April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
Diocese's teenagers enjoy an adventure
The 2001 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), with the theme of "Hope At The Crossroads," was held in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dec. 6-9, and 300 youths from the Diocese of Albany experienced the excitement firsthand.
The weekend was filled with the enthusiasm and high energy that result when thousands of young people come together to pray and share their faith.
Why they went
Asked why he went, Dan Keefer, a parishioner at St. James Church in Albany and a sophomore at Bethlehem High School, said: "I knew it would be a good learning experience. I hoped to discover how others actually act on their faith. I want to know how they express faith."Michelle Zelich, from St. Anthony's Church in Johnstown and a sophomore at Johnstown High School, wanted "to learn more things to take back home to my parish."
Jared Mowatt, a member of Our Lady of Hope Church in Whitehall, made the trip because "it was a chance to meet new people." He admitted, though, that he had a little help making up his mind: "Others, like my friend Matt, encouraged me to go."
'Adventure'
Asked how he felt after his first day at the conference, Jared said that he was excited having met quite a few people from different backgrounds."It's an interesting adventure," he said. In the wake of the tragic events of Sept. 11, Jared added that "we're realizing that we're vulnerable, and [the conference] brings us together as a group of young people to support and share with one another."
Meghan Apfelbaum, a student at the Academy of the Holy Names, Albany, and parishioner at St. Joan of Arc Church, Menands, made the decision to attend after experiencing her first retreat this past summer.
"I wanted to experience more," she said. "The conference was a great opportunity to use my talents, to take in all I could and take back to my school this faith experience, even if just a little piece. It was inspiring to see so many at Mass, and to see my peers wanting to make a difference."
Prayer service
Matt Nuttall, a parishioner at St. Thomas Church, Delmar, shared his thoughts to the question, "What does it mean to say 'yes' to God?" which was posed at the Albany delegation's prayer service on Dec. 8."It's easy to say yes to God when you're here," he explained, "but you have to take it home and continue to say yes to God. Even if you do just one thing when you get home, you have to do it."
(Editor's note: Mrs. Putorti, from Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Rotterdam, accompanied the Albany diocesan delegation to the National Catholic Youth Conference to assist the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.)
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