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National youth conference offers excitement, affirmation |
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By Pat Norby
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Thursday, 30 April 2009 |
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“I love NCYC,” said Cari White, youth ministries director at St. Michael in Farmington, speaking about the upcoming biennial National Catholic Youth Conference, set for Nov. 19-22 in Kansas City, Mo.
Steve Angrisano performs at the 2007 National Catholic Youth Conference in Columbus, Ohio. CNS Photo / Jack Kustron, Catholic Times
“I attended when I was in high school as a freshman and as a junior and then I took students to the past two conferences,” she said.
“The core thing that I noticed was the same both in high school and as an adult — the amazing energy you get when you’re around 20,000 other students your age that are all worshipping in the same faith and celebrating the same way and are genuinely excited about it,” White said.
“It helped affirm that it’s OK to be Catholic and it’s really a great thing,” said White, who hopes to take about 15 parish youth this year.
Steve Grass, director of youth social and outreach ministries at St. John Neumann in Eagan, said he will be taking about 10 parish youth. St. John Neumann views it as leadership training and covers about 90 percent of the trip cost.
Youth come back and take on more leadership roles, he said. One shy teen who went to the 2007 NCYC in Columbus, Ohio, “became one of our most active youth and a go-to leader,” Grass said.
But more important, he said, “Their faith has grown by leaps and bounds.”
The conference includes a variety of workshops and prayer experiences, liturgies, adoration, reconciliation, music, entertainment and opportunities to connect with other youth.
Bill Casey, a member of the archdiocesan Parish Services Team, who focuses on youth ministry, said another draw is that some of the best Catholic musicians from across the country will be at the conference.
“Young people who are not used to listening to Catholic contemporary music are amazed at the good music and the good message some of this music has,” Casey said.
The conference is open to youths who will be in ninth through 12th-grade this fall and their adult chaperones. They must pre-register through their parish pastor or youth minister or the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Although Casey said he would like them to sign up now, registrations will be taken until Sept. 1. All youth must be accompanied by adult leaders.
About 130 youth from the archdiocese attended the Ohio conference.
“Archbishop [John} Nienstedt really supports this and there are quite a few bishops and priests from across the country who are part of this,” he added.
For more information and to receive a NCYC registration packet, contact your youth minister or Bill Casey by phone at (651) 290-1645, or e-mail
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. A $100 deposit must be included with the registration.
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