News Release #343

Released December 12, 2001

New Ulm – After a year of anticipation and planning, 679 young people and chaperones from 15 counties in Southern Minnesota traveled to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, for four days of taking part in what organizers said was the largest Catholic youth conference in U.S. history. According to organizer Bill Casey, director of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of New Ulm, "This conference was one of the highlights of our experiences with the youth of the diocese."

The 26th biennial conference, sponsored by the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry, drew almost 24,000 teenagers and adult chaperones December 6-9 to Indianapolis to hear about vocations and how, as the young church, they can be an example of hope.

While the conference did not dwell on the events of September 11, speakers and participants said the conference theme, "Hope at the Crossroads," was needed more than ever before. The conference, hosted by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis at the RCA Dome and Indiana Convention Center, also brought the bishop of the New Ulm diocese, The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, and 47 other bishops from across the nation to celebrate the Catholic faith with the youth and 1,500 volunteers, staff, and exhibitors.

Students participated in workshops, keynote speeches, concerts and liturgical celebrations. During the conference activities, youth leaders from the Diocese of New Ulm transferred photos of the action via e-mail to the diocesan website. Photos were posted daily with brief descriptions documenting the progress of the New Ulm contingency. "This was the first time we have used the internet to update our activities during a major youth gathering," said Bill Casey. "We encourage everyone to visit the website, http://www.dnu.org, and catch the spirit of the National Catholic Youth Conference for themselves."

Conference photos can be viewed at http://www.dnu.org. For more information about youth representation from the Diocese of New Ulm at the National Catholic Youth Conference, contact the diocesan Office of Communications, (507) 359-2966 to arrange an interview with Bill Casey, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.