Diocesan youth attend national conference

 

The Diocese of Tucson was fortunate to have 60 teenagers and youth ministers represent the diocese at this year’s National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Long Beach, California. The three-day event brought together 3,000 youth from all over the United States as they deepened their relationship with Christ.  

 
Youth from throughout the Yuma and Pima vicariates attended the conference focused on Jesus’ various stages of life. Dozens of priests participated in the conference, which was led by the Most Reverend Jose Gomez, the archbishop of Los Angeles. Carmelite priest Father Manu Franco-Gomez, O.Carm., serves as the Director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Tucson. This was the second year that Father Manu was commissioned as NCYC’s key artist. He was surprised to be recognized at the conference for his artwork. “Art is a passion of mine. It’s a gift that I am more than happy to share,” he said. Father Manu was among the priests who concelebrated Mass with the archbishop, "It was a beautiful event, the youth were engaged and actively participating in the liturgies.”  

Among the chaperones was Sr. Mary Teresa Bettag, OSF, a teacher at Yuma Catholic High School. Sr. Mary Teresa said she was blessed to attend the conference. “I think the most beautiful part for me was watching the teens experience for themselves the Joy of the Gospel! They came alive in Christ! I love the authenticity of young people, and they brought their real hurts, struggles, and hard questions, and laid them all at the feet of Jesus - it didn't mean they went away, but it does mean they no longer walk alone.” 

 

Another youth minister was Karen Brady, a teacher at Saint Augustine Catholic High School in Tucson. Brady said it was touching to witness the power of the Holy Spirit among the attendees, “Our young people are not the future of the Church. They are the Church NOW. They have so much to offer and so much to learn as do we all.” Brady said the conference offered a strong message of hope to youth, “This conference empowered me to remind the youth, ‘That YOU have been called to mission just like the Apostles were called. It is through YOU that the word of God is spread throughout your community. It is through YOUR loving service that others come to know our loving and merciful God’.” 

 

The delegation from Tucson traveled overnight via a charter bus. Next year’s youth conference will be hosted in Indiana. Father Manu said on the return trip chaperones and youth were inquiring about attending the 2025 conference, “It’s quite a feat to participate in conferences like this one but the rewards are great, so we will begin discussing and planning the feasibility of attending next year’s conference.” Costs for the conference were covered by fundraising and scholarships.  

 

Three local teens attended NCYC as the prize for winning the art contest hosted by the diocesan Office of Youth. Teens submitted original art, responding to the theme of hope in conjunction with next year’s Jubilee of Hope. “Hope calls us to live purposefully today, knowing God’s promises are active in every moment of our lives,” said Father Manu. “Properly lived, hope translates into acts of worship and service that keep us engaged in the rhythm of the Kingdom of God in our daily lives. This is what our youth captured in their artwork.” The art contest winners were Shirley G. in 8th grade, Elizabeth L. in 11th grade, and Abril S. in 12th grade. In addition to the trip to Long Beach, winners will see their artwork reprinted on postcards.