Local teens join thousands at U.S. Catholic youth gathering

Special to The Record

The Record - 

More than 17,000 young Catholics came together in Atlanta last weekend for the biannual gathering of the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC). While the four-day gathering offered teen-agers a variety of workshops and programs, what the youth seem to appreciate most was the opportunity to meet other Catholics like themselves from dioceses around the country.

"At NCYC, I made many new friends from other parts of the country who I hope to be friends with long into the future," said Dorice Beausejour, a member of St. Martin de Porres Church and one of 150 teens from the Archdiocese of Louisville to attend the conference.

Chase Lloyd, a student from DeSales High School echoed Beausejour's thoughts.

"Some of my favorite memories are the chances I had to meet all the other teen-agers from all over my country, and the thought that they were all like I am," said Lloyd.

Carole Goodwin, director of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of Louisville, said such encounters "help young people feel a connection to their Catholic identity."

"This conference helped our young people realize how powerful it is to belong to a faith community that cares about them and others; that it's 'cool' to praise God and that one can be proud to be Catholic," said Goodwin, who was one of 34 adults on the trip from Louisville.

The young Archdiocese of Louisville delegates to NCYC "were focused, enthusiastic and prayerful," Goodwin noted. "And they also had fun."

The Louisville group attended workshops on vocations, prayer, dating, morality and other topics. They took part in a question and answer session with eight bishops from U.S. dioceses.

Crowds of youth spilled out into the convention hallway in between keynote presentations as they waited to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. One room offered opportunities to experience various forms of prayer - from listening to a high school Taizé choir to praying the rosary. Handfuls of people at a time also took a moment to pray silently before the Blessed Sacrament during eucharistic adoration.

Delegates from the Louisville archdiocese also visited "Peachtree Village" - a display of more than 350 booths and exhibits on such topics as spirituality and community outreach. It also included a meditative garden, labyrinth and stations where the teens could do such service projects such as sewing patchwork blankets for babies and filling backpacks with school supplies for needy children.

Joe Della Bella, a senior at St. Xavier High School, called the weekend an "amazing experience" that his peers must try to attend.

"Even people who are not Catholic," he said. "It's not all about being Catholic but how we can make a difference in the world."

A veteran of youth conferences in her 12 years as a youth minister at St. Pius X Church, Vicky Chism hoped the event inspired the teens.

"It's a large church experience that really fires kids up," said Chism, whose daughter, Amanda, also attended. "My hope is that it put fire in their bellies and that they will take their light out into the world and share that."

Beyond the myriad activities available for young people, Beausejour said that the group liturgies were her favorite part of NCYC.

"The Mass was my favorite activity because the youth lead the music and readings, and that made the Mass connect more with young people," Beausejour said. "Mostly, I loved being with other Catholic youth who understand my faith and what I am about."

Young people came to the conference from dioceses around the country that are divided into 14 regions. The Louisville archdiocese is in Region Five which includes dioceses in Mississippi and Louisiana hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In the midst of the conference activities, delegates from Region Five had the opportunity to meet with those from the storm-struck areas. Survivors shared their personal stories and prayers with the group, Goodwin said.

They also heard from Archbishop Alfred C. Hughes of New Orleans about Hurricane Katrina's effects on his diocese. Dioceses in the region plan to reunite in service work this Christmas, spring and summer to help those affected by the storms.

Dioceses attending NCYC also were asked to help those affected by the storms attend the conference. Some dioceses paid for lodging, and others helped defray such costs as transportation and meals. The Archdiocese of Louisville provided lunch for the 50 conference delegates from Diocese of Biloxi, Miss., on Oct. 28, said Goodwin