Approximately 700 teens from the Diocese of Rochester will soon head south to the National Catholic Youth Conference, scheduled for Oct. 27-30 in Atlanta, Ga.
NCYC combines a spiritual mix of keynote presentations, concerts, prayer services, discussions and other activities. Organizers expect a total attendance of around 17,000.
Bishop Matthew H. Clark will join the diocesan contingent in Atlanta. Rochester traditionally has one of the largest groups of any diocese in the country at the NCYC, which is held every two years.
Michael Theisen, diocesan director of youth ministry, said this year’s total of 700 “just builds on the tradition of this event as a pilgrimage of faith. Parishes use this as a big-event opportunity to journey together in faith.”
Theisen noted that parish youths form bonds leading up to the NCYC with such activities as meetings, prayer services and fundraisers. He described the conference as “a mountaintop experience, where they go and become transformed. Then they return to their parishes with the good news, with their enthusiasm and faith.”
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