Diocese of Tulsa -Catholic Young Adults
 
 

CYA & DYAMC - What's the difference?

In the Diocese of Tulsa, the term Catholic Young Adults (CYA) consists of every young adults, ages 18-39, married or single, in the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa.

The Diocese Young Adult Ministry Council (DYAMC) is the oversight committee for the CYA.

The CYA was not used in the Diocese of Tulsa until 2008, when the way that Young Adult Ministry is handled began to be reorganized.

The Origins of the Diocese Young Adult Ministry Council

The DYAMC was re-established in 2002 from a group that previously existed. The small band of young adults initiated meetings and events that made an organization run by, and in service to, the young adults of the Diocese of Tulsa. Various committees within the DYAMC were created to address the needs of young adults, and the organization has adjusted to best fit the needs of its members over the years.

The DYAMC saw large growth when it began a local series of the national Theology on Tap movement. Kilkenny's and McNellie's became homes to this very popular summer gathering. Because of its success, a Holy Grounds program was later instituted as a winter counterpart. To extend the discussion on particularly interesting Theology on Tap talks, a supplement called Last Call was created.

With growth coming from Theology on Tap and other events, leaders of the DYAMC began to realize that the group was no longer just of interest to a few dedicated members, but that it was an established facet of the diocese with the ability to reach even more people. The need to have an official governing body (serving at the leisure of the Bishop), while also including the hundreds of young adults in the diocese led to a reorganization that used the term CYA to become the public face of the organization, including all young adults in the diocese.

The transition to a new leadership structure and more official place in the diocese is currently ongoing. More recent changes have included giving the immediate past president of the organization an official role as guide to the DYAMC, and liaison to the Bishop.

DYAMC Presidents:
Seth Smith – 2002-03
Peter Klein – 2003-04
Candice Calhoun – 2004-05
Jarrett Auschwitz – 2005
Michele Clancy – 2006-2007
Erik Grayless and Chris Guglielmo (Co-presidents)– 2007-09
Stephanie Sullivan - 2009-current

To Find Out More...

If you would like to know more about the CYA or DYAMC, please contact use through email at catholicyoungadults@gmail.com, or continue to browse our website.

 
Stephanie Sullivan
President

Stephanie, a native Arkansas, received her undergraduate (BSBA) and graduate (MAcc) degrees from the University of Arkansas. She is a Sr. Accountant at The Williams Companies and is a CPA. In addition to serving the young adults of the Diocese of Tulsa, she also volunteers at the Church of Saint Mary for the youth group and is on the Newcomers Committee. This is Stephanie’s second term to serve as President (previously May 2009-May 2010).
Joe Curry
Immediate Past President
Joe graduated from Texas A&M in Dec '99 (Class of '98). He served with the Texas Army National Guard as a communications specialist from Mar '93 to Dec '99 with a deployment to Bosnia. After graduating college, Joe went on active duty in the Army from Jan '00 to Jun '08 as an Infantry Officer in Hawaii, Germany, and Italy with a deployment to Afghanistan. Joe feels very blessed to be associated with the Catholic community here in Tulsa and volunteers for Raising Our Catholic Kids Solid (ROCK Solid) at the Church of St. Mary. In his free time, Joe likes to hang out with other Catholic young adults, read, and watch movies. Joe was accepted as a Diocese of Tulsa seminarian in the spring of 2011. He currently attends seminary in Dallas.