Conference inspires youth
By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Nov. 15, 2007
Students and chaperones throughout the Diocese of Sioux City discovered the
way, the truth and the life at the National Catholic Youth Conference.
"I learned the importance of being a good person in my society,"
said Greg Danner, a sophomore at Heelan High School in Sioux City.
During his freshman year, he had seen a pamphlet outside Kathryn Fairchild's 
classroom and decided to read up on NCYC. He thought it looked like a lot of fun
and a good thing to do.
"I liked Father Tony (one of the keynote speakers)," said Danner.
"He taught me to be a good, confident person and to have a lot of respect
for myself. Renee Bondi (a keynote speaker, who is quadriplegic) taught me that
we can overcome pretty much anything with God's help."
There were 156 attendees from the Diocese of Sioux City representing Sacred
Heart, Spencer; St. Mary, Rock Valley; Immaculate Conception, Nativity and
Heelan High School, Sioux City; St. Joseph, Jefferson; Kuemper, Carroll; St.
Louis, Royal; St. Michael, Kingsley; and Holy Trinity, Fort Dodge.
"I think it went really well," said Jessica La Fleur Malm, director
of youth and young adult ministry for the diocese. "It is a wonderful
experience of the universal church and an awesome opportunity for the teens and
adults to not only learn more about their faith, but to live it while there,
too. The kids engaged in a service project, and wrote letters to those in the
military. They were challenged to not only know and share their faith in words,
but to live it every moment."
She wanted to extend a thank you to the "wonderful adults who were
willing to take the plunge and lead their group of teens on this
pilgrimage."
"Kids from our past groups have gone and they have always come back with
great ideas," said Courtney Cronk, a parishioner at St. Louis in Royal.
"They said seeing all these Catholics in one place is a very life changing
experience. I wanted to see it for myself."
She will take with her that "when times get tough, don't run away from
God. He will always be there for you."
"I learned to be more accepting of other people," said James
Randall, a student from Sacred Heart Parish in Spencer. He enjoyed being in the
arena with so many Catholics.
Liz Orris, a junior from St. James Parish in Le Mars, attended CLI this year
and heard all about NCYC.
"We don't have a youth group in Le Mars, so we thought this would be a
great opportunity to have fun and see what it's like," she said. "I
learned to be more confident about my faith. I learned from Tony and Renee
(keynote speakers) about how they are different from everyone else, but how they
use their differences to help everyone else."
She liked singing along and enjoying the Mass because it was different from a
small Mass. She thought it was great to see everyone getting into the Mass.
Dustin Slota, a sophomore from St. Michael Parish in Kingsley, learned to
pray more than what he does and get into his church more.
"There were a lot of kids and it was a lot of fun," he said.
"I didn't think there would be that many kids there. It was amazing. I was
surprised how far they had come."
A senior from Carroll Kuemper, Miranda Boeckman, learned that
"everything in your life happens for a reason and God has a purpose for
that."
"What doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger. We can use that to help
others," she said. "Our God is a great God and if we pray a lot and
live our life the way the he wants us to everything will be ok. As the young
church, it is up to us to make church fun and exciting."
Wesley Doyle from Holy Trinity Parish in Fort Dodge attended NCYC two years
ago and had fun so he wanted to go again. The high school junior said he learned
more about God and to make his faith stronger.
Shelby Hinrichsen, a junior from Immaculate Conception in Sioux City, learned
about NCYC from her cousin, who had gone in 2005 and told her it was a lot of
fun.
"I learned to be proud about my faith and not be ashamed of it,"
she said. "It was really cool seeing 20,000 people all together."
