ESTEEM holds up a vision of faithful, ecclesially engaged young adults serving on parish and diocesan pastoral and finance councils and boards of trustees of Catholic organizations across the country.

Of note is that ESTEEM is not intended to serve as religious education or catechesis, nor is it intended to offer training in youth or young adult ministry, per se. Rather, it is aimed at young adult Catholics already knowledgeable and committed to Catholicism who command notice for their intellectual acumen, their innate leadership qualities, their passion for excellence, and desire to serve the Church.

ESTEEM aims to identify those young adults, cultivate their desire for service to the Church, provide a formation experience that encourages their leadership – especially in the temporal affairs of the Church – and offer opportunities for such service, gradually developing a network of talented, actively engaged young adult leaders serving the Church.