The Diocese of Cleveland will be well represented at the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana next week.
Francine Costantini, diocesan director of youth ministry, said a delegation of 215 teens, chaperones and clergy will attend NCYC this year. Four chartered buses will leave on Nov. 20 and will return on Nov. 23. Bishop Edward Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost, who also attended last year, will be among the attendees once again.
Fifteen parishes and Elyria Catholic High School are sending students. EC has the largest contingent with 41 people.
In addition to the bishops, nine priests and two deacons plan to attend along with some diocesan staff members, including Costantini and Jenn Martin from the Office of Youth Ministry, who are coordinating the pilgrimage. Deacon Bob Cavanaugh and his wife Dawn, who serves as youth minister at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina, are assisting with logistics, including the lunch stop during the trip to the conference on Nov. 20.
“The buses will stop at St. Peter Parish in Huber Heights, where the parish has generously offered the use of its hall to serve a Chick-fil-A lunch to the pilgrims,” Costantini said.
It will be easy to spot the Cleveland delegates because of their NCYC swag. Costantini said they will have T-shirts, cinch sacks and hats. Trading hats with other delegates is a long-standing NCYC tradition she said. The cinch sacks are a new addition for the group this year since clear bags are required at the venue (Lucas Oil Stadium).
When they arrive at the hotel later that day, the bishops will celebrate Mass for the group.
The bishops will have a special meal for young men discerning a possible call to the priesthood. Father Eric Garris, diocesan vocations director, and Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization, are planning the session. The bishops also plan to spend time with other local delegates during the pilgrimage.
Two high school graduates from the diocese, Maria Kroger and Noel Maddox, are completing their terms on the National Youth Advisory Council and will participate in NCYC as their final event.
This will be the ninth NCYC for Costantini and her third time leading the diocesan pilgrimage.
“Each year, the event continues to grow stronger, raising the bar for the depth of spirituality offered to teens. While groups can still come and simply enjoy the fun and energy of the event, it has become increasingly likely that participants will leave changed. The conference has become more intentional about creating opportunities for true encounters with the Living God, most notably through Eucharistic adoration on the main stage at Lucas Oil Stadium,” Costantini added.
Adoration is a highlight of NCYC, she said, second only to the closing Mass on Nov. 22. There also is a buzz this year about a special video conference opportunity with Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 21.
NCYC began in 1983 as a regional conference, with one session on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. They merged in 1991 into a national conference, and interest began to grow. Now, NCYC attracts more than 20,000 youth and adults for three days of worship, music and fun.
Watch for a follow-up story and photos from this year's NCYC.