PRIMARILY IN THEIR 20'S AND 30'S, TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS AND BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITY AND SPIRITUAL BONDS. IT IS OFTEN OBSERVED THAT THIS DEMOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCES HIGH RATES OF LONELINESS, HIGHLIGHTING THE NEED FOR INTENTIONAL OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY-BUILDING THAT CITY ON A HILL HAS IN PLACE. THROUGH ITS COMMUNITY-BUILDING PROGRAMMING, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF HOSPITALITY, IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS PUT EXTRAORDINARY EFFORT INTO AND ON MAKING PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME AND VALUED. SECONDLY, THE ORGANIZATION WORKS TO INSPIRE AND FORM THESE YOUNG PEOPLE TO LIVE VIRTUOUS, FAITH-FILLED LIVES, PURSUING HOLINESS AND LAY APOSTOLATE. CITY ON A HILL ACCOMPLISHES THESE GOALS THROUGH LARGE AND SMALL EVENTS, SPORTS LEAGUES, WEEKLY SMALL GROUP MEETINGS, AND GET-TOGETHERS, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES LIKE A TRIP OR RETREAT FOR YOUNG ADULTS TO STEP OUTSIDE OF DAILY LIFE. THERE ARE ALSO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FORMATION OF AN INFORMAL OR FORMAL NATURE. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, CITY ON A HILL IS BUILDING COMMUNITY AMONG YOUNG ADULTS WITH THE DESIRE TO BE A VISIBLE LIGHT AND INSPIRATION TO ALL YOUNG ADULTS IN KANSAS CITY, SHOWING THEM THAT A LIFE FULL OF MEANING, RELATIONSHIPS, PURPOSE, AND EVEN JOY IS POSSIBLE FOR THEM. KC UNDERGROUND IS AN EVENING OF ADORATION BY CANDLELIGHT ACCOMPANIED BY CONTEMPLATIVE PRAISE MUSIC, THE OPTION OF RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION, AND OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE AND AFTER TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS OR TO BE WELCOMED BY THE HOSPITALITY TEAM. IT IS HELD EVERY OTHER MONTH AS A FLAGSHIP EVENT FOR CITY ON A HILL, IN VARIOUS CHURCHES AROUND THE METRO AREA. DRAWING ABOUT 200 YOUNG ADULTS AT A TIME, THIS EVENT IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE YOUNG ADULTS TO ENCOUNTER CHRIST AND MAYBE FALL IN LOVE WITH HIM ALL OVER AGAIN. SOME YOUNG ADULTS WHO ATTEND ARE NOT CATHOLIC OR ARE NOT COMMITTED IN THE PRACTICE OF THEIR FAITH, YET THIS EVENT SEEMS TO BRING UP QUESTIONS AND DESIRES LEADING TO DEEPER FAITH. SINCE RECENTLY BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT ORGANIZATION AFTER BEING AN ENTITY WITHIN THE DIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY - ST. JOSEPH FOR 16 YEARS, THE STAFF AND BOARD DETERMINED THAT THE TIME WAS RIGHT FOR A STRATEGIC PLAN TO DEVELOP CITY ON A HILL'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND MECHANISMS FOR GROWTH. AN EXPERT IN STRATEGIC PLANNING WAS HIRED, VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION WERE INTERVIEWED, AND THE BOARD AND STAFF PRAYERFULLY UNDERTOOK A CAREFUL ANALYSIS OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION AND NEEDS. THE RESULT WAS A DOCUMENT POWERFULLY DETAILING SOME AMBITIOUS BUT REACHABLE GOALS FOR THE YEARS SPANNING 2023-2025. THE STRATEGIC PLAN INCLUDES AN EMPHASIS ON NEEDED STAFFING AND DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS TO FUEL THE GROWTH, AS WELL AS PLANS TO UNDERTAKE PARTICULAR FORMS OF OUTREACH, FORMATION, AND DATA WORK IN THE COMING YEARS. THE OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE FOCUSED ON DRAWING IN THE YOUNG ADULTS WHO HAVE NOT YET ENCOUNTERED CHRIST AND IN A PARTICULAR WAY ON THE INCOMING YOUNG ADULTS OF GEN Z. THE FORMATION EFFORTS WILL BE FOCUSED ON BRINGING SMALL GROUPS IN CITY ON A HILL TO A NEW LEVEL OF FRUITFULNESS THROUGH THE FORMATION OF SMALL GROUP LEADERS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW APOSTOLIC LIFE COURSE OPEN TO ALL YOUNG ADULTS. THE STRATEGIC RETENTION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN PERSONAL INVITATION AND INCREASED RETENTION RATES FOR THOSE YOUNG ADULTS WHO ENCOUNTER CITY ON A HILL, INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY ARE IMPACTED BY MORE OF THE COMMUNITY'S OFFERINGS. AFTER THREE YEARS OF THIS INVESTMENT IN GROWTH, THE CITY ON A HILL BOARD AND STAFF ARE CONFIDENT THAT CITY ON A HILL WILL BE EQUIPPED FOR SUCCESS AS AN ORGANIZATION AS IT CONTINUES TO SERVE THE YOUNG ADULTS OF KANSAS CITY.

TUESDAYS AT THE BOULEVARD IS CITY ON A HILL'S LONGEST-TENURED EVENT, HAVING BEGUN IN 2006 - AT THE TIME OF CITY ON A HILL'S INCEPTION. IT IS FASCINATING TO SPEAK WITH CITY ON HILL ALUMNI FROM THE EARLY DAYS AND TO HEAR HOW TUESDAYS LOOKED THEN COMPARED TO HOW TUESDAYS OPERATE NOW... IT IS QUITE AN OPERATION TO SEE HOW THE CITY ON A HILL COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER. TUESDAYS AT THE BOULEVARD IS CITY ON A HILL'S LONGEST-TENURED, ARGUABLY "SIGNATURE" EVENT. BEGINNING SHORTLY AFTER THE ORGANIZATION'S INCEPTION IN 2006, TUESDAYS AT THE BOULEVARD HAS BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH CITY ON A HILL AND REMAINS AN INCREDIBLE AVENUE TO WELCOME YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN INTO A CATHOLIC COMMUNITY. THE EVENING BEGINS WITH VOLUNTEERS READYING TO WELCOME 250+ YOUNG ADULTS TO THE MASS, WITH A TEAM OF YOUNG ADULTS SERVING AS A ROBUST HOSPITALITY TEAM. THE CHAPLAINS OF CITY ON A HILL HEAR CONFESSIONS BEFORE AND THROUGHOUT THE MASS, PRESENT A HOMILY GEARED TO THE DAY'S GOSPEL, AND YOUNG ADULT MUSICIANS CREATE A PRAYERFUL ATMOSPHERE TO ENCOUNTER THE LORD. ATTENDEES OFTEN MARVEL AT AND ARE INSPIRED BY THE NUMBER OF YOUNG ADULTS DESIRING TO ATTEND MASS ON A WEEKNIGHT, AS TUESDAYS FREQUENTLY REGULARLY WELCOMES 300 YOUNG ADULTS FROM AROUND KANSAS CITY. THIS EVENING IS, FOR MANY, A FIRST STEP INTO THE CITY ON A HILL COMMUNITY, PROVIDING A SOCIAL ENTRY POINT INTO THE LOCAL YOUNG ADULT CATHOLIC SCENE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVITE YOUNG ADULTS INTO CONVERSION. CURRENT NUMBERS ESTIMATE THAT 1/3 OF ATTENDEES AT TUESDAYS AT THE BOULEVARD ARE ATTENDING A CITY ON A HILL EVENT FOR THE FIRST TIME. FOLLOWING MASS, THE EVENING CONCLUDES WITH A SOCIAL GATHERING AT BOULEVARD BREWING CO. PIZZA AND DRINKS SET THE STAGE FOR GOOD CONVERSATION AND THE CHANCE TO CONNECT WITH NEW AND OLD FRIENDS. YOUNG ADULT LEADERS IN CITY ON A HILL SET UP TABLES WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WAYS TO GET INVOLVED IN THEIR VARIOUS INITIATIVES. MANY ATTENDEES WALK AWAY EAGER TO JOIN A SMALL GROUP, OR SPORTS LEAGUE, OR EVEN JUST FURTHER A CONNECTION WITH A NEW FRIEND THAT WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES.

YOUNG ADULTHOOD IS A UNIQUE TIME IN THAT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE NO LONGER DEEPLY CONNECTED WITH THEIR PEERS IN A SCHOOL SETTING AND HAVE NOT YET ENTERED FAMILY LIFE - BOTH OF WHICH TEND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT IN A CLEAR FAITH COMMUNITY. THIS OPPORTUNITY PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT FOUNDATION FOR OUR APPROACH TO OUTREACH AND ENCOUNTERING CHRIST FOR THE YOUNG ADULT GENERATION. TRIPS AND RETREATS OFFER A UNIQUE CHANCE TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH A GOOD COMMUNITY AND EXPERIENCE JESUS. AS AN APOSTOLATE, WE AIM TO CONTINUE PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRIPS, RETREATS, AND WEEKENDS AWAY. THE CITY ON A HILL COLORADO TRIP TOOK PLACE IN JULY 2021 AND JULY 2022 AS A HIGHLY ANTICIPATED OPPORTUNITY TO HIKE, PRAY, AND ADVENTURE WITH OTHER YOUNG ADULTS. THE TRIP FILLED UP AT 30 ATTENDEES BOTH YEARS. THESE YOUNG ADULTS CHALLENGED THEMSELVES TO CLIMB MOUNTAINS, INCLUDING A 14ER, WHILE GROWING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH THOSE ON THE TRIP THROUGH MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVENTURE, REFLECTION, AND PRAYER. TIME ON THE ROAD TRIP AND THE HIKES ALLOWS YOUNG ADULTS TO CONVERSE, ASK ONE ANOTHER ABOUT THEIR TESTIMONIES, OR GET TIME WITH A CHAPLAIN TO ASK BURNING QUESTIONS. EVENINGS ARE SPENT PREPARING AND SHARING MEALS AND CELEBRATING MASS, AND TIME IN PRAYER. UPON PREPARING TO TRAVEL HOME, THE YOUNG ADULTS SHARED GRACES FROM THE WEEKEND, SOME WITH TEARS IN THEIR EYES, STATING THEY SAW THE LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF THE LANDSCAPE, IN THEIR GENUINE CONVERSATIONS AMIDST COMMUNITY, IN CHALLENGING THEMSELVES ON THE HIKES AND PRAISING THE LORD FOR THEIR DESIGN, AND IN THE SACRAMENTS (MASS, ADORATION, CONFESSION). TEARS WERE SHED AND NEW FRIENDS MADE, BUT THE LONG-LASTING FRUIT WAS IN THE INSPIRATION THE YOUNG ADULTS BROUGHT HOME FROM PURSUING AND ACHIEVING COURAGEOUS GOALS TOGETHER. MOST ALSO ENTERED THE CITY ON A HILL COMMUNITY MORE DEEPLY THROUGH THE FRIENDSHIPS GAINED ON THE TRIP. EXPERIENCES SUCH AS THIS ONE HOLD DEEP VALUE FOR THE YOUNG ADULTS WHO ATTEND, AND CITY ON A HILL HOPES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRIPS LIKE THIS IN THE FUTURE.