Six teen parishioners involved in youth ministry at St. Christopher Parish in Galt returned from the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) Nov. 20-22 in Indianapolis with their faith lives transformed in profound ways.
NCYC 2025, hosted by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), drew more than 16,000 Catholic youths from across the country into a pilgrimage of transformation during the Jubilee Year of Hope, with the theme of “I Am / Yo Soy,” from the book of Exodus, chapter one.
These teens say the spirit of hope was alive during NCYC 2025 as Pope Leo XIV joined the gathering via livestream, reminding them that the Jubilee Year is a time of grace, inviting them to encounter Jesus through adoration, the Mass, and to rediscover the beauty of the Church’s liturgy. The conference also consisted of a series of talks and events, each providing a point of catechesis for the teens, based on the seven sacraments.
The high point of the weekend was the live “digital encounter” with Pope Leo XIV. The Holy Father joined the Friday morning session and answered pre-selected questions from teens, plus a few off-the-cuff questions. His answers and advice were among some of the favorite moments of the conference, as well as his comment bolstering young Catholics, when he said teens are “not only the future of the Church, but also the present of the Church.” Pope Leo XIV also offered advice on finding true friends and the importance of teens surrounding themselves with a good and faithful community.
Teens talk about NCYC and their encounter with Pope Leo XIV
Six teenagers from St. Christopher Parish in Galt answered questions about their experience of NCYC 2025 and the digital encounter with Pope Leo XIV. Here are their responses:
How did attending NCYC impact your relationship with Christ?
Being surrounded by thousands of teens who love God helped me realize I am not alone in my faith. During prayer, I truly felt God’s presence and understood that he listens to me personally. NCYC showed me that Jesus desires a daily, personal relationship — not one limited to Sunday Mass. I returned home feeling closer to God and motivated to continue growing in my faith. - Nathalie Ochoa, 14, Liberty Ranch High School
Attending NCYC showed me how Christ always forgives you and loves you no matter what you do. It taught me that we are his servants and we need to let him guide us and give him our full yes. It has shown me that I am not the only teenager with questions about the future, but God says not to worry about the future. -Jesus Casillas, 16, Galt High School
It was my first time going, and just being able to attend NCYC was a big blessing. One of the most powerful moments for me was during confession. When I was done the priest asked if he could give me a hug. In that moment, I truly felt God’s presence, feeling like it was just me and God. The priest reminded me that God has always been with me and always will be. Worshiping, dancing and praying alongside so many other Catholic teens was unforgettable. NCYC changed my heart and strengthened my faith in ways I didn’t expect. -Mia Bella Hernandez, 16, Galt High School
It showed me no matter my background, I will always be guided by the Lord, who will never judge me or look at me differently. -Fatima Cabrera, 17, Liberty Ranch High School
Being surrounded by thousands of young people who openly loved and trusted God made me feel less alone in my faith. The theme “I Am, Yo Soy” reminded me that God knows me personally and calls me by name. I felt Christ’s presence strongly during worship and prayer, and it pushed me to trust him more with my future as I prepare to graduate. -Elis Suarez, 17, Liberty Ranch High School
NCYC provided many opportunities to learn new information about my faith and to experience meaningful moments with other youth group members. I learned a lot about my faith through the many guest speakers and workshops. The inspiring moments that strengthened my relationship with Christ were during adoration, Mass, the many encounters connecting with other Catholic youth, and especially during Pope Leo’s address to youth. -Elias Oregel, 16, Galt High School
What did you learn from Pope Leo?
I learned to entrust my struggles to Jesus, especially when life feels heavy. He emphasized the importance of living our faith daily and growing our relationship with Christ through prayer. He reminded us that being Catholic means showing love, kindness and courage in everyday life. His message encouraged young people not to be afraid to follow God and to live with purpose, even when life feels confusing or difficult. -Nathalie
I learned that we, the young Church, are the present and the future Church. He said, “Now is the time to dream big, be open to what God can do through your life.” From that I learned to ask God, “What do you want me to do?” and ask how he can guide me to my goals in life. I also learned that Pope Leo is an ordinary human being that cares about what youth are going through, because I was able to see it through the screen. -Jesus
What I learned from Pope Leo was eye-opening. He said: “It can be discouraging when we fall, but do not focus on all your sins. Look to Jesus. Trust his mercy and go to him with confidence. He will always welcome you home.” He continued by reminding us that God never gets tired of forgiving; we get tired of asking for forgiveness. That really spoke to me because it made me realize that even when we feel unworthy or afraid, God is still there with open arms, ready to forgive us and love us no matter what. -Mia
I learned that God has chosen every one of us to be part of the youth of the Church. We are not just the present of the Church but also the future, and our actions will impact Catholicism. And now that social media has become a big part of our lives, as demonstrated by St. Carlo Acutis, social media can be used as a tool to spread Catholicism around the world. -Fatima
I learned that faith is not meant to be passive or hidden. He (the pope) spoke on courage, having the bravery to follow Christ even when it’s out of place. He reminded us that God’s “I Am” is constant, even when our lives feel uncertain. Facing big decisions, his words helped me understand that God walks with me through change, fear and growth. -Elis
I learned that we, the youth, do not have to wait to act for the Church, we already hold the ability to do that right now and for the rest of our lives. We have a place in our Church and should not wait to live our faith. We are not just the future, but we are the present too. -Elias
What question would you ask Pope Leo?
Although I did not submit a question to the Holy Father, I would ask how young people can remain strong in their faith when the world makes it challenging. I would want guidance on how to trust God more when feeling unsure or pressured by others. Many teens struggle with this, and his advice would help guide us to stay close to Christ and remain faithful in difficult moments. -Nathalie
My question would be: “What is his story? How did he turn to God? What made him say his full yes to God?” I would also ask him how I can have a stronger relationship with God and how that can influence my relationship with my family and with my future spouse. -Jesus
If I had the opportunity to ask him one, it would be about staying strong in my faith. I would ask how I can continue to grow and share my faith confidently without feeling embarrassed or afraid of being judged by others. I want to live out my faith and let it show, but sometimes it is hard to not worry about what people might think. I would want his advice on how to trust God more and be proud of my faith. -Mia
A question I asked the Holy Father is how to truly listen and follow God's words. As a teenager, there’s a lot of temptations and paths that can be taken. But how do you truly know what’s meant for you? -Fatima
My question would be to focus on how young people today can strengthen their faith while living in a world filled with distractions, pressure and uncertainty. I would ask for guidance on how we can remain committed to our values, to continue to trust in God during difficult times, and use our talents to serve others. -Elis
I would ask, “When was the first moment in your life that you realized you wanted to dedicate your life to God and become a priest?” -Elias