Lenten Campaign 2025
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In the heart of Kansas City, a thriving young adult ministry is changing lives through faith and friendship … and frequently, marriage.
City on a Hill has become a beacon for Catholic young adults seeking community in an increasingly disconnected world.
“We’re called to live in community, and young people are starving for it,” said Dr. Luke Murray, Director of Advancement and Interim Director (City on a Hill is looking to hire a new director). “We are that community that will walk with them together as we grow in faith and get through the challenges of life. Ultimately, we want to walk together to Heaven.”
More than 19 years’ success
City on a Hill was founded in 2006 by Carrie (Kafka) Pirotte as a ministry of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. It serves those between ages of 21 and 39, primarily working professionals and college graduates, and today reaches between 2,500-3,000 participants annually.
The community grew organically for 15 years before branching off as an independent, lay apostolate in 2021. It continues to be strongly endorsed and supported by both dioceses it serves, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph in Missouri.
City on a Hill’s new status as a nonprofit allows the community to better embody its mission to “be the community that inspires and forms the young adult generation to be saints,” fulfilled through four core values:
- Radical hospitality
- The primacy of holiness
- Formation for personal apostolate
- A ground-up leadership model
Their signature event, Tuesdays at the Boulevard, regularly draws 200-300 young adults who attend Mass together before walking to a brewery for pizza and conversation. They also organize sports leagues, retreats, and smaller gatherings that range from small-group Bible studies to international mission trips, from candlelit Eucharistic Adoration evenings to Catholic formation courses.
What makes this ministry unique is its grassroots approach. Despite having only two full-time staff members, City on a Hill thrives through its network of over 130 volunteer leaders who oversee various teams and apostolates.
“We form and empower the young adults, and they lead,” Murray explains. “We provide guardrails, support, encouragement, and financial assistance if necessary, then we empower them to discern their gifts and talents.”
So about those marriages
In the past two decades, City on a Hill has “resulted in dozens of conversions and over 100 marriages,” Pirotte said in a 2021 interview.
Murray agreed, saying, “The biggest thing is the marriages. We get hundreds of new people each year searching for a Catholic spouse. It’s getting so hard to meet other people with similar faith and values in the world. Our community allows them to find, befriend, date, and often marry a person who loves the Lord and our Catholic Faith.”
This success has attracted so much attention beyond Kansas City that the organization is now planning for national expansion.
“We get invited all the time to go to other dioceses,” Murray said. “We’ve been preparing for years with a group of leaders helping us plan for national expansion.”
And new members are coming to Kansas City because of City on a Hill. Murray said, “Honestly, people are moving here from all over the country for the young adult community in Kansas City. It’s really special.”
City on a Hill is an incredible witness to what can happen when young Catholics pursue their longing for real community and strong faith in a prudent, persistent way. We hope and pray that this remarkable ministry expands to other cities.
If you’d like to support their incredible efforts, donate here.
And today we celebrate...