Youths from the Diocese of Davenport participate in the 2023 National Catholic Youth Conference at Lucas Oil Stadium and Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Parish leaders are beginning to discern whether to take groups to the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference. “If you have any thoughts about going to NCYC, this is the time to think about and pray about going,” said Trevor Pullinger, diocesan director of Faith Formation and coordinator of Catechesis.
More than 300 youths and 130 adults from the Diocese of Davenport participated in the 2023 National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. Diocesan attendees, in an optional post-conference survey, identified adoration, Masses, homilies and music as highlights. Most participants indicated a desire to attend future conferences and said they would recommend the conference to others. Pullinger describes NCYC as a pilgrimage and said, “… an overwhelming majority of survey respondents found it to be a valuable and meaningful experience.”
The next biannual conference will take place Nov. 20-22, 2025 at Lucas Oil Stadium and Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The Davenport Diocese will have access to discounted group tickets in about two months and hopes to have an estimated number of attendees by late October, Pullinger said. The projected cost per youth is about $725, which includes travel by bus, admission, lodging and breakfast. The diocese offers four-part payment plans to parishes. Qualifying youths can apply for full or partial scholarships.
It is important for parishes to begin thinking about NCYC because of the planning involved, said Luke Gregory, director of faith formation and senior high youth ministry for Sacred Heart Parish in Newton. He has accompanied youths at past conferences and is looking ahead to 2025. “NCYC is not cheap by any means, so if a parish is considering attending NCYC, planning early will help give the leader an idea how much fundraising will need to happen to send their delegation, and time to raise those funds.” Planning early helps families and leaders as well. “There are a lot of forms and legalities that go into sending a group to NCYC, so being able to stretch it out over a period of time is helpful.”
The spiritual formation of participants is just as important, said group leader Angie Goodwin. “Early planning allows leaders to intentionally build a sense of community among the teens, fostering stronger relationships and preparing their hearts for the faith-deepening experience NCYC offers.” Goodwin accompanied participants from St. James Parish in Washington and Holy Family Parish of Riverside, Richmond and Wellman in 2023. St. Thomas More Parish in Coralville will join her group for 2025. Goodwin leads youth ministry for the three parishes.
Approximately 40 adult leaders from diocesan parishes gathered with Pullinger on Zoom last month to pray about and discuss details of the upcoming conference. A second round of virtual discernment sessions took place Sept. 9. A future workshop will focus on fundraising and promotional materials.
Goodwin believes the sessions are “a great platform for sharing ideas, receiving updates, and staying on track with planning, all while fostering a sense of community among the leaders.” She appreciates the accessibility and flexibility of the Zoom sessions. “The discussions have been productive and the guidance from the diocese has been clear and supportive, which helps keep everyone aligned and focused on our common goals.”
To view past sessions or for more information about the next session, contact Pullinger at pullinger@davenportdiocese.org. “We want to help the group leaders to be successful in cultivating relationships with youths” and making NCYC a positive pilgrimage experience, he said.
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