‘The most powerful Mass’ at National Catholic Youth Conference -

Special to The Message

Diocesan Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry Jeremy Goebel said 186 people from our Diocese, consisting of high school youth and adult chaperones attended the 2023 National Catholic Youth Conference held Nov. 16-18 in Indianapolis. The group posed for a photo at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in downtown Indianapolis. Submitted photos courtesy of Jeremy Goebel

After the closing Mass for the 2023 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), Jeremy Goebel, diocesan director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said a Diocese of Evansville teen approached him and said, “That was the most powerful Mass I've ever been to.”

“To me, this is what it's all about,” Goebel said. “Bringing young people to Christ, especially in the Eucharist, is the center of everything that we work towards.”

Bishop Joseph M. Siegel, standing, gave a short address to the diocesan group after he concelebrated Mass at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in downtown Indianapolis Nov. 17 as part of the 2023 NCYC.

Goebel said 186 people from the Diocese of Evansville, consisting of high school youth and adult chaperones, attended the 2023 NCYC held Nov. 16-18 in Indianapolis. Nearly 13,000 people from across the country attended the three-day event, which consisted of Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, opportunities for Confession, a list of “fantastic” speakers, trading hats, and time for fellowship and getting to know people from across the country. Events were held primarily at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium.

Bishop Joseph M. Siegel concelebrated Mass at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church in downtown Indianapolis Nov. 17. After Mass, Goebel said others cleared out of the church, but the diocesan group stayed behind for a short address from Bishop Siegel.

Diocese of Evansville high school youth enjoy fellowship during the 2023 National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis.

“He made the drive to Indianapolis just hours after returning home from the fall (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) gathering in Baltimore,” Goebel said. “It meant a lot to everyone there that he made a special trip to pray with us and to speak with the group.”

The 2023 NCYC theme was Fully Alive, inspired by the following bible verses, “God created mankind in His image; in the image of God, he created them” (Genesis 1:23-27), and “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). According to the NCYC website, 22 bishops, as well as 242 priests and deacons attended the event.

Nearly 13,000 people from across the country, including 186 high school youth and adult chaperones from the Diocese of Evansville, attended the 2023 NCYC in Indianapolis Nov. 16-18.

“It was a great blessing to have the opportunity to accompany such a large group from our diocese to NCYC,” Goebel said. “None of it would have been possible without the efforts of our youth and campus ministers.”