Thousands Attend Rededicate 250 Event on National Mall

Thousands of Christians gathered on the National Mall on Sunday for Rededicate 250, an event organized for public prayer and worship ahead of the nation's Semiquincentennial. Two participants, a 22-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman, described their experience organizing weekly gatherings in New York City that combine a social meal with attendance at religious services.

They said the events began when one invited the other to sit together at a church service and later expanded through social media posts.

The pair reported that the New York City gatherings regularly draw hundreds of young adults and have created new social connections among participants. They noted that young people now arrive at services in groups and that local churches have seen increased attendance from this age group.

Attendees at the National Mall event included people of various ages, with many young faces visible among the crowd. Some participants recognized the two organizers during the gathering.

"We need to search for something," the 22-year-old man told the Daily Caller. "Purpose, meaning, belonging. And the purest form of that is turning back to God. And I do think the structure and tradition of Catholicism is very appealing." "I think there's real momentum right now in our generation, and turning back to God, it's a beautiful thing," the 26-year-old woman said.