 Diocese sends teens, youth to National Catholic Youth Conference Contact: Kevin Driscoll FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / NOVEMBER, 2007 The trip was coordinated by the Diocese of Gary Office for Youth & Young Adults, and was one of the largest contingents ever for the diocese, which has been sending groups to NCYC since 1989. Over 20,000 youth and youth ministry leaders attended the 2007 event. All fifty states were represented at NCYC. The conference is held every two years for high school youth and is coordinated by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. A variety of Catholic issues and topics are addressed by rousing keynote speakers and workshop presenters, and teens also can experience a wide array of music and prayer experiences. NCYC 2007 also featured an exhibit area with nearly 150 Catholic organizations. The theme of the 2007 NCYC was “Discover the Way.” The event’s three days had sub themes: “Jesus is the Way,” “Jesus is the Truth,” “Jesus is the Life,” respectively, with talks and workshops developing each sub theme accordingly. Bishop Dale J. Melczek joined the diocesan group in Columbus. He presided over a Mass with the delegation and spent time meeting and greeting the teens. Kevin Driscoll, coordinator of the Office for Youth & Young Adults and trip organizer, is excited about the impact NCYC will have in the participants’ faith lives. “NCYC is a showcase for everything that is right about Church,” said Driscoll. “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.” The following diocesan parishes and Catholic high schools were represented at NCYC: St. Mary, Griffith; St. Peter, La Porte; Nativity of Our Savior, Portage; Sacred Heart, Wanatah; St. Mary, Otis; Our Lady of Consolation, Merrillville; St. Casimir, Hammond; St. Matthias, Crown Point; St. Edward, Lowell; St. Maria Goretti, Dyer; Bishop Noll, Hammond; Andrean, Merrillville. The next two NCYC’s will be held in 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri and 2011 in Indianapolis.. # # # # # |
