Retooled youth conference set for Sept. 24 at Jesuit

By Beth Donze
Clarion Herald

The newly named “NOLA Catholic Youth Conference” – the archdiocesan gathering of teens formerly known as World Youth Day – is returning this fall after pandemic-forced cancellations in 2020 and 2021.

Designed around the theme “All Things New,” the conference will take place Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will feature a new location – the campus of Jesuit High School, 4133 Banks St. in New Orleans.

Those in grades 8-12 who attend a Catholic high school, a Parish School of Religion or a Catholic homeschooling program are invited to attend the all-day conference, geared to enriching the faith – and addressing the faith challenges – of teenage Catholics, while giving them opportunities for fellowship with their peers from across the archdiocese.

“It’s going to be a bit different than we’ve done in the past,” said Adrian Jackson, director of the sponsoring CYO/Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office. Jackson pointed to two of the biggest changes: a Saturday time slot, rather than the former Sunday one; and the event’s relocation to Jesuit, following many years at the Morial Convention Center in downtown New Orleans.

Another change to this year’s conference will be its restriction to high school students only – those in grades 8-12 – and their adult chaperones.

“We’re aiming to bring back (a separate) junior high rally in the spring for students in fifth through seventh grade,” Jackson said. “We’re also hoping to hold another junior high retreat next spring like the one we had in March at Camp Abbey,” he added.

Jackson said the upcoming youth conference will mostly stick to the same successful template used in previous years – an opening icebreaker, a keynote address, workshops, lunch, opportunities for confession and Mass with Archbishop Gregory Aymond. Additions to this year’s gathering include announcement of the winner of a CYO-sponsored song contest, and closing out the day with a eucharistic procession, adoration and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after the 3 p.m. Mass.

Jackson said the conference’s relocation from the convention center to Jesuit, made possible by the high school’s president, Jesuit Father John Brown, hopefully will offer a more centrally located venue for those traveling from all parts of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. In addition to providing ample parking space for school buses, Jesuit will make its auditorium available as the conference’s main hub and open up other parts of its campus, such as the cafeteria and gym, to the teens.

Unlike in previous years, there will be no need for organizers to erect an altar in a secular space. Jesuit’s 1,000-seat Chapel of the North American Martyrs will serve as the Mass venue, Jackson said.

Speakers in tune with youth

The bulk of the day’s programming will be presented by some familiar names to local Catholics. The emcee will be Father Andrew Gutierrez, parochial vicar of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Metairie and chaplain at his alma mater, Archbishop Rummel High School. The Vigil Project, a Louisiana-based band, will provide praise and worship music throughout the day.

The conference’s keynote presenter will be Holy Family of Nazareth Sister Josephine Garrett, a Texas-based convert to Catholicism who entered the church in 2005 and professed her final vows in 2020. Sister Josephine, a licensed counselor at St. Gregory Cathedral Elementary School in Tyler, Texas, and a counselor in private practice, is a nationally known speaker on the topic of vocations ministry.

Three workshops will round out the conference. Scheduled presenters are:

• Kayla Allain, a licensed counselor and the coordinator of diversity and inclusion at her alma mater of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans.
• Andrew Ferguson, a vocalist and musician from the Vigil Project, known for his talks on how he encounters Jesus through music.
• Claire Gallagher, a religion teacher at St. Mary’s Dominican High School, a youth minister at St. Clement of Rome Church in Metairie and a consecrated virgin for the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

  “It’s going to be a fabulous day!” Jackson said.

Confirmation candidates, high school ministry groups, retreat teams and others in grades 8-12 are also encouraged to send groups to the conference. Adult attendees (youth ministers, clergy and religious) are welcome, but are also required to register. The CYO/Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office requests that all attendees register through their school or church parish by Sept. 9. For registration information and permission forms, visit www.cyo-no.org.