Rev. Mr. Alan Bridges carries the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament during Eucharistic Adoration. Matt
photo
Diocesan Youth Conference encourages journey of hope with God
BY ELISE STANKUS and KAYLA LATENDRESSE Correspondents
ANotre Dame High School in Lawrenceville Feb. 1.
The day began with an informal gathering in the school’s gymnasium, where Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., greeted and took pictures with students while a DJ played pop music in the center of the gym, which acted as a dance floor.
A live band playing worship music greeted students from the stage as they moved into the auditorium. Dan Waddington, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, acted as the emcee, welcoming students to the annual event.
Because Bishop O’Connell had to leave early for other commitments, he addressed the students via a pre-recorded video, in which he explained Pope Francis’ designation of this year as a Jubilee Year, and additionally as the “Jubilee of Hope.”
‘HOPE IS THE REASON’
From the twin monitors on either side of the stage, Bishop O’Connell spoke of the importance of hope in the lives of young people walking with God.
bishop, a hip-hop artist and a series of speakers gave teens a special message of hope for their life’s journey – a theme that coincided with the Jubilee Year.
“What if we looked at our whole lives as a journey, walking with God?” asked Brandon Morel, keynote speaker for this year’s Diocesan Youth Conference at
“Hope is the reason for the journey. Hope is the goal of the journey, of our faith. Where there is hope, there is life. ... Hope was the reason for Jesus’ journey to us.”
At the conclusion of the Bishop’s message, Waddington prayed, connecting the theme of this year’s conference, “The Journey,” with the Jubilee theme of
Continued on 34
Marzorati
A DYC participant listens intently during one of the many group keynote addresses. Matt Marzorati photo
“Even if you’re not going to have maybe a full conversation with God, he’s always there listening. Keep connecting with him, it can be as little as ‘Good morning’ to Him or ‘Goodnight.’”
“To spread positivity because through the opening of all these ‘Boxes of Joy,’ it made me realize that there are kids less fortunate, and we have to pray for them. Not all of them get to have that Christmas tree and gifts under them. We have to spread that positivity and help the community.”
JULIANA, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade
GIANCARLO, St. Paul Parish, Princeton
Nearly 900 young people gathered for the 2025 Diocesan Youth Conference in Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville. Rose O’Connor photo
A Salesian Sister speaks to teens, accompanied by a panel of their peers, during one of the breakout sessions. Matt Marzorati photo
Various activities, including dancing, gave young people an opportunity to engage with one another during DYC. Matt Marzorati photo
Young Catholics
Continued from 32
“Pilgrims of Hope.”
“Help us to go on a journey today that leads us closer to you,” he prayed, his hands outstretched over the hundreds of middle- and high-schoolers in the auditorium.
Morel, a Brooklyn-based youth minister and Catholic hip-hop artist, took the stage amid music and strobe lights. Opening with a rap piece, Morel shared an original song, gave his personal testimony, and explored a Scripture reading from Isaiah, through the analogy of running with a personal trainer.
Students then split up into three groups, going to lunch, a service project, and a “Tools for the Journey” workshop run by Sister Guerline Joseph, a Salesian Sister of St. John Bosco and the Associate Director for the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Newark. A panel of five young adults, including three high school students and one seminarian, answered questions about the struggles and joys of being a young Catholic in today’s world.
“It’s not always popular to live your faith, so that can be a challenge,” shared
Jake Snyder, a seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Ambler, Pa., north of Philadelphia.
In the cafeteria, students put together more than 400 gift boxes as a service project benefiting Box of Joy, an organization that provides Christmas gifts for children in developing countries.
SEEKING A MIRACLE
Another keynoter, Laura Williams, shared her life story and testimony, journey to God, and discovery of God’s purpose for her life, then sang for participants.
Williams described the current years as “building block years” for the teens in the audience. These years encompass learning to socialize and discover a sense of self and self-worth, and that is why it is essential to know Jesus, she explained.
“Don’t let anybody underestimate you or invalidate you because you’re young,” Williams said.
She said she was bullied as a youngster. She was homeschooled for a couple of years, and when she returned to school she felt like she had found her true self; but then her family moved. Williams asked God why this was happening to her after all she had gone through. Then, in her new school, a false rumor began about her, and she entered into a state of depression and Continued on 36
“I really liked Brandon’s speech, how he incorporated running into it.”
KATIE, Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle
“My favorite part was the really good band, the dancing, and the games.”
SABRINA, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton
“Turning to God in key moments in your life, in any situation at all. It’s key to not take it out on someone else, but turn to God and pray and hope that God can change your life in another way.”
DENNYS, St. Paul Parish, Princeton
Bishop O’Connell was interviewed by Lou, a DYC participant and Notre Dame student, for a video clip that will be produced for the diocesan website as well as for TrentonMonitor.com.
Rose O’Connor photo
A large banner featuring the DYC theme was displayed in the entry way of Notre Dame High School. Matt Marzorati photo
“I liked the part in the auditorium”
REEGAN, Holy Eucharist Parish, Tabernacle
temporarily lost her relationship with God until she met a girl named Lizzy –who radiated Jesus in every way possible.
Williams began to enter on her path back to Christ with Lizzy’s help. She entered into another battle with an eating disorder during COVID-19.
“I was asking God for a miracle,” she said.
Slowly she began to change her life, turn to Jesus, and seek to understand Him through reading the Bible, and she realized the way she was living was not God’s plan. Jesus was healing her behind the scenes and changing her heart – leading her to recovery, she said.
In college, her passion for music led her to be discovered by an agency that developed her into a Christian music artist. She had the chance to sing on The Voice, reconnect with Lizzy, and begin writing and publishing her music.
“That grapple, God can handle it. God wants you to go to Him in your pain … there’s nothing that is too big for God,” Williams said. “Everything is connected.”
LEARNING TO TURN TO GOD
The day concluded with Eucharistic Adoration, led by Father Chris Colavito, diocesan vocation director, followed by Mass.
Dennys Barrios of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, said he came away from the
“Having mostly hope. Most of the things we have been doing were about hope.
Like the beginning part with everyone in the auditorium, we were talking about Pope Francis’ statement about ‘The Jubilee Year of Hope’ and these ‘Boxes of Joy’ are giving joy to children who don’t have a lot of hope … it’s giving them something to look forward to every year.”
URIEL, St. Paul Parish, Princeton
“It’s a great thing to set up every year. The work that goes into it is incredible. You really feel like you’re together with everybody.”
SOPHIA, St. Joan of Arc Parish, Marlton
“No matter who you are, you are always welcome somewhere. That is my key takeaway.”
PEYTON, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Maple Shade
conference reinforced to turn to God “in key moments in your life, in any situation at all; it’s key to not take it out on someone else, but turn to God and pray and hope that God can change your life in another way – somehow resolve or work on the problems.”
Julianna Sumption, who attends Maple Shade High School and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Maple Shade, learned the importance of prayer – even simple prayer.
“Even if you’re not going to have maybe a full conversation with God, He’s always there listening. Keep connecting with Him, it can be as little as ‘Good morning’ to Him or ‘Good night.’”
Continued from 34
Brandon Morel shares his experiences of faith during his keynote address.
Matt Marzorati photos
A young person packages goods as part of a service project to benefit the Box of Joy program.