They Know About Jesus—But Do They Know Him?

We teach our kids the sacraments, the prayers, the beliefs.
They go to CCD, they make Confirmation, they learn the “right” answers.

But then… most of them walk away.

By their early 20s, only 17% of Catholic young adults are still practicing their faith.
That’s a crisis.
And it’s not just about drifting—it’s about never having been anchored.

Because here’s what we know:
Among teens who say they have a personal relationship with Jesus, faith retention more than doubles.

So maybe the issue isn’t what we’re teaching—
Maybe it’s who we’re teaching it to… and when.

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We’re Training Disciples Who Haven’t Met the Master

Catholic formation is often focused on discipleship:
How to pray.
How to receive the sacraments.
How to live the moral life of a Catholic.

All good things.

But discipleship only makes sense after someone has chosen to follow the One we’re asking them to imitate.

Instead, we’re trying to train kids to walk with Jesus before they’ve even met Him.
It’s like handing someone a map for a trail they’ve never agreed to hike.

We’ve got the content, but we’ve lost the sequence.
Truth is powerful. But truth without relationship doesn’t stick.
It becomes just one more thing competing for their attention.

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The Numbers Don’t Lie

Let’s be honest about what we’re up against:

• Only 44% of Catholic teens say they’ve committed to following Jesus.
• By age 23, 83% of them will no longer actively practice.
• And 59% of weekly Mass-going Catholics agree with the statement,
  “Jesus was a great teacher—but not God.”

So not only are our kids missing the relationship…
Many of their teachers are too.

This isn’t a judgment—it’s a wake-up call.

We’re often asking people to pass on a relationship they’ve never had themselves.

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The Culture Has Changed. Our Strategy Must Too.

Most parish formation programs were designed for a time when Catholicism had cultural momentum.

But we don’t live in Christendom anymore.

America is now a post-Christian nation—and in many colleges and peer groups, it’s openly anti-Christian.

Our kids aren’t entering neutral territory.
They’re walking into resistance.

And we’re preparing them like tourists—when what they need are tools for mission.

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The Goal Isn’t Survival. It’s Mission.

We don’t just want our kids to keep their faith.
We want them to live it boldly—and share it.

That requires more than information.
It requires transformation.
And that starts with the adults in the room.

Many CCD teachers are kind-hearted volunteers who’ve never been personally introduced to Jesus.
They can teach about Him—but not from Him.

And you can’t give what you don’t have.

That’s why we need to start by helping teachers, parents, and leaders encounter Jesus themselves—and then send them to guide others.

Not after another year of formation.
Now.

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It All Starts with One Question:

Do they know about Jesus… or do they know Him?

Do they know about Jesus… or do they know Him?

Because once you meet Him—once you know Him personally—it changes everything.

And Encounter Jesus is designed for exactly that.

Not months of curriculum.
Not a theology course.
Just a real, focused invitation to meet the living God.

When that happens?
The teaching sticks. The sacraments come alive.
The Church feels like home.

But until then…
We’re just handing out maps to kids who don’t know where they’re going.

👉 If you’re ready to change that—for your child, your students, or yourself—start here.

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💬 Reflection Question:

If your child—or your students—never encountered Jesus personally,
what would all the rest of their religious education mean?

And what if, by changing the order, you could give them both:
a relationship and a Church worth staying in?