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NATIONAL CATHOLIC YOUTH CONFERENCE (NCYC)
The NCYC is the largest Catholic youth gathering in the U.S. The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is an exciting, biennial three-day experience of prayer, community, and empowerment for Catholic teenagers and their adult chaperones. The schedule includes general sessions and workshops addressing a wide variety of topics as well as opportunities for reconciliation, daily liturgy, and special activities such as concerts, a dance, and comedy club. The thematic park is a unique venue incorporating traditional exhibits with interactive educational and recreational activities.
Click here to be directed to the Photos & Reflections section of this page. Thoughts from Blessed Trinity in Orlando... Thoughts from Resurrection in Lakeland ... Thoughts from teens from Prince of Peace who attended the National Catholic Youth Conference 2009: “I laughed, I prayed, and I lost my voice praising the Lord in song. Thank you so much for your support!” —Grace, age 15. Read more... From St. John Vianney...What part of NCYC impacted you and how will you use that to impact others or yourself? Read more... From St. Peter and Paul... Our parish gifted our youth the opportunity to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference known as NCYC. As a way of thanking all of you who supported us in prayer, service and financially the youth have written the following reflections so that you may come to share in the fruits of your prayer, service and financial support. Read more...
Youth Reporter - Click here to view videos from our youth reporter...
Youth Reporter - Click here to view videos from our youth reporter... Savanna - Kansas City was beautiful and we all had an outstanding, moving experience while there. It was such an overwhelming, powerful feeling when I saw that innumerable amount of people in the Sprint Center. It took my breath away to hear the shouts of joy and love for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit echoing around the large arena! The hair on my arms raised up when all 24,000 or more people prayed the Our Father in unison. Talissa - I boarded the plane to Kansas City thinking nothing more could be said about my faith and the way I was living my life. However, I come back to Orlando with the biggest change in my heart. It was so incredible being in NCYC and seeing the youth, adults and ministers come together to sing and shout for a common bond we all hold dear to our hearts: Our bond with God. David - The experience of NCYC was magical, amazing, awesome, empowering, and there are so many words that I could use to describe this experience but could never find the right one. I give thanks to God for allowing me and my peers to attend this event. This was a life changing experience. My faith is as strong as ever, burning inside my heart, and my soul rejoices in God’s glory. I wish that everyone in the whole wide world could go through such a wonderful experience and feel the same things I felt during NCYC. I encourage all youth to attend NCYC because it is a life changing experience and it will help you grow in your faith. I will always cherish the memories of NCYC in my heart, and will try to live every day like an NCYC experience; worshiping, praying and thanking God for everything. Greg (Adult Ministry Team Member) - The magnitude of seeing 24,000 teenagers praising our God through song, dance and smiles was truly amazing. I am so appreciative of having the opportunity to be a part of this life-changing weekend. From the bottom of my heart I want to say thank you for generously sponsoring this event and for making it possible for so many of our teens to see the face of Jesus through their peers. I have a renewed hope that our Catholic identity will continue to expand on the shoulders of our teen pilgrims. They have each committed to keep spreading the Good News by seeking ways to be part of the solution of the problems facing our world today. Words cannot express how lucky I am to be a parishioner of Blessed Trinity and how thankful I am to be able to guide, nourish, and model the Gospel for these young adolescents. Christ Reigns!!
Nora -
Two years ago my life changed extremely... my father, who is my biggest role model, was diagnosed with cancer. I felt my whole life flip upside down. My family had never experienced such a huge illness so close to home. I had no idea what to do, and I began to turn away from what mattered the most, such as church, family, and friends. Thoughts from teens from Prince of Peace who attended the National Catholic Youth Conference 2009:
What part of NCYC impacted you and how will you use that to impact others or yourself? Erin - Focus area was adoration – Resulting Activity will join singing for Wed Sac Prep Choir Brandi – Focus on the ‘meaning of love = ultimate respect – Resulting Activity is to increase level of respect for family members (specifics ??) Marybeth – Focus was on Chastity talk and Adoration (using the presence of Christ to make better decisions) Resulting Activity will participate more in singing, since singing is a way to praise. Join a choir (?) plus really participate when in congregation. Will pray better with an ‘expectation’ of an answer! Michael – focus area was Silence – Resulting Activity is to set aside specific time at home in ‘his’ place in his room to experience God in the silence and hear God speak. Elijah – Focus was on Greenhouse and relationship to poverty – Resulting Activity was to get more involved in recycling at school, study more about carbon footprints. Lindsay – supported Elijah in this Focus area - her Resulting Activity was to find a way to educate people about recycling (awareness). Lauren – focus on the Reality vs Fantasy talk – Resulting Activity is to be more critical of TV and actually stop watching some of the reality TV shows. Anthony – Focus area was Quiet time – Resulting Activity was to set aside specific time to pray (PLUS concept from the ‘You’ve Got Game’ talk.) Kathryn – Focus Area was bringing people to Christ – Resulting Activity was to make better effort to share her faith. Will invite her friend back to church and/or youth group; or ask to go to her church. Maybe even have an opportunity to pray with her. Dustin – Focus Area was a more spiritual connection to the Eucharist – Resulting Activity was to learn more about Eucharist maybe by reading each gospel for its viewpoint or other resources. A service activity would be good. Jarrad – Focus Area was how well we praised Jesus and how Christ can be used in everything we do. An example would be for sports where we did P.L.U.S. that was pretty neat to me and how people use everyday things to bring us closer to Christ. – Resulting Activity is TBD. Victoria – The part of NCYC that I benefited from was the Chastity class by Jason and Crystalina Evert. This class and the whole experience is something I will take with me where ever I go and share it with whoever comes my way.
Our parish gifted our youth the opportunity to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference known as NCYC. As a way of thanking all of you who supported us in prayer, service and financially the youth have written the following reflections so that you may come to share in the fruits of your prayer, service and financial support. Jessica - NCYC 2009 was so enlightening! Just seeing over 20,000 teens loving and worshiping our Lord gave me a since of wholeness and meaning that I have only felt once before. It was an experience of a lifetime! God’s presence there was clearly visible in the faces of His children from all over the country. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was one of my favorite parts. There was such a presence and glory the whole time. Now, you can imagine … over 20,000 teenagers there … in complete silence and prayer would be hard to accomplish, right? Now, also having everyone participate would be too hard right? WRONG! Throughout the conference we experienced silence when we listened to the speakers, silence and reverence during prayer. During Praise and Worship music … COMPLETE participation, during prayer COMPLETE participation. It was so awesome! Every time I saw the Eucharist tears come to me eyes. Whenever the speakers talked I was in awe of their complete honesty and truth. You could see their sincerity in their eyes. I could just relate to everything that they said so well. It was crazy. This weekend also, God showed me what I need to change in my life and I truly intend to! This weekend, they talked about love, sex, death, hope, faith, life and God and His relationship to us and through these topics. This weekend, everything they said touched my heart. The amount of LOVE that was at the conference is unexplainable! I’m still in awe about it. it wasn’t all serious through it was FUN! Of course we all laughed because of my clumsiness, we laughed at Zucchinis speed, and we laughed about Erick and his buttons. We laughed with joy and so much love. We clapped and danced, we praised God! I can honestly say that I think everyone had a fantabulous time! I would recommend NCYC to anyone who can go! Cayla - This was a great experience for me. I learned a lot. My favorite thing was the talk on chastity by Jason and Christalina. They really touched me because they came together through God and I’m having problems with this too. So hearing them, they are changing my life. That was the most powerful thing to me and I wish I could hear them every day. This whole weekend touched me in some way but that part was the most amazing for me. I love coming to NCYC and meeting new people from different places. It’s a great way to communicate better. I’m not going in 2011 I wish I could but the two times that I went were so awesome. Melissa - These past days have completely changed my life. God has shown me the joy and purity He wants me to feel. During adoration as I closed my eyes something snapped inside of me. And at that very moment I felt like this huge tsunami of love had washed over me. I never really paid attention to the words of Christian music but the songs they sang were words sent straight from God and hit me like a semi truck. I have never truly understood how great Gods love for me truly is but now I do. I now know that no matter what I’m going through, no matter how hurt or depressed I am, God will be hurting with me and will pick me up when I’m down even when no one else will. This weekend I confessed something that I had been holding on for over two years and that was staining my soul. For the first time I went to reconciliation willingly and I let out everything that I had done that was not of God. I walked out of the room a new person and finally found peace inside me. I never would have done that without NCYC. Also, on this trip I truly felt Jesus in the Eucharist and I knew in my heart He was there and that it was Him walking into the stadium for the first time I felt His pure presence and it blew my mind. To be a teenager and walk into the mass of 25,000 catholic teens that are praising the Lord from the depths of their heart is the most comforting thing I felt in a while. Being a faithful teenage has been getting harder and harder for me lately but now I am encouraged to share my faith and Gods love with anyone who will listen. Without this trip I would be going downhill so I thank God for bringing us all together and anyone who helped put NCYC together. I know God is rejoicing over the new pure life I have started and the many lives changed. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Christ Reigns. Each trip we make a top ten list most of time you need to talk to the kids who went on the retreat to fully understand but it because they tool for sharing they experiences with others. So here is are top ten list from NCYC 2009:
Turner - Hello, this weekend at NCYC was probably the best weekend of my life. Now I
am sure that there will be other ones during my pilgrimage of life but at this
moment it was the best.
Begin planning now to join us for the next NCYC Pilgrimage in Indianapolis in 2011. Registration will be begin in Fall of 2010. |
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