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Pictured above: Last year’s NOLA Catholic Youth Conference at Jesuit High School attracted nearly 500 attendees from grades 8-12. The 2023 gathering, set for Sept. 30 at Jesuit, has been opened up to include seventh graders in the mix. (Clarion Herald file photo by Beth Donze)
By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald
Local youth leaders have until Sept. 15 to register their groups of parish- and school-based teens for “Stir into Flame” – the 2023 NOLA Catholic Youth Conference sponsored by the CYO/Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office.
The Saturday gathering of archdiocesan youth will take place Sept. 30 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Jesuit High School, 4133 Banks St. in New Orleans. This year, the event has been expanded to include seventh graders in addition to those in grades 8-12 from church parishes and schools across the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
“As our shepherds – Pope Francis and Archbishop Aymond – often remind us, young Catholics are not just the future of our Church; they are part of the vibrant present,” said Adrian Jackson, director of the CYO/Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office. “To that end, gatherings such as NOLA Catholic Youth Conference are important occasions for them to experience the larger Catholic community beyond their local parishes and schools. It is our hope that every parish and Catholic high school will have young people present to represent them on Sept. 30!”
Heart-to-heart talks
Two priests – both alumni of local Catholic high schools – will co-emcee the daylong conference: Father Ajani Gibson, a graduate of St. Augustine High School and the pastor of St. Peter Claver Church in New Orleans; and Father Andrew Gutierrez, coordinator of vocational synthesis and pastoral formation at Notre Dame Seminary and chaplain at his high school alma mater of Archbishop Rummel.
Attendees will be uplifted throughout the day by praise and worship music from The Vigil Project. The following schedule is planned:
• Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the foyer of Jesuit’s auditorium (310 S. Solomon St.). Participants can access campus via the high school’s main parking lot on Banks Street.
• Live music and icebreakers will precede and follow the 10 a.m. welcome from Archbishop Gregory Aymond.
• The keynote will be delivered by Father Josh Johnson, vocations director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge and pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Ordained to the priesthood in 2014 and a dynamic speaker at conferences, retreats and youth events, Father Johnson is known for his Ascension Press Media podcast “Ask Father Josh” and his Q&A series on the “Ascension Presents” YouTube channel.
• After the keynote, the teens will split into two groups to attend a pair of workshops scheduled before and after lunch. The workshop presenters will be:
– Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia Mara Grace Gore, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, currently assigned as vocations director for the Nashville Dominicans. Sister Mara’s past ministries include teaching second graders in Denver and Nashville, assisting with formation and administering a parish in Ireland.
– The other presenter will be Ryan Foulon, a theology teacher and campus minister at St. Charles Catholic High in LaPlace. Foulon also serves in parish music ministry, youth ministry and faith formation.
• A 45-minute lunch break between the two workshops will offer access to the sacrament of reconciliation and a fair of Catholic exhibitors, including vocational leaders from religious orders. The whole group will reunite in Jesuit’s auditorium at 2 p.m. for a conversational vocations panel led by the emcees and featuring Sister Mara Grace; Father David Doyle, parochial vicar of St. Anselm Church in Madisonville; and Brother Herman Johnson, a Dominican friar and an assistant professor of Spanish at Xavier University of Louisiana.
• A vigil Mass will follow at 3 p.m. with Archbishop Aymond, homilist and principal celebrant. The conference’s final two hours (4 to 6 p.m.) will include praise and worship music, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a eucharistic procession and benediction.
Jackson said he was excited about inviting seventh graders to this year’s youth conference. Last year’s celebration, which attracted nearly 500 attendees, was limited to high school students to allow organizers to regroup after the pandemic and Hurricane Ida.
“This is a perfect opportunity for these students, who as seventh graders are approaching a time of great change and possibility, to join with their older peers and future (high school) classmates for prayer, fellowship and fun,” he said.
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‘Stir into Flame’ to rekindle faith
• WHO: 7th-12th graders from across the archdiocese unite for the 36th NOLA Catholic Youth Conference. Parish youth ministry groups, PSR/CCD classes, confirmation candidates, high school groups, retreat teams, student council members, etc., are encouraged to attend.
• WHAT: Inspirational speakers and workshops designed to deepen participants’ faith and learn more about how to live it out in their everyday lives; Mass, prayer, access to the sacrament of reconciliation, eucharistic adoration, praise and worship music, lunchtime fair of Catholic exhibitors.
• WHERE: Jesuit High School, 4133 Banks St., New Orleans. Please enter campus through Jesuit’s main parking lot on Banks Street and walk to the entrance of the high school’s auditorium (310 S. Solomon St.) to check in.
• WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 30; doors open at 8:30 a.m.; main program runs from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• COST: $40 per participant; a conference T-shirt and boxed lunch (choice of sandwich/salad, chips and drink) are included in cost.
• REGISTRATION: Groups must register online through their parish or school by Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. Please indicate number of attending students and adults, lunch choices and T-shirt sizes. Credit card payments are accepted online or a check may be mailed to the CYO Office, 2241 Mendez St., New Orleans, LA 70122-5276. Payment must be completed prior to the conference.
• PARKING: Transportation to and from the event is the responsibility of the sponsoring parish or Catholic high school. Street parking and limited on-campus parking are available. If traveling by bus, please contact the CYO Office for information on bus protocols.
• MORE INFORMATION: Call (504) 836-0551; email [email protected]; or visit http://www.cyo-no.org