National Catholic Youth Conference 2023
Fun and faith combine to create a ‘Fully Alive’ celebration at NCYC
Teens from the Diocese of Gary, Ind., laugh on Nov. 18 during the homily of the closing Mass of the National Catholic Youth Conference in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)
“You’re not a problem to be solved, you are a mystery to be encountered.”
Those words shared by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson during the opening session of the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) on Nov. 16 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis set the tone for a three-day gathering of faith for more than 12,000 teenagers, chaperones, clergy, religious, speakers and volunteers. That phrase was repeated several times during the weekend.
The archbishop’s message tied in with the gathering’s theme, “Fully Alive,” where young people were reminded that they are called to be disciples who let the light of Christ shine through them in all they say and do.
Archbishop Thompson reminded the teens that each of them is defined by their identity in Christ, whose body, blood, soul and divinity is present in the Eucharist.
“The Eucharist has been given to us through the passion, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ so that we have life, that we have what is necessary to be witnesses to the good news, what it means to be fully alive,” he said.
“We are most fully alive when we live our lives not with ourselves at the center, but keeping Christ at the center. We are fully alive when we live for the glory of God and in service to others.”
The teens were reminded several times during the weekend that Jesus loves them and wants to have a relationship with them.
During a Mass on Nov. 17 at St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis, Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski, an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Md., told young people, “Jesus only wants one thing from you—make him the love of your life!”
In today’s ever-growing secularistic world, we know that charge is no easy task.
In his homily at the closing Mass on Nov. 18, Bishop Joseph A. Espaillat, an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, implored his young listeners to take up the mission given to them by Christ in their baptism.
“We are the now of God,” he said. “NCYC, we are counting on you. Jesus started with 12 Apostles. We have 12,000 here today. So, we can change the world!”
“God bless you. God keep you. May he continue to let his face shine upon you. And always remember: have faith, have fun while you’re doing it,” Bishop Espaillat continued. “And remember, hold on to the Church, because the Church is holding on to you.”
We hope the stories and photos featured on pages 1B-12B in this week’s issue of The Criterion paint a portrait of a young Church that is serving as a beacon of light in a troubled world.
For more photos from the conference, click here.
And we pray that you enjoy the young people’s stories, their enthusiasm and their passion for our shared faith.
—Mike Krokos, editor
