NFCYM staff member Natalie Ibarra recently interviewed Joseph and Jennifer Zerbes, along with Emma Torres, about their child’s 2022 and 2023 NCYC experience.
In this interview, you will discover how these parents witnessed their children’s inspiration, connection, and personal growth through their experiences at NCYC.
Where are you from? When (what year/s) did your child attend NCYC?
Emma: I have two daughters who attended NCYC in November 2022. We reside in Vista, California, so they were able to attend the one in Long Beach, California.
Joseph and Jennifer: Our daughter attended NCYC 2022 in Long Beach and NCYC 2023 in Indianapolis. We live in Michigan City, Indiana.
As a parent, what influenced your decision to send your child to NCYC?
As a parent, did you witness any transformative moments in your child during their participation in NCYC?
How did your child's energy, emotions, or excitement impact the household upon returning from NCYC?
Joseph: I can tell you one thing for sure. Me not being a cradle Catholic and coming into this household as a convert, my daughter really noticed the impact of NCYC. It carried from Long Beach to Indy this past year, where I went with her. She noticed how much I picked up and how much it influenced the adults too. She made sure we interacted with key figures like Bishop Joe and was excited to bring that enthusiasm into our home.
Her excitement and the connections she made had a significant impact on our household. She constantly talks about her experiences and is bummed about not being able to attend this year, but she’s already planning for next year in Indy. The experience of seeing tens of thousands of youth sharing their faith is monumental. The scale of the event, especially using venues like Lucas Oil Stadium, was absolutely unbelievable.
Jennifer: I think also, every household is different, and every parish is different. We didn’t grow up with praise music, and our parish is pretty traditional. So, bringing that back and introducing different artists has been significant. For example, in Indianapolis, for KING & COUNTRY. was there.
We can tell a lot about our daughter’s mood by the music playing in her bedroom. It’s awesome to come home and hear her praise playlist going. She feels comfortable playing it in the car with friends or at home. The level of acceptance she feels at NCYC, surrounded by so many people, makes her comfortable sharing that experience at home.
She doesn’t care if you’re Catholic or not; she shares it with everyone because the message is so universal. This is especially meaningful for teenagers who need a solid foundation in faith and Christianity. Witnessing her share this is truly beautiful.
Emma: For us here, the excitement and love that the girls had when they came home were definitely noticeable. The older ones, who came back from NCYC, had this sense of spiritual bragging, sharing what they experienced and what the younger ones missed. The younger one would ask, “What’s it like?” and we’d say, “You’ll have your time to go.” She’s looking forward to going in November, God willing.
Even our son, who is only 12, noticed the difference. He’d ask where his sisters were, and when told they were at NCYC, it became part of the norm for him. He’s seeing that it’s okay to love God, be a Christian, and praise Him because of what his sisters received and shared.
NCYC is a big opportunity for youth to be surrounded by others like them, and in today’s world, feeling accepted is crucial. Our oldest is comfortable sharing her faith on social media, posting about church events and Saints’ Days. This confidence and willingness to share stem from her experience at NCYC and has influenced her younger siblings, who now also feel and want to be involved in their faith.
What hopes do you have for your child attending NCYC this year?
Emma: Her sister has really hyped it up, so I know for a fact she’s super excited, especially because of what she’s heard about her sister’s experience. But she’s her own person, and to know that just last year, only a few months ago, she received the sacrament of confirmation, and now she’s so ready to act and eager to learn again, it’s incredible. I’m really hoping she opens up her heart and allows the Holy Spirit to move through her, so she can fully experience everything that NCYC has to offer. That’s exactly what I’ll tell her: open up your heart, your ears, your eyes, and receive it all. If she has any questions or needs anything, there are plenty of people there who can mentor and help. She recently shared how she’s come to really understand adoration, and I can’t wait for her to come back and share her testimony, her experience, and what she felt during adoration. Knowing she’ll soon have that experience again excites me because it’s such a gift. I just look forward to seeing her open herself up completely and receive everything that comes her way.
What advice would you give other parents considering having their child attend NCYC?
Emma: Trust in God if your child has come to you and said, “Look at this flyer. Can you come to this meeting?” It’s not just about them coming, but about God coming to you as a parent. Take it as a gift for your child to have the desire and curiosity about NCYC. As a parent, you’ll receive so much by seeing your child fulfilled with the love of Christ and understanding that Christ loves them.
Be open to it, pray about it, and know that if your child comes to you, God is speaking to you. Even if they don’t come directly, but you hear about it through the bulletin, a church announcement, or from the youth minister, consider showing them the promotional video. It’s high-energy and exciting. Just pray about it, and trust that God will guide you to the right decision.
Jennifer: If there’s any bit of interest from your child and they’ve mentioned it, no parent should hesitate to send them. It truly is a gift for them to be able to go. The experience will be one that changes their heart forever.
Joseph: We were in a bit of a different situation because our daughter was involved with the youth council. She went to Rome to meet the Pope, and then, about a month and a half later, we were in Long Beach for NCYC. For parents, if you can help out or even go on the trip with them, you’ll really understand. If you can chaperone with the group, you’ll see how amazing the event is.
Last year, my wife couldn’t go due to my job, but I was able to take time off easily, so I went with my daughter to Indy. She wasn’t part of a group at the time, and it was an awesome experience. We both enjoyed our time in Long Beach immensely. Seeing it with our own eyes was incredible. It’s a great event for the youth.
