CANFIELD — A program that brings religious nuns together with those called “Nones” who do not attend Mass or have any religious affiliation has been established locally by the Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown.

The Nuns and Nones chapter for the Diocese of Youngstown was started earlier this year.

Nuns and Nones is an international group uniting millennials and vowed religious sisters. Nones are adults ages 26 to 42 who believe in God and are spiritual beings, but no longer consider themselves Catholic.

Sister Kathleen McCarragher is one of the founders of the local group.

“Research shows Nones feel they aren’t part of any organized religion. We want to reach them with simple conversation and no judging,” she said.

Meetings are 7 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Ursuline Motherhouse on Shields Road in Canfield for mostly millennials ages 25 to 40. The next event is Sept. 12.

“It has been found that millennials, or however someone describes themselves, are seeking God and describe themselves as spiritual and not religious. The word Nones comes from when asked to mark their religion on a paper they mark ‘none’,” McCarragher said.

She said the “Nones” met up with older nuns and the groups just clicked.

McCarragher said when she was in Chicago, she joined a group and many of the participants began asking hard questions. The same happened with the local group.

“There was one young lady who was pregnant and not active in any church who was asking, ‘Who is God?’ ‘Who is the Holy Spirit?’ She trusted us to help her answer these big questions. She did not hesitate to ask us questions,” she said.

Sister Marlene LoGrasso said she has seen people attend an initial meeting and then return for the next meeting a “totally different person.”

Sister Eileen Kernan, whose ministry centers on helping people grow in their spirituality, also is a founder of the local chapter. Kernan said the world continually is changing and it is a different world today for younger generations.

“As we age, we see more things and learn more things. We think more of who God really is. To many people, God is different than what others thought before. We are so sacred as persons. The message of God is within the heart of every single person,” Kernan said.

“We come to ways to speak to that experience of each of us. We talk about what God calls us to do. Things around us had a different meaning in past generations. Today they may not be as meaningful. When we talk, we look to find what is meaningful to help people to build what God is in their life and what God has called each of us to do,” Kernan said.

LoGrasso said anyone is welcome to attend the meetings.

“We never know who will show up that night. I like to listen and find out from each person who they are. I try to find a link to help further a question,” she said.

McCarragher said she likes to listen to those who attend to see what is going on in their lives.

“This is where we often get our links and can build on that. We start with very simple prayer,” she said.

LoGrasso said what she finds interesting is everyone is in a different place on their faith journey.

“We have people who are very happy to be here and speak to us. They want us to help answer questions of where they are in God’s plan,” McCarragher said.

She said she has seen how nuns and Nones are able to connect with each other in small groups.

“Since being part of this, it has really enriched me and my prayer. It does take time for the groups to get going but eventually a core group will blossom,” McCarragher said.

McGarragher said the Nones have a faith, but are not part of any denomination.

“They may have grown up Catholic, but they are usually not churchgoers,” she said.

LoGrasso said she finds the meetings enriching because she has been in pastoral ministry for 21 years.

“Just listening to different people’s stories of how God reached out and called them and their response. We all need to be listeners,” she said.

McCarragher said the meetings include a quick prayer asking God for guidance and then go into an introduction, letting the guests share what they want.

“We like to hear them respond to what they think and they also ask us what we think. We each give an opinion or view. People need to be able to tell their story and to have other people to listen to,” Kernan said.

She said she hopes the nuns can help guide the Nones in their lives.

“It is wonderful that we have young adults attending who want to be involved,” LoGrasso said.

For information, call 330-559-9447.