History of CYACC

 

Frustrated by the seemingly constant founding and failing of parish-based young adult groups, the county-wide group now known as the Catholic Young Adults of Chester County (CYACC) was founded in the Fall of 2009 by five young adults through the initiative of Msgr. Beach and Fr. Rott at SS Simon & Jude Parish in West Chester, PA. This founding team hoped that with a larger base population, the group would be able to survive the "permanently temporary" nature of working young adults.

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The group was originally financed through the gracious donations of seven local parishes: St. Agnes, St. Joseph (Downingtown), St, Maximilian Kolbe, St. Patrick, SS Peter & Paul, SS Philip & James, and SS Simon & Jude.

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The group's first meeting was held in 2010, and since that time it's schedule has not strayed too far from its founding goals:

• Meet weekly to provide the most opportunity for building community

• Monthly Holy Hours to keep the Blessed Sacrament at the heart of the group.

• Bring in experts to speak on matter of faith on a weekly basis - to not only bring knowledge to the group but to also reduce "forced interaction" among peers and allow relationships to form in a casual and organic fashion.

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From 2010 to 2014, CYACC met at the Knights of Columbus Hall in West Chester, PA. In 2014, SS Peter & Paul in East Goshen opened its doors to the group and became CYACC's new home for meetings.

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The move from the Knights of Columbus to SS Peter & Paul was symbolic of an even larger season of change for CYACC. Many of the founders and original group members moved on because of work and family, allowing for a major influx of "new blood" to the group, specifically to the leadership team. As CYACC turned five, the needs of the group shifted. Monthly social nights were added to the schedule, focus on community service increased, and a desire to expand outside the West Chester area was renewed. 

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CYACC continues to grow in membership by extending its reach throughout Chester County. In addition to CYACC's founding tenets, there has also been a move to gather more information from its members so that the group can better serve all members by meeting each person where they are in their own unique faith journey.