NCYC 2025
Adoration with 16,000 Catholics felt ‘like you were a part of something bigger’
Father Liam Hosty, left, U.S. Military Services Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio and seminarian Lucas LaRosa kneel in adoration before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Nov. 21 during the National Catholic Youth Conference. (Photo by Natalie Hoefer)
By Natalie Hoefer
One of the most impactful experiences of the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) held every other year in Indianapolis is the gathering of all participants in Lucas Oil Stadium for eucharistic adoration, which took place this year on Nov. 21.
“This evening is about healing,” said Gian Gamboa, one of this year’s NCYC emcees. “You can’t give until you are healed from within.”
Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Sister Miriam James Heidland spoke about healing before the Blessed Sacrament was reverently processed into the stadium in a monstrance.
She defined healing as “an ongoing encounter with God’s love and truth that brings us into wholeness and communion.”
“We have lots of secrets, don’t we?” Sister Miriam James asked. “And secrets just make us very ill. And so, what Jesus does is he comes into your life in an encounter with love and truth—the love heals the wounds, the truth heals the lies.”
This encounter occurs in “a place where God dwells within you,” she continued. “It’s a place where your dignity cannot be destroyed, and the gift of who you are cannot be hidden.
“And it’s from this place, my dear friends, that the Lord speaks to us.”
During adoration, as U.S. Military Services Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio knelt before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the center of the stadium, he read the Bread of Life Discourse from John 6:35-58.
“We must partake of the bread of eternal life if we hope to achieve our goal—eternal happiness in union with Almighty God,” he said. “Jesus insists twice on this necessity, even in the faith of the disbelief of his audience. He will not compromise to please the crowd. …
“Unlike many who will only tell us what they think we want to hear, Christ’s words are spirit and life. They challenge us to grow. They invite us into communion with him and with each other.”
Mark MacDonald has spent time in adoration before, but never with more than 16,000 people, he said.
“When I’ve been [to adoration], it’s been, like, super quiet and like it’s just you there,” said the member of St. Patrick Parish in Terre Haute. But with the worship music during the holy time at Lucas Oil Stadium, “it felt really different,” said the teen.
“It was peaceful, and I felt like [Christ] was really close at that time for me.”
Emma Timberlake agreed.
The member of SS. Francis and Clare of Assisi Parish in Greenwood said that “some people have trouble focusing in adoration,” but that music can help.
“The music [during adoration at NCYC] this time was really pretty, and they had the lyrics up [on large screens], so everyone was able to sing along.”
The experience was “really special” for Ella Weinschrott of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Noblesville, Ind., in the Diocese of Lafayette. “It really impacted me prayerfully.”
She and her group were already near the altar where the monstrance was placed for adoration.
“So, I was kind of moved by how, like, all of a sudden people started rushing toward the altar, trying to get as close as they could to Jesus.”
Ella said it was “nice to be surrounded by like people that were so passionate about [the Eucharist]. It made you feel like you were a part of something bigger.” †
See more stories from the National Catholic Youth Conference here
