City On A Hill Young Adult Apostolate

In its fifth year, the Guatemala Mission Trip brought 30 young adults, including a priest chaplain, to San Andres Itzapa, Guatemala. Participants served local families by building homes, wood stoves, and animal shelters, and visited a school for children with disabilities. Beyond the physical work, the trip is rooted in spiritual transformation through daily Mass, adoration, confession, and pilgrimage to the site of Blessed Stanley Rother's martyrdom. Many missionaries return home with a deepened sense of faith and a renewed desire to serve. This mission experience continues to be a cornerstone of City on a Hill's formation efforts, blending faith, service, and global solidarity.

With 1,146 total registrations and 583 unique participants in 2024, Catholic Challenge Sports (CCS) is one of the largest Catholic recreational sports programs in Kansas City. Year-round leagues in sports like flag football, volleyball, and dodgeball, along with one-day tournaments, offer young adults a structured but welcoming entry point into the life of faith. The CCS draft-based model ensures inclusivity and fosters new friendships, while team captains serve as spiritual anchors-leading prayer, hosting socials, and inviting players into other City on a Hill programs. Over 70% of participants reported involvement in other programs, confirming CCS as one of our strongest engagement pipelines. Survey feedback routinely names CCS as the "greatest value" among City on a Hill offerings. One captain said: "Being a captain is ultimately about service-meeting the deeper needs of those longing for connection within our Roman Catholic family." - Michael Miller, Dodgeball Captain

In 2024, City on a Hill continued to serve hundreds of young adults across the Kansas City metro through a growing network of small groups, retreats, and community-wide events. Our mission remains clear: to inspire and form young adults to become saints through deep relationships and authentic discipleship. With more than 80 volunteers in leadership roles, City on a Hill created spaces for encounter, community, and transformation. Other events include: 1) Sisterhood & Band of Brothers Small Groups - 340 participants (198 women, 142 men) joined weekly discipleship groups led by 52 leaders. These groups provided faith-filled friendship and stability. 2) Undivided Retreat - 56 young adults participated in a weekend of silence, prayer, and fellowship, described by many as transformative. 3) Hospitality & Regional Expansion - KC Underground events averaged 200 attendees. Expansion into the Northland began to serve more young adults where they are. Here is City on a Hill's overall mission impact: 51% reported growing in their relationship with Christ, 82% increased in frequent prayer, 77% grew in engagement with Scripture, 67% became more open to Sacramental Marriage, and 73% of CCS and 61% of Tuesdays attendees joined other City on a Hill programs. Here is a brief summary of our "Leadership & Formation Growth." City on a Hill began transitioning to a calendar-year leadership cycle. Over 80 young adults served as leaders, supported by new mentorship systems and Notion-based planning. One participant shared: "Leadership Equipping Day gave me a paradigm shift: work isn't just provision, but a way to sanctify the world around me." - Ben Chaves