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WILKES-BARRE — Thanks to a group of young adults from around the Diocese of Scranton, the Thirsty Thursday concept has picked up a new twist.

Four 20-somethings decided there was very little for people 18-30 in the Catholic church and pitched a Thirsty Thursday idea to Pam Urbanski, youth minister for St. Jude’s in Mountain Top, said Megan Culkin, young adult core member.

Inside Norm’s Pizza and Eatery on Sherman Street, every third Thursday of the month, approximately 15 people gather to fill their cup with a night of spiritual renewal.

Before a guest speaker addresses the gathering, the young adults eat and talk, something everyone said could be done inside a corner bar. Instead the group enjoys an alcohol-free evening with each other.

Sitting with a few friends, Courtney Williams, 24, of Mountain Top, defended her decision to go to the religious Thirsty Thursday instead of a bar.

“They’re both social things. … (We’re) just a group of people talking about similar interest,” she said.

Alyssa Stencavage concurred.

“It’s something we all need,” Stencavage, 23, of Mountain Top said.

Jessica Wallo, of Lehman, said the event reminds her she’s “not alone” and allows her to “be with like-minded people.” She missed the first month’s address, about vocations, from The Rev. Steven Chase Pepper, associate campus minister at King’s College, but came to the April 20 meeting because she’s enjoys The Rev. Jeff Tudgay’s talks.

“These benefit our relationships getting us closer to God, that’s what it’s all about, right?” she asked.

While Pepper gave a talk on vocations, Tudgay, the assistant pastor of St. Jude’s, joined them in a discussion about relationships.

“It’s authentic human interaction,” Tudgay said about face-to-face relationships in a technologically infiltrated world. “It’s not a podcast.”

Tudgay, who delivered the talk without notes, suggested to the attendants that communication, though vital, needs face-to-face meetings.

“It’s epically important … helps sustain friendships,” the priest encouraged.

CatholicPhilly.com reports that millennials — individuals born between the early 1980s to the late 1990s — are “walking away from their faith in droves.”

A 2014 Pew Research Center survey shows 41 percent of American adults who admitted they were raised Catholic also said they no longer identify with the church.

Stencavage admitted she was “distracted” in college and didn’t classify her religion as a priority causing her to fall away from the church.

“This is a good way to get back into (religion),” she said.

Tudgay said events like Thirsty Thursday “debunk theory that the church isn’t interested in young adults.”

“We invite, and now we have to respond to the invitation,” he said.

Culkin said she is “pleasantly surprised” with the amount of people who have come out for the Thirsty Thursday fun.

“It’s moving in a good direction,” Culkin said.

Next month, Thirsty Thursday will be held at 6:30 p.m. May 18 at the pizza place, with the featured speaker, the Rev. Alex Roche — Misericordia University’s chaplain — giving a talk on happiness. A cost of $10 is asked to cover food and drink.

For other Life Section stories, click here.

Gianna Cordasco, of Wilkes-Barre, and Danielle Yakup, of Nanticoke, meet at Norm’s in Wilkes-Barre for an informal, once-a-month lunch. Associate campus minister at King’s College, the Rev. Jeff Tudgay, called the face-to-face interaction ‘epically important.’
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL-05xx2017-thristythursday-2.jpg.optimal.jpgGianna Cordasco, of Wilkes-Barre, and Danielle Yakup, of Nanticoke, meet at Norm’s in Wilkes-Barre for an informal, once-a-month lunch. Associate campus minister at King’s College, the Rev. Jeff Tudgay, called the face-to-face interaction ‘epically important.’ Charlotte Bartizek | For Times Leader

Jessica Wallo, of Lehman, and Darleen Zelinka, of Hunlock Creek, attend a Thirsty Thursday event on April 20. Young adult member Megan Culkin said the gatherings are ‘moving in a good direction.’
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL-05xx2017-thristythursday-3.jpg.optimal.jpgJessica Wallo, of Lehman, and Darleen Zelinka, of Hunlock Creek, attend a Thirsty Thursday event on April 20. Young adult member Megan Culkin said the gatherings are ‘moving in a good direction.’ Charlotte Bartizek | For Times Leader

Young adults meet on the third Thursday of every month at Norm’s in Wilkes-Barre to connect. An April 20 meeting focused on relationships. A previous meeting addressed vocations, and a future session will include a discussion of happiness.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_TTL-05xx2017-thristythursday-1.jpg.optimal.jpgYoung adults meet on the third Thursday of every month at Norm’s in Wilkes-Barre to connect. An April 20 meeting focused on relationships. A previous meeting addressed vocations, and a future session will include a discussion of happiness. Charlotte Bartizek | For Times Leader

By Melanie Mizenko

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Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko