On the first day of the National Catholic Youth Conference, pilgrims from the Diocese of Rochester worshipped together before joining youths and chaperones from around the country in downtown Indianapolis on Thursday, Nov. 21.
Bishop Emeritus Matthew H. Clark celebrated Mass for the more than 500 diocesan pilgrims in a ballroom at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel early in the afternoon before they boarded 10 buses to travel to the Indiana Convention Center. Once there, group leaders took their pilgrims on a tour so that they would be ready to find sessions Friday morning, and many participated in a eucharistic procession from a downtown church to a temporary chapel in the convention center.
The night ended in Lucas Oil Stadium, where roughly 22,000 pilgrims from around the country gathered to hear from emcee Jesse Manibusan, Christian musicians Israel Houghton and Matt Maher, and Indianapolis Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne.
(Click here to view more photos from this event and/or buy prints.)
A eucharistic procession goes through the Indiana Convention Center Nov. 21 at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. The procession began at St. John’s Church and ended in the chapel set up in the convention center.
Bishop Emeritus Matthew H. Clark delivers a homily during the Diocese of Rochester’s opening Mass Nov. 21 at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel on the first day of the National Catholic Youth Conference.
(left to right) Jenna Brooks, Celina Rescott, Judy Rescott, Maggie Flurschutz and Mallory Colella dance and sing-along to “By the Love of God,” the 2013 theme song for NCYC.
Matt Maher performs for about 22,000 youth and adult pilgrims during the opening ceremony of the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Alyssa Goodness (left) and Brystol Cook, 17-year-olds from St. Rita in Webster, do hand motions taught by emcee Jesse Manibusan while he performs a song during the opening ceremony of the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 21.
Pilgrims from the Diocese of Rochester bow their heads to receive a blessing from Auxiliary Bishop Christopher J. Coyne of Indianapolis at the end of the opening ceremony of the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 21.
Wearing a cow hat, 14-year-old Ashley Guerra from Church of the Transfiguration in Pittsford dances during the warmup act before the opening ceremony of the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Matt Maher performs for about 22,000 youth and adult pilgrims during the opening ceremony of the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 21 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Martha Rinella (from left), Liz Hollebrandt and Yvonne MacTaggart of St. Michael Parish in Newark watch the doors of St. John’s Church in Indianapolis while waiting for a eucharistic procession to begin Nov. 21.
Alyssa Gambuerta dances to music played by DJ Bill during a dance for Diocese of Rochester pilgrims Nov. 21 at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel.
Chris Franco waves his cell phone in the air to give off light as the crowd was encouraged to do by Israel Houghton, the first musician to perform during the opening ceremony of the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 21.
Bishop Emeritus Matthew H. Clark and Deacon John Brasley celebrate the Eucharist during the Diocese of Rochester’s opening Mass Nov. 21 at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel on the first day of the National Catholic Youth Conference.
