By A.M. Kelley
Superior Catholic Herald
Youths from around the diocese attend NCYC
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SUPERIOR -- Three days, 20,000 kids, music, games, laughs and ... prayer. From all over the United States teens and their chaperones came on buses and planes to Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 8 for the National Catholic Youth Conference. The Diocese of Superior sent 139 high school youths, 54 adult chaperones and one bishop--Bishop Peter F. Christensen.
Kay Jarvensivu said his attendance made all the difference. As the youth minister and director of Christian formation St. Mary Parish in Tomahawk, Jarvensivu had been to two previous NCYCs--one in Georgia (2005) and one in Texas (2003)--but the trip to Ohio was "very special this year," she said.
What made it special?
"It was the fact that our bishop was there. He was one of only eight bishops (who attended)," Jarvensivu said. "He spent time with the kids, trying on their hats, signing their souvenirs. We were very lucky that he was there."
At conferences, youths attend workshops, listen to inspirational keynote speakers and worship together. They also make friends and have plenty of fun. They bring hats and homemade items to trade. "They try to trade for things from kids from all across the country," Jarvensivu said.
She and Fr. John Anderson escorted 16 Tomahawk youths to the conference. They spent a year raising funds to go; it costs about $400 to $500 for each person to attend. The youths had bake sales, car washes, church breakfasts and a creative summertime gnome fundraiser. For a $25 fee, gnome lawn ornaments were deposited in friends' yards until subsequent payments removed them. Parishioners were supportive, joined in the fun and helped the kids raise enough money to fund the trip.
"Their behavior (in Ohio) was fabulous," Javensivu said. "We're proud of them. And everyone wants to go back in two years."
Lisa Zych of St. Peter Parish in Cameron helped chaperone 22 kids. Two of these were her daughters, basketball players Kelsey, 16 and Kendra, 15.
They had a great time, according to their mother, at Port Discovery, an interactive theme park with exhibits by colleges, religious orders, ministry organizations, vendors and performers. The park is a tradition at NCYCs where just about anything can happen. At one station Zych's daughters donned padded sumo wrestling suits and had a taste of that sport.
As much fun as Port Discover was, the Zych girls also raved about a workshop on abstinence and living a chaste life, "Romance without regret," presented by teen evangelizers Jason and Crystalina Evert.
"They thought it was the greatest," Zych said.
Lots of parents attend NCYC as chaperones and they become part of the adventure but Jarvensivu said for many youths, translating the experience to folks at home falls flat.
"It's hard for the kids to put into words and explain to (their) parents what it was like," she said. "It's all about the spirit that's there."
Ben Rogalla, 17, of Rice Lake and Megan Dalbec, 16, were chosen to be youth ambassadors. Each diocese selects two teens for the job. Ambassadors greet people at doors during sessions, introduce workshop hosts and performers--the musicians and comedians Ñ- and offer prayers before speakers take the stage.
The whole experience was new for Dalbec, a parishioner of St. Anthony in Superior.
"It was a very inspiring experience," she said. "I couldn't believe how many people were there. (My) own parish is so small. Everybody there was trying to get closer to God and continue in their faith journey."
Chris Newkirk, the assistant director of religious education and youth ministry at the Hammes Center, broke some tragic news by phone to the various Superior groups en route to Ohio this year. A hit and run accident took the life of 16-year-old Veronica Gantt from Las Vegas, Nev., in the early morning hours of the first day of the conference.
"The sense of hope and Christian perspective on death and dying were integrated in to the conference as a whole," Newkirk said. "Veronica was excited about coming to the conference. We're sad for the loss of her life, but somewhere in there we want to celebrate her faith as a Catholic youth."
"We had opportunities to pray for her and her family," Dalbec said. "We all felt really bad."
John Schmitt, the 26-year-old youth minister from St. Francis Xavier in Merrill, attended the conference with 12 parish teens.
"I like to soak in as much as I can," he said. "You hear great stories (from the keynote speakers and workshop leaders). It's difficult to put into simple words their profound messages, (but) they (do) put into simple words (their stories of) moving on beyond hardships."
He especially enjoyed "the energy and transformation of the youths" who attended the conference. "Some only came because their parents pressured them into going," he said, "but on the bus trip home afterwards, they start planning: 'Who are we going to bring along in 2009?'"
NCYCs are held every other year. In 2009, Kansas City, Kan., and Mo., will host the youths, and in 2011, Indianapolis.
For Jamie Marrier, a 14-year-old freshman from Merrill High School, the NCYC held many surprises.
"I kind of expected to listen to some speakers and listen to some people sing," he said. "But (I) got involved and want to come back again."
Among his memorable moments was a 90-minute workshop he attended with more than 1,000 other kids. Called XLT, the session featured Life Teen speaker Mark Hart, a self-described "Bible geek," and Catholic recording artist Matt Maher, and his live band. They travel the country on "worship tours." With all those teens and contemporary music in one space, it surprised Marrier that the highlight of this session was the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
"I'm taking back to (my) parish a new meaning of what God means in my life," he said. "Usually you go to church and God's at church, but he's everywhere."
Not surprisingly, Marrier said that he wants to attend many more youth conferences, along with his friend, Miranda Brickner, also 14 and a freshman at Merrill High School.
Brickner said a session called Do Life was notable. Presented by youth minister Pam Heil of Ohio and "extreme evangelizer and undercover catechist" Jesse Manibusan of Texas, the message to make life "sacred and real," was like everything else at the conference, "better than I expected," Brickner said.
Schmitt said there were many high-energy gatherings, lots of music, many bands playing, revving up the enthusiasm of the teens, but he returned home feeling calm.
"I feel good," he said on his first day back on the job. "I'm not totally pumped and crazy and ready to save the world."
The closing Mass on Saturday evening (conference registration began Thursday morning) was one of the highlights for Schmitt.
"Just seeing Bishop (Christensen) up there. I got goose bumps," he said. "When I saw him saying part of the eucharistic prayer, I thought, 'That's our guy.'"
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2007