RC Mission Corps and Mission Youth at the NCCYM

Orlando, FL – Disney World might not be a place that one would typically associate with Catholic youth ministry (although definitely with youth in general), but the first weekend of December saw Disney’s Swan and Dolphin hotel hosting the National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministers (NCCYM).  

The event was an opportunity for youth ministers from around the country to learn new ways to connect with young people, to renew their own motivations to serve, and to learn about what others are doing in their youth programs. The Regnum Christi Mission Corps and Mission Youth were both represented at the conference, as options for youth volunteer work.  

Erin McCrory, the RCMC National Coordinator, had the idea of joining forces with several Catholic volunteer organizations to put together a DVD with 5 different programs at offer missionary opportunities: RCMC, Mission Youth, Focus, Net, and Generation Life.  

“There was a great spirit among all participants of networking and sharing experiences,” said Rebecca Olek, one of the Mission Youth coordinators. “It was great to see the programs working together and complementing each other.”  

The conference included plenty of spiritual enrichment opportunities for the youth ministers, including daily Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and adoration.  

In his homily during one of the Masses, Fr. Gonzalez of the diocese of Orlando spoke about St. Andrew the apostle being a bridge for Peter to meet Christ. Fr. Gonzalez invited all the youth ministers to do the same, being bridges to help young people reach Christ. This idea united all of the participants in seeking to find deeper ways to serve the young people to whom they minister.