Jul 8, 2016 / 12:44 pm

Millennials. They're the smartphone-loving group of 18 to 34 year-olds who belong to the selfie generation, known for their pronounced diversity, connectivity, and ability to self-express.

According to Pew Research, they are also a generation whose majority - about 80 percent - will abandon their Catholic faith by age 23, which is why Catholics Come Home has singled out the nation's largest living generation in their newest ad campaigns, or what they call "evangomercials."

"We took to heart numerous studies showing that American millennials are struggling with addictions, suicide, out-of-wedlock births, joblessness, and other significant life challenges at catastrophic rates," stated Tom Peterson, the Catholics Come Home founder and president, in a recent press release.

Catholics Come Home is an online evangelization resource aimed at reaching out to those who have lost their faith or who have no religious beliefs. They offer numerous tools on their website and have helped more than 500,000 people return to the Catholic faith since 1998.

Catering to what they call "a young and diverse generation," Catholics Come Home recently collaborated with other Catholic organizations to create a series of ads and a new website that will encourage millennials to ask "is there something more?"

"I'm in a good place in my life. And I'm energized by new adventures," young people say in one of the ads. "I've got friends to laugh with, and a good relationship. But even though I'm kind of comfortable, I sometimes wonder, 'Is there something more?'"

"We are a young and diverse generation, helping those in need and promoting human rights," another ad says. "We care for the environment, we embrace authentic witnesses and dream of a better world. Our passion comes from God, who loves us even when we fall, and cheers on our victories."

The ads then invite those watching to see if God and the Church are what they are seeking, by visiting the Catholics Come Home website.

The commercials, including "Something More" and "Epic 2.0," will air on television, radio, and other media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube, with the goal of encouraging millennials to return to the faith.

"Our hope is to reduce these disheartening statistics," Peterson said, "and guide young adults towards healthier, joy-filled lifestyles by introducing them to – or reminding them of – the importance of faith."