Teens, when left behind, hold their own opening

After a dinner with Bishop Howard J. Hubbard at the hotel where they were staying, the Albany delegation prepared to head to the Indianapolis Conference Center for the session. However, the departure time came with no shuttle buses showing up.

After waiting more than an hour, it was apparent that the group wasn't going to make it to the opening session.

Replacement

Then young people stepped forward. They organized games and led the community-builders. They obtained a CD player from the hotel staff, pooled their collections and held their own dance.

And they shared. Some shared stories about past NCYC experiences. Others shared their faith stories. All of them shared something much more profound: community. They were witnesses of what it means to share their gifts and talents, reaching out with compassion and understanding, and caring for one another.

Good opening

* "If we had gone to the opening session of the Conference, we would have met a lot of different people, but we would have never really gotten to know each other;"

* "It brought us closer together; we really got to know each other;"

* "I got to meet people I might not have met if we hadn't stayed at the hotel."

In the words of Mary Harrison, associate director for youth ministry in the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, "the young people made lemonade out of lemons." (LP)

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