It’s part rock concert, part youth rally, with a pair of inspiring speakers, and all set in a distinctly Catholic setting. The latest National Catholic Youth Conference took place last week in Long Beach, CA and for the nearly 80 teens who attended from the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, it did not disappoint.
Teens from St. Viator stood out with their cowboy hats.
The stated mission of the youth conference is to allow participants to encounter Christ, experience church and be empowered for discipleship. This year’s mission was El Camino: The Way.
The event is sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. It began in 1983 as a regional conference and grew into a national conference in 1991. Today, NCYC serves the young church as the biggest Catholic youth conference in the country.
Students came from Bishop Gorman High School, Cristo Rey St. Viator and St. Viator Catholic Community, but they came with their parishes. Teens at St. Viator Parish have attended NCYC for years, including at the original site in Indianapolis, where it happens every two years and draws more than 12,000 young people.
They also attended the West Coast edition when it started in 2022. This expansion conference now occurs on alternate years from the Indy site, allowing teens to attend this life-changing experience every year. The Long Beach conference also makes it much more accessible for students in the western part of the country.
Associate Rosy Hartz gathers with a small group, in prayer.
Associates Rosy Hartz and Deborah Perez attended as chaperones for the St. Viator group, along with Pre-Associate Cathy Flynn and Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, who experienced NCYC for the first time.
“Seeing the energy of 3,000 Catholic young people was amazing. The faith of these students showed through their interactions at the workshops and the general sessions,” Fr. Dan said. “And for me, it renewed my commitment to working as a Viatorian in ministering to the youth.”
Rosy agreed, adding that despite returning year after year with her youth ministry students, the impact of these conferences never gets old.
Fr. Dan Belanger talks with some of the delegates.
“I hope the biggest impact is that they see that God loves them as they are,” Rosy says. “Viatorians will walk with them and know that they matter. We are all part of the journey. El Camino, we truly are united on the way.”