The National Catholic Youth Conference in Columbus, Ohio has come and gone, with its awesome mix of youth group bonding, faith sharing, rockin' music, new friends, inspiring Eucharist, and pure fun. For over 20,000 Catholic teens, NCYC delivered on its promise as an unforgettable celebration of the young universal Church.

But for one teenager, NCYC was her gateway to eternal life, under sad and heartbreaking circumstances.

Veronica Gantt, 16, from the Diocese of Las Vegas, was walking on Olentangy River Road with her youth group to catch a late night snack at the local McDonald's. Without warning, a speeding car careened into the group. Veronica died at the scene.

A quiet pall permeated the Greater Columbus Convention Center as news of the tragedy spread. The NCYC executive team reached out to support the Las Vegas youth, who decided to go home immediately.

Veronica participated in the One Bread, One Cup youth liturgy conference at St. Meinrad, Indiana last summer, and the many OBOC alumni at NCYC found each other to pray and talk things through. At Thursday night's Opening Session in Nationwide Arena, NCYC Executive Director Bob McCarty offered words of comfort and encouraged the teens and adult chaperones to continue with NCYC in Veronica's memory.

Bob said he talked with Veronica's friends after she was killed and they described her as "a person of joy, a person who loved life, a person who loved her friends, a person who loved her God."

Once again, tragedy has touched our lives and evil has raised its ugly head. For such a thing to happen at a usually joy-filled youth conference only begs the question: Why?

And again, the answer remains the same: We don't know why. We can only be there for each other, hold each other, and fall back on our faith.

That faith tells us that Veronica now lives eternally in the arms of our loving God. But Veronica's family, friends and youth group will be pondering the "why" for a long time. Let us pray for them and send them props of love.

In Every Age, O God, you have been our refuge.
In every age, O God, you have been our hope . . .

News account from The Columbus Dispatch