NET Ministries challenges young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. Every August, 175 young Catholics aged 18-28 leave behind their jobs, school, family, and friends to devote nine months to serving with the National Evangelization Teams (NET). Divided into 16 teams, they travel across the U.S. for nine months to share the Gospel with young people and their families. Since 1981, NET teams have led over 32,000 retreats and ministered to more than 2 million young Catholics. NET Ministries fulfills its mission by: Proclaiming the Gospel of Christ through a personal witness of faith; inviting young people to live for Christ; forming young people in Christian character through the study and practice of their faith; equipping youth workers and young adults with the ministry skills needed for evangelization. Parishes or Vicariates host Net Teams to speak to their youth.