St. Louis meeting drawing hundreds of Catholic teens

Nearly 300 teens and chaperons representing 32 parishes and one Catholic school in the Diocese will attend the four-day event, which begins Nov. 18.

The NCYC, which is held biennially, is designed to bring Catholic youth together to experience prayer and community.

Coming together

"It provides them with the opportunity to participate in the broader Church and see the universality of Catholicism." she said. "They can see they are not alone. There are many young people proud to be Catholic. Young people hunger for connection, belonging and spirituality."

Meg McGinty, a 16-year-old parishioner from St. Matthew's Church in Voorheesville, attended the last NCYC, held in Kansas City in 1997. The experience, she said, was overwhelming.

"Before Kansas City, I was feeling alone, that I was the only one involved in Church and in my parish," she said. "In a small town, you can feel like an individual. In Kansas City, I felt like a part of a group or family."

Growing up Catholic

"It was overwhelming last time to see that many people," she said. "Now I know what to expect. I know what I want to accomplish. My little sister is going, so I'm looking forward to watching her experience it."

Attending the last NCYC helped Meg take on more responsibility in the Church. "It gave me more confidence to participate in my parish and in the Diocese," she said.

Since then, she has taught religious education at her parish, been involved in parish youth ministry, attended the diocesan Christian Leadership Institute, served on the Diocesan Youth Council and led peer retreats.

Mrs. Harrison said Meg's reaction to NCYC is common. "They meet people from across the country that have the same values as them," she said. "That can be a life-changing experience. They feel welcome [in the Church]. The conference helps them to come home and integrate faith more into their lives."

Threshold

Each day of the conference focuses on a different aspect of the theme. Daily activities will include general sessions, prayer services and workshops. Topics include personal growth, spiritual development, leadership, communication skills, and justice and peace education.

In addition to the workshops, there will be a youth congress on Scripture. Between 300 and 400 youth will join Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and 28 other bishops to discuss ways the Church can help young people understand and apply Scriptures to their lives.

Another 300 young people will participate in a training institute on environmental justice. Participants will learn about some of the current environmental problems in the world, examine Catholic social teaching in the area of environmental justice, and share ideas on how to address environmental justice issues in their local area.

Pilgrims

She noted that the NCYC has grown dramatically since it began in 1985 with 600 participants due to the enthusiasm of the young people who attend. She said they return home excited and share the experience with their friends.

"We don't advertise," she said. "In the Diocese, we limited it 300 participants, but we could have had more. It's an example of how ministry duplicates itself."

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