When 58 Catholic high school-aged young people and their adult chaperones from around the Diocese gather in Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference, here’s an idea of what they can expect.
From Nov. 20-22, they’ll get to hear inspiring messages from well-known Catholic speakers; attend Mass and Eucharistic Adoration with thousands of their peers from around the country; participate in praise and worship led by award-winning artists, and best of all will be participating in a “digital encounter” with Pope Leo XIV.
“In an era where the digital and spiritual life intersect, the Holy Father is breaking new ground,” said Dan Waddington, director of the diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
“For the first time ever, a Pope will engage directly with young people at NCYC, and for Pope Leo XIV, this will be his first-ever digital dialogue with young people in the United States.”
During the encounter, the Pope will engage in a 45-minute real-time dialogue with the young people gathered in Lucas Oil Stadium and with thousands more joining from around the world via livestream,” Waddington explained. The dialogue will begin at 10:15 a.m. and broadcast globally by Eternal Word Television Network.
“The Holy Father will listen and respond as young people share their hopes, struggles and faith,” Waddington said. “It’s a moment that says to every young person: ‘your voice matters in the life of the Church.’”
Overall, Waddington said NCYC promises to be a “powerfully, unique experience of prayer, community, evangelization, catechesis, service and empowerment for teenagers and their chaperones.”
“NCYC is the premier Catholic youth event on a national scale that gathers people from all across American for a life-changing encounter with Christ,” he said. What adds to its significance is that “it creates a space for them to come together and can share their faith openly and proudly and truly feel connected to our Church as they are surrounded by so many other young people who are just like them,” he said. “It is my hope that those attending NCYC will have an encounter experience with Jesus, meeting him through the power of the Sacraments, the talks, music, prayer and the sheer power of so many Catholic teens coming together to celebrate who they are as the young Church.”
As the Diocese’s NCYC contingent readies for their Nov. 19 departure date, Waddington said he is excited about the increase in number of attendees from the 2023 conference. It’s also his hope that for teens unable to attend NCYC, they can participate in “watch parties” in their schools. Waddington is working with the diocesan Department of Catholic Schools to encourage schools to host “watch parties” so that middle school and high schoolers can watch the encounter with Holy Father.
“I hope this year will be a life-changing experience for our young people and they come home on fire for their faith, ready to live it more intentionally and to bring that energy to their youth groups and parishes,” Waddington said.