Panel: CATHOLICITY OTHERWISE: EXPLORING SECULAR ANALOGUES



997.4 - THE CALL TO BELONG: EXPLORING LONELINESS AND CATHOLICITY

AUTHORS:
Ryan G. (Regis College, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto ~ Toronto ~ Canada)
Text:
At the core of human experience is the deep longing to belong—to be recognized, valued, and loved in community. The study of loneliness speaks to this yearning, mirroring the essence of Catholicity. Catholicity reflects the Church's universal embrace, its call to gather all people into communion, particularly those who feel unseen or excluded. Loneliness, by contrast, is often an unsolicited and painful disconnection, yet it reminds us that we are created for relationships. Psychology, public health, and neuroscience affirm what faith has long proclaimed: human beings and our various eco-systems are profoundly interdependent. The scientific study of loneliness highlights the emotional, social, and physical costs of disconnection while reaffirming our fundamental need for belonging. If Catholicity expresses this truth within a religious framework, loneliness serves as a secular parallel—an empirical testament to what the Church has always taught: we flourish in relationships and suffer in isolation. This presentation will explore the intersection of loneliness and eco-spiritual biography, emphasizing the balance between contemplation and action in fostering both spiritual depth and reconciliation. Both invite us to recognize our shared humanity and to cultivate a culture of encounter and sustainability. Loneliness—both as a personal struggle and a subject of scientific inquiry—acts as a secular mirror to Catholicity: while Catholicity seeks unity through faith, loneliness exposes the fractures of disconnection and the urgent need for belonging. In a world and Church increasingly marked by division, the call to restore communion is more urgent than ever. This paper will focus on the pastoral concerns of youth, particularly their experiences of loneliness and their search for meaning, belonging, and connection.