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Home > Blog > NCYC Christ Reigns

11/24/2009

Adoration photographs
A parent sent this link of some amazing pictures. They are from the adoration procession, which took place on Friday.
 
I also wanted to remind everyone they can view keynote addresses, workshops and other events from NCYC online by visiting My Catholic Voice.
 
God bless, Elisa : )
Posted at 8:43 AM by Esasky, Elisa | Permalink | Email this Post

11/22/2009

Goodbye Kansas City!

The last group has departed from Kansas City. Will and I are waiting in the terminal for our flight. As we prepare to leave, I wanted to take a moment to thank the many people involved in making our pilgrimage possible.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Bishop Brandt for supporting youth ministry in the Diocese of Greensburg. It is because of his belief in the importance of the young church that we were able to travel to the National Catholic Youth Conference.

Thank you to Robert Sherwin, Managing Director of the Office for Evangelization and Faith Formation. The initial planning for our diocesan contingency began with Bob before I was appointed as Diocesan Youth Ministry Director.

A heartfelt thank you to Jackie Mignogna, support staff for the Office. I have never met a more efficient woman. Jackie takes care of details when you didn't even realize there were details to handle.

I would also like to thank the many pastors across the Diocese who supported their parish contingency, especially those who traveled with us. The support of our pastors and parochial vicars in parish youth ministry is essential to the life of our church. I am so grateful that you realize this and promote youth ministry in your parishes.

This trip would not have been possible without our parish youth ministers and faith formation directors who spent countless hours on planning and logistics. Many of them went with very little sleep this week and were still smiling the entire time.

Thank you to our diocesan IT department. The NCYC Blog was their idea and a wonderful one. Technology is truly amazing. With that, a special thank you to Elisa Esasky, an employee of the IT department, but also the youth minister at St. Barbara in Harrison City.  As a first time blogger, she was very helpful when I ran into "technical difficulties."

A special thank you to my husband, Will Smith, who served as my volunteer assistant and diocesan flag bearer for the last four days. Among the sea of people, we were able to stay together by following the diocesan flag.

I would like to thank the parents. It is because you realize the importance of faith in the life of your children that they were able to attend this conference. I hope that you are able to see Christ through them. Also, thank you to the parents who traveled along with us. Your energy, excitement, patience, cooperation, and sense of humor, all while being completely exhausted, was refreshing.

Finally, to the young church of Greensburg, I say thank you for all that you have shared with me this weekend. You have all been a true blessing in my life. May you feel Christ's love always.

See you in Indianapolis in 2011!

Christ's Peace,

Christie Smith, Diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry

Posted at 6:08 PM by Smith, Christina M | Permalink | Email this Post
Must I leave the mountain?

This has been my fourth NCYC experience. Each time I come to this event, I leave refreshed, renewed and ready to continue doing the Lord's work. For me, NCYC is always exhausting but uplifting, inspiring but tiring, tough but an awesome experience. Each year, I know I will feel the way I feel today. Now that it is time to leave: do I have to leave? Can I stay just a little longer? Can I continue to feel this close to God before the "everyday routine" comes back?

I am sure this is how the disciples felt on the mountain-top when they experienced the transfiguration. Instead of a hotel room, they wanted to put up tents and stay.

But Jesus says no—the mission is at hand and we must attend to it. I am called, and these youth are called, to bring this experience back home. We are called to bring the message of Christ Reigns to those who were not fortunate enough to come along on this pilgrimage. We are called to show how Christ Reigns in our hearts and lives to all who meet us.

Will it be easy? No. Why else would Jesus call his way, the narrow way? It is easy to "go with the flow". It is easy to "do what everyone else is doing". It is easy to "do enough to get by". However, it is difficult to say "this is not right". It is difficult to say "my faith tells me to do this and not that". It is difficult to roll up your sleeves and do the thing that you fear the most. It is difficult to keep our eyes on Jesus when the drudgery of everyday stress beats us down. It is difficult to give everything you've got for God's mission and get "nothing" in return by worldly standards.

This is our call. Christ has no hands or feet but ours. It is time to walk down the mountain and bring Jesus to everyone we meet.

Thank you to the young church in the Diocese of Greensburg for their excellent example of Christ living among us as we made this pilgrimage to NCYC in Kansas City. Now GO!

Will Smith, Mother Of Sorrows Parish, Murrysville

Posted at 1:04 PM by Smith, Christina M | Permalink | Email this Post
Pictures from the Journey

Youth from Mt. St. Peter, New Kensington

Blessed Sacrament Cathedral Parish

Out Closing Liturgy. Msgr. Mike, Fr. Doug, Fr. Bill and Fr. Manchas were in the sea of priests. The kids were so excited when we saw all four of them on the large screen come to the altar. It has been a true blessing to have them make this pilgrimage with the youth of their parishes. What a blessing these men are to us.

Next Stop Greensburg!

Posted at 12:24 PM by Smith, Christina M | Permalink | Email this Post
A Pastor’s Perspective

It is Sunday morning and the 2009 NCYC had come to an end. This was my first experience with this event and I pray there are more ahead. What an experience to see twenty two thousand plus youth gathered together in one place to live, grow and share their Catholic Faith.

What I will remember from this trip will last a long time. I was not only impressed with all the youth present but it has strengthened my faith and added so much to my priesthood. This number of youth have such a positive outlook to Jesus and His Church.

A few thoughts before I return to my hotel room and pack for the trip home. Yesterday (Saturday) the priests were invited to assist with the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I thought it would be a good experience for me and wow was I right. I begin at 12:30 pm. and never stopped until 4:00 pm. A long time, actually the longest I have ever heard confessions for 34 years, but to see the power of God's forgiveness in their lives was amazing.

Another thought, I was standing outside the Sprint Center and speaking to a KC police officer who was on the force for 19 years and he told me how impressed he was with the youth. This is what you want to hear and so often do not. Also to see these young people going up to the police and offering them little gifts and items they had brought with them.

Last evening the youth, adults on the pilgrimage, bishops and priests gathered to celebrate mass on the Feast of Christ the King. Again the praying, singing, enthusiasm that was present. You could feel the presence of Christ in these youth. This brought the NCYC for this year to an end. It also was the time to send these young people out to be the Lord's disciples in the world today.

If you know someone who made this pilgrimage take the time to say God bless you and thanks for being a strong young Catholic. This is not only the future of our Church, it is the Church today. Amen.

God love all of you,

Msgr. Mike Matusak

Pastor, St. Therese Church and with the Uniontown Catholic Youth

PS- The only drawback was sore feet!

Posted at 12:17 PM by Smith, Christina M | Permalink | Email this Post
St. Therese, Uniontown

 

This was my first time going to the National Catholic Youth Conference. It seems like so long ago, I signed up for this at my church. We fundraised numerous times and numerous ways. I had no clue what I was really working for. This experience really exceeded my expectations. I can tell you, I am not one to sing or dance in church, let alone in front of 22,000 or more people. The first session on Thursday, to my surprise, I was singing and dancing, having the time of my life. The speakers, workshops, bands, and masses were truly life changing. I have loved every single bit of this experience. Even though getting up at the crack of dawn and going to bed super late was hard, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I met so many new people from very different backgrounds but my favorite part by far was creating a stronger bond with all of the people from my church. I have truly made memories I will never forget and have learned lessons that I will carry throughout my life. I am so thankful to have done this experience, and thankful to be a Catholic.

Amelia Sikora

St. Therese Church and with the Uniontown Catholic Youth

The National Catholic Youth Conference has been a tradition for my family for eight years now from my older sister Maria to me this year for my second time. It is such an amazing experience that I will carry with me my entire life. The enormous amount of work pays off with the mind blowing songs, speakers, and presentations that I will never see anywhere else. My spirit has been renewed and I cannot thank everyone enough, the people were such a joy to be around.

Love, Diane Reilly

St. Therese Church, Uniontown Catholic Youth in Region 3

The youth from St. Therese Parish.

Posted at 12:15 PM by Smith, Christina M | Permalink | Email this Post
1 Timothy 4:12

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." (1 Timothy 4 :12)

This has always been a favorite passage for me. But, I have never seen it ring more true than it has in the last four days. As we celebrated the Closing Liturgy last night and I looked around at 20,000 of my newest friends in the Sprint Center, I was reminded of this passage. Eighteen Bishops and over 170 priest concelebrated the liturgy. It was a celebration like none I had ever seen before. Bishop Soto of Sacramento gave a beautiful and inspiring homily. We were all touched during this liturgy. It was truly, as it should be, the high point of the conference.

As our young people prepare to return to Greensburg, it is my prayer that they live the challenge given in 1Timothy. It is never easy to "walk the walk". But, if anyone can do it, I believe they can. I will pray for each and every one of our young people. I ask that you do also. May they return back to Greensburg on fire for Christ. May they bring others closer to Christ. I hope that they have been an inspiration to you as you journeyed with us these last few days. I am forever changed by my time with them.

Christ's Peace, Christie Smith

Posted at 9:33 AM by Smith, Christina M | Permalink | Email this Post

11/21/2009

Love, Niki and Megan!

The NCYC trip is amazing, because you get to interact with thousands of other Catholics your age. It's amazing to see everybody singing, dancing, and clapping at the same time! Everybody is so nice and we have made a lot of new friends from all over the Country, what an amazing experience!

Niki Patterson and Meghan King, St. Barbara Parish, Harrison City.

Posted at 6:29 PM by Esasky, Elisa | Permalink | Email this Post
Images of NCYC

The concurrent session with Fr. Tony Ricard. He spoke during Friday afternoon. The municipal auditorium was jam packed. His famous topic - "Don't Be stupid!"

The closing session from Friday night with the youth animators. There performances are powerful.

You bet he does! He reigns forever!

Happy chaperones from St. Barbara Parish. We send a shout out to the parish staff and parish family from Fr. Doug and company! : )

St. Joseph Parish at the morning session.

Posted at 5:44 PM by Esasky, Elisa | Permalink | Email this Post
Emotion, joy, love

It's hard to believe my fifth NCYC is coming to a close in just a few short hours. The sites, the emotions and the joy of this Catholic gathering are absolutely overwhelming and breathtaking. As a member of this diocese my entire life, it's an honor to be joined by so many wonderful and outstanding youth and adult leaders from all corners of our home. The young people from our diocese are inspiring. I have seen many of them come out of their shell, sing – when they thought they couldn't; do the motions to songs – when they thought it might not be cool; be open to truly hearing what a general session speaker has to say; open their hearts to spending time in front of the Blessed Sacrament and offer their sins before God in the sacrament of Reconciliation.

The city of Kansas City has been wonderful. They have opened their hearts to all 22,000 plus, and the police are working so hard on each street corner to keep us safe. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts, as well as the thousands of volunteers who have helped us find our way to workshops, concurrent sessions, restrooms, first aid, the Reign Forest and so much more.

For those of you who might be considering attending the Diocesan Youth Celebration in February at Greensburg Central Catholic, I highly encourage you to attend. Today, myself and five other chaperones attended Mike Patin's workshop on peer pressure. He's a powerful speaker with great energy. I'm not sure what his topic will be when he arrives in Greensburg, but I can assure you – you won't be disappointed.

Tonight we'll conclude with Mass, a unique opportunity to see so many people coming to the Lord's table at once. I look forward to seeing our priests during Mass; it's a true blessing to have them on this journey with us. We applaud their ministry, their joy, their love of God and their participation with the church of Greensburg and beyond.

I'll post a few pictures from yesterday and earlier today very soon. I hope you enjoy them and may God bless each and every one of you back home in Pennsylvania.

In Christ's peace, Elisa : )

Posted at 4:15 PM by Esasky, Elisa | Permalink | Email this Post
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