NOLA Catholic Youth Conference slated for Sept. 28

By Kim Roberts
Clarion Herald 

Jesuit High School will be the site of the 37th annual NOLA Catholic Youth Conference, sponsored by the CYO/Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office, on Sept. 28.

The event, which last year attracted more than 1,000 young people and adult leaders representing more than 60 parishes and high school campus ministries from across the archdiocese, has a registration deadline of Sept. 13.

Doors open at 9 a.m., and the day concludes with Mass and benediction at 5 p.m. The conference is open to Archdiocese of New Orleans students in grades 7-12 from church parishes and schools.

“The theme for this year’s conference is “Be Not Afraid,” said Pat Duffey, associate director for youth ministry. “Our Teen Cross council chose the theme this year. The theme will be used by our youth ministry throughout the year. The kids will get to see the fruits of their labor and how God worked through them as a team.”

Adrian Jackson, director of the CYO/Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office, said gatherings such as this conference are important occasions for youth to experience the larger Catholic community beyond their local parishes and schools.

Empowering youth

“The conference aims to empower and propel the youth in their faith journey, providing them with tools and resources to grow closer to Christ,” he said.

The daylong event features a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, live music, exhibitors, confession, Mass and adoration.

“The archbishop typically welcomes everybody first thing in the morning, and then we jump right into our keynote presentation,” Duffey said. “Our presenter this year is Katie Prejean McGrady, who most people will recognize from her popular show on Sirius XM radio.”

After McGrady’s keynote address, Duffey said the teens will head into breakout sessions, with a few options to choose from. During lunch, teens will have the opportunity to go to confession and visit ministry representatives from around the archdiocese and state.

“This year, we’re really going to be intentional about encouraging time for small group discussion and processing of information that the teens have received,” Duffey said.

After the lunch break, the teens will attend another round of workshops and head to Mass with Archbishop Aymond before benediction and heading home. Attendees will be motivated throughout the day with praise and worship music performed by The Vigil Project.

Motivated speakers

Serving as emcees again this year are Father Andrew Gutierrez and Father Ajani Gibson. Father Gutierrez graduated from Archbishop Rummel High School and serves as coordinator of vocational synthesis and pastoral formation at Notre Dame Seminary.  Father Gibson graduated from St. Augustine High School and serves as pastor of St. Peter Claver Church in New Orleans.

“We are so grateful to have so many talented individuals who are selflessly giving up their time to help with this conference,” Jackson said. “Both Father Gutierrez and Father Gibson are so busy but are making time for our young people. Our workshop speaker, Colin MacIver, is such a gem in our archdiocese. To have his voice here is such a gift.”

“The archbishop has always been a great supporter of the youth ministry,” Jackson added. 

“He always tells us, the youth are not the future but the now of the church, and we need to feed them.”

Organizers stressed the importance of providing an opportunity for youth to encounter Jesus as they overcome the many obstacles in today’s society. They see this conference as an opportunity to plant seeds to help them take the next step in their faith.

“We hope to catch them at the beginning of the school year with this conference and to catapult them into the year focused on Christ,” Jackson said. “If we don’t get in front of them, someone else will.”

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