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Young adults attend a special Mass at Co-Cathedral designed to create community among their age group.

The space behind the altar is small, just enough for a few pews and 20 voices that echo off the high ceiling. They sing to the accompaniment of an acoustic guitar — familiar lyrics beginning a Mass that, at least in its format, likely isn’t anything too out of the ordinary.

What is different is that fact that, for the most part, everyone in attendance is a 20- or 30-something, too old to be a traditional college student but generally not among the married-with-children crowd, either.

“People post-college, in the working world, largely feel like they’re left out,” says Matt Maes, the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph’s director of young adult and campus ministry in St. Joseph. “Especially when you don’t have a family, it’s hard to find a place to fit in in the church. So we’re creating a place for them.”

The young-adult Mass, which takes place on the first Monday of each month at Cathedral of St. Joseph and is called, appropriately, First Mondays, is modeled after the young-adult Mass the diocese began in Kansas City three years ago. That Mass now has a monthly attendance of more than 100 and a mailing list of 800, Mr. Maes says. Because St. Joseph is the next-largest city in its area, the diocese began First Mondays two months ago in hopes that it also would be successful.

Attendance so far has been steady and growing, Mr. Maes says — maybe because the opportunities available in St. Joseph for young adults to meet people their age who share their faith are few.

“It’s definitely something needed in our diocese,” says Julia Gregory of Easton, Mo. “There are programs for youth, but not for this age group, so it’s definitely welcome.”

Ms. Gregory learned about First Mondays from the Rev. Shawn Ratigan, who leads the Mass and is the priest at her church. And she isn’t the only one who’s been coming to First Mondays from outside of St. Joseph, according to Sorena Perry, who lives in Kansas City and has been helping to get First Mondays off the ground.

“I always see new faces, some from surrounding towns,” she says, adding that she also helps out with a Bible study the diocese offers for young adults. “Both are just a way for people to deepen their faith and make friends with other people who are striving to be holy.”

And the Mass and Bible study aren’t the only opportunities for young adults to get to know each other. After First Mondays, the group heads over to Boudreaux’s Louisiana Seafood, 224 N Fourth St. in St Joseph, for drinks and appetizers. Finding space for everyone to sit together requires the use of a room set off from the main restaurant area — and assuming their numbers increase, the Mass itself may require the use of more space, as well.

Meeting behind the altar at the back of Cathedral’s sanctuary is, after all, meant to be temporary — a small starting space for something many hope will become much bigger.

“You have to start small, putting emphasis on quality over quantity,” Mr. Maes says. “When that happens, so will growth.”

Looking to connect with other Catholic young adults? First Mondays takes place at Cathedral of St. Joseph, 519 N. 10th St., on the first Monday of each month, except in September, when it will meet on the third Monday due to Labor Day. It begins with Confession at 5:30 p.m., followed by Mass led by the Rev. Shawn Ratigan at 6 p.m.

A Bible study also is open to young adults at 7 p.m. each Wednesday at the Catholic Newman Center at Missouri Western State University, 4518 Mitchell Ave. in St. Joseph. For more information, contact Matt Maes at (816) 298-0445 or mattmaes@gmail.com.

Lifestyles reporter Erin Wisdom can be reached at ewisdom@npgco.com.