Bishop Thomas Zinkula signs Centerville youth Jaden Ashby’s cape at National Catholic Youth Conference last month.
Aside from the kind-of-a-long bus ride and dearth of sleep for a couple of nights, I appreciate NCYC for a number of reasons. I enjoy being around and interacting with young people — their energy, enthusiasm, joy, spontaneity. This is magnified 20,000-fold in a stadium filled with that many of them.
Jesus said he is present when two or three are gathered together in his name, so he is REALLY present at NCYC. I try to connect with as many young people from the diocese as possible because a personal encounter with the bishop seems to humanize the church for them.
The excellent liturgies, talks, music, breakout sessions, etc. are inspirational. NCYC is well worth the time and trouble if it is a significant religious turning point for even a few young people. I hope and pray — and I am pretty sure — that it touches the minds and hearts of many more than that.
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