NCYC: The Cool Catholic Church!

by Ken Canedo

(From October 17, 2005 — en route to Atlanta)

In 1999, I participated in my first National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Saint Louis, Missouri. I was going as an OCP Publications (now spiritandsong.com) artist to perform at a couple of events to support the release of the groundbreaking Spirit & Song contemporary Catholic songbook. I heard a lot about NCYC from my friends Jesse Manibusan and Tom Booth, and I was really looking forward to the event.

Nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming sweep of NCYC! I knew there was something special in the air as soon as the airport shuttle dropped me off at my downtown hotel. The sidewalks were literally shoulder-to-shoulder with teenagers, surely an alarming prospect for city officials. But the young crowd was mellow as they walked toward the arena.

"God is good!" a large group of teens yelled out from one side of the street, easily stretching out across several city blocks. "All the time!" replied their equally boisterous counterparts on the other side. I smiled and thought this was going to be a cool couple of days!

I was impressed by the sheer number of young people. They literally took over the downtown area! Inside the arena, as the conference events unfolded, there was a tangible sense of identity and belonging. Here we were, almost 20,000 strong, from diverse parishes across the vast expanse of North America. And yet we were united in our enthusiasm, our common Catholic faith, and our devotion to prayer, great music, and the Eucharist.

NCYC offers Catholic teens an opportunity to experience the universal church in an exciting and energizing way. It's so easy to think of "church" as just being our local parish. NCYC helps our young people to be truly inspired by the "breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love" (Ephesians 3:18), as shared by the contagious fellowship of like-minded teenagers. It's cool to be Catholic!

NCYC binds us all together through stirring speakers, energetic rallies, creative prayer services, uplifting music concerts, and social interaction between the young people. Indeed, making new friends with other Catholic teens from around the continent is a highlight of the conference as young people exchange gifts, e-mail addresses, and good will with each other. Everyone goes home strengthened by these new bonds of friendship.

More than anything else, what really impresses me most is the massive celebration of the Eucharist in the sports arena. I've been to three NCYCs since 1999 and I never cease to be moved by the way tens of thousands of people make the Sign of the Cross together at the start of the closing liturgy. In John 17:20-23, Christ prayed for unity among his disciples, "that all may be one." At NCYC, Jesus' heartfelt wish becomes a reality.

I'm bringing several teens from my youth group to NCYC in Atlanta next week, and I can't wait to share this wonderful experience of the universal church with them. If you're heading to Atlanta we look forward to meeting you!

Of course, where would NCYC be without a rousing theme song? This year Curtis Stephan and Jesse Manibusan have composed a gem that perfectly captures the spirit of this event. Be sure to check it out now so you'll be ready to sing it with everyone there.

Winds of change come rearrange us
Inspire desire spirit change us
To praise God, honor, adore
We bless God best by blessing the poor
Stand strong in faith standing for truth
In the face of the storm what can we do
Call on the one who calls us by name
To carry the message on the winds of change.

Jukebox: Winds of Change