11-25-07
11-25-07
Local youth, adults find NCYC ‘amazing, awesome’
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNS)—During the National Catholic Youth Conference in Columbus Nov. 8-10, about 20, 000 youths had the chance to sing, pray, ask questions about their faith, meet new people and even play dodge ball.
“Amazing” and “awesome” were two of the most common descriptions local attendees – adults and teens - had for the NCYC.
“It was life-changing,” said Jackie Gentry, youth minister at Nativity of Our Savior, Portage, which sent seven representatives to the conference.
“It was amazing to see just the change in our young people in such a short time,” Gentry added, citing local youths’ “desire to share their faith more openly. They know it’s OK to believe what they believe in and to express that with other people.”
That expression, she said, included Nativity youth members wearing T-shirts that read “I’m a Catholic” in a public school.
Nathaniel Scott, 15, from Sacred Heart, Wanatah, recalled “so many people having a bunch of fun learning about our Catholic faith.”
Scott’s group called itself the “Holy Cows” and brought cow related items to share and trade with other youth at the conference. “We had some really cool stuff to trade,” Scott said.
Bishop Matthew H, Clark of Rochester, N.Y., told participants during the closing ceremony that he hoped the experience was a “profoundly confirming time for you and an expression of the deep love of the church for you.”
“And I hope that when you return, you share your experience and tell how your being together in these wonderful days in Columbus has spoken to your heart. The folks back home are very anxious to hear what you have learned and shared about Christ,” he added.
The Washington-based National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry was the conference’s sponsor, and the Columbus Diocese was the conference host.
The Rochester bishop also addressed the sadness that overshadowed the conference because of the death of conference participant Veronica Gantt, 16, of Las Vegas, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Columbus on Nov. 8
“There has been cause for tears among us through the weekend,” Bishop Clark said.
“I have also seen you laugh, be inspired to dance, break into marvelous song, and extend kindness, care and consideration not just to one another, but to the arena staff and the people of Columbus. You have been able to wrap your arms around that which is painful and that which is beautiful,” he told them.
During question-and-answer sessions with the youths, Bishop Clark was joined by seven other bishops who were asked about temptation, heaven, vocations, celibacy, contraception, the Latin-language Mass and the war in Iraq, among other topics.
Among the clergy at NCYC was Bishop Dale J. Melczek, who celebrated Mass with the local delegation and spent time with area teens.
Kevin Driscoll, diocesan director of the Office for Youth and Young Adults, said the 50-plus attendees represented one of the largest contingents ever from this diocese, which has sent groups to NCYC since 1989.
“NCYC is a showcase for everything that’s right about Church,” Driscoll said. “Teens struggling to find God in the world are reminded there are others who love Christ and aren’t afraid to show it. They often return home ready to evangelize and show others what it means to be a proud Catholic teen.”
Silvia Cuevas, 17, a junior at Bishop Noll Institute, noted, “Church has never been so cool before.” She recalled walking down the street with other youth and walking into the arena, carrying banners and chanting, “God is good, all the time.”
Daniel Arroyo, 15, from St. Mary, Griffith, said it was overwhelming “seeing 20,000 teenagers go to Mass together at the same time…just meeting people from other states and my own state that I didn’t know before.”
A Calumet High School sophomore, Arroyo also noted “the love that was there -everyone was just incredibly nice and there was no malice. Everyone was happy to be there.”
Participants also had the chance to discuss bullying, dating, sharing the faith with family and friends, Catholic social teaching, deepening one’s faith, stress management and tragedy in a variety of panel discussions and workshops.
The workshop on bullying dealt with how to respond to a bully without becoming one and how body language may cause some people to become targets for bullying.
“Kids who have strong relationships with God seem less likely to get bullied,” said workshop presenter Terry Clark of the St. Thomas Center in Des Moines, Iowa. “They are self-assured, walking with God. If you want to feel less bullied, look up, smile, act like you’re happy to be alive. Act like you’re a son of God.”
Among those who took Clark’s message to heart was Nativity’s Jeff Gratt. A Portage High School junior, Gratt, 17, was a victim of bullying. On Dec 1 he will be speaking at a retreat on the effects of bullying and how to cope with this situation.
As did other youth, Gratt said it was “amazing to see 23,000 people in one arena, worshipping, praying, all together.” Recalling the prayers for the teen who was killed, he was also impressed that “everyone in the arena could be respectful and praying for her and her family at the same time.”
During the conference there were also daily liturgies, time to pray in an adoration chapel and opportunities to receive the sacrament of reconciliation, Another highlight was a theme park which featured displays from many Catholic organizations and included a series of Webcasts with youths from India, El Salvador and the Philippines.
Gentry, noting that Nativity is already “making plans for Kansas City in 2009” for the next NCYC, said the first-time experience “renewed my energy.”
Steve Euvino contributed to this story.