More than 16,000 high school teens, adult chaperones, clergy and religious gathered Nov. 20-23 in Indianapolis, Indiana for the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference, a joyful, faith-filled event that brings together young Catholics from across the United States to encounter Christ and celebrate their faith in community.
Also attending were Bishop Edward Malesic and Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost.
“Bishop Woost and I had an absolutely incredible experience at NCYC,” Bishop Malesic said. “We all came back renewed in spirit and strengthened in faith.”
(See photo gallery above.)
It also was a special time for two Cleveland teens, Noel Maddox and Maria Kroger, former members of the Diocesan Youth Advisory Council. They were nominated and selected to serve on National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry's National Youth Advisory Council last year. As part of their role, they traveled to Ghana last summer with Catholic Relief Services, where they spent time learning about the local culture, building relationships within the community, and joining the people in prayer.
During NCYC, Noel and Maria were invited on stage and served on a breakout panel where they shared their experience and inspired their peers to live their faith with openness and global solidarity.
Representing the Diocese of Cleveland this year at NCYC were 215 teens representing 16 parishes and schools. They joined the national Church for three days of prayer, worship, community and fun.
The conference is organized annually by NFCYM and is hosted every other year in Indianapolis.
In addition to the bishops, the Cleveland delegation included Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization, eight parish priests, two deacons and several chaperones who traveled with young people, shared meals, conversations and moments of prayer. One highlight was a special vocation lunch where young men from Cleveland could talk about discerning God’s call in their lives.
Throughout the weekend, participants encountered the universal Church in powerful ways. They joined 25 bishops, more than 250 priests and countless deacons and religious sisters for Mass. One of the most moving moments came during Eucharistic adoration, when thousands of young people knelt in silence before the Blessed Sacrament.
A particularly memorable first for NCYC this year was a digital encounter with Pope Leo, broadcast live from the Vatican. He addressed the youth, answered their questions and encouraged them to open their hearts to God’s call and to be bold witnesses of faith in the world today.
One of its most beloved NCYC traditions is trading hats. Each group brings unique, silly, or themed hats to swap with other participants throughout the weekend. The hats serve as symbols of unity and friendship among thousands of young Catholics from across the country.
Local delegates returned home with many memories and renewed hearts. They said the experience of seeing so many young people on fire for their faith reminded everyone of the vitality and hope that the Holy Spirit breathes into the Church.
Click here for a related story sharing thoughts from some of the NCYC teen delegates.