NCYC 2025
Parent just wanting ‘to see what NCYC is like’ now ‘would love to come back’
Bridget Ireland, left, and Doug Elia pose with Jordan Schaulberg, second from right, and Breanna Southard, two members of a group from Terre Haute they chaperoned at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis on Nov. 20-22. (Submitted photo)
By Natalie Hoefer
When Bridget Ireland of St. Joseph University Parish in Terre Haute signed up to be a chaperone for a group from that city attending the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Indianapolis, she did so for practical purposes.
“I’m here with my oldest son,” she explains on
Nov. 20, the first day of the three-day event. “It’s his first experience here, and I just tagged along to help out.”
It was Ireland’s first time, too.
“I’ve been on lots of retreats, so I imagine this will be a similar experience,” she says.
She noticed “lots of good options” among the adult breakout sessions when she reviewed the schedule and hopes to take in a few of them.
“But mostly I’m looking forward to seeing how the kids experience it,” says Ireland. “Especially in terms of the number of Catholics here, which is so much bigger than their parish [youth] group or the [Terre Haute Deanery] Teen Connections.”
By Nov. 22, the last day of NCYC, Ireland has clearly moved from passive observer to enthusiastic supporter.
“It’s been wonderful!” she says, more animated than on day one. “So many people, just so many—when we’re in big sessions together, the energy is incredible.”
As she got to know the teens in the group, her admiration of them grew.
“They’re really sweet,” says Ireland. “And they all are just embracing all of the activities we’re going to, all of the things we’re participating in. And they are participating fully. They have lots of energy in there, and they’re attentive—it’s great.”
She benefited from the experience, too, saying it “really was just so impactful on me, personally.
“Sitting among 16,000 Catholics and listening to the pope talk to us was very powerful. And having the opportunity to go to confession is always nice.”
Ireland gained practical knowledge, too.
During the conference, she noted how one of the emcees would “bring her energy and a game to the beginning of each of the sessions.” As a new religious education teacher for the third- and fourth-graders of her parish, she plans to now do the same.
“I thought this would be a good experience for me to see what NCYC is like and be able to take that information back to my husband and my other kids,” Ireland reflects. “And now I’m very excited to do that.
“I want my other children to hear … how amazing it was and all of these opportunities to be around other young people, fellow Catholics.”
Ireland doesn’t just want to send her younger children to NCYC in the future, she says: “I would love to come back, too!” †
See more stories from the National Catholic Youth Conference here
