Who's going to be at ncyc?
Gian Gamboa
Gian Gamboa is a Catholic speaker and musician who helps young people develop a personal relationship with Jesus so they can experience the fullness of the Catholic faith. His life’s mission is to empower youth to become who God made them to be. He wants all people to encounter Christ and fall in love with Him so that “they may have life and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10) Gian has given more than 1,000 talks in over 300 venues across the country. He loves to eat giant burgers, play basketball, and watch 90’s movies. Born in the Philippines, raised in California, but a Texan at heart -- Gian lives in Austin, TX with his wife and two kids.
Sr. Elfie Del Rosario, FMA
Sister Elfie Del Rosario, FMA, affectionately known as “The Happy Nun,” is a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco). Born in Nigeria and raised in the Philippines, she later moved to New Jersey, using her psychology degree to teach children with special needs. Sr. Elfie joined the Salesian Sisters in 2009 and now serves as the vocations director for the eastern U.S. province. Passionate about engaging with youth, she shares encouragement and brings them closer to Jesus and Mary—often with the help of her bubble machine, filled with her signature-scented solution. Learn more at www.happynun.com.
Sr. Bethany Madonna, SV
Sister Bethany Madonna, SV, was raised in Melbourne, FL. While attending the University of Central Florida, she had a profound encounter with the Lord, which drew her heart toward the vulnerable unborn and their mothers. After her graduation in 2006, she worked for the Respect Life Office for the Diocese of Orlando before joining the Sisters of Life in 2007.
Dr. alex gotay
Alex Gotay is a national Catholic speaker known for his fire, faith, and real talk. With lively storytelling, high energy, and deep conviction, he speaks at major events like Steubenville, Life Teen, and diocesan conferences across the country. Alex connects with teens on a personal level because he’s lived it. He’s a 4th-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a former UFC/MMA coach, and co-host of the Sainthood in the City podcast. Alex is a husband of 25 years, a proud dad of four boys, and a man all in for Jesus.
Chenele Shaw
Chenele Shaw is a speaker, writer, podcast co-host, and ministry leader with a heart for helping others find a home in the Church and walk in their God-given dignity. She has served as a youth minister, theology teacher, and Director of Youth Ministry for her diocese, and continues to speak at conferences, retreats, and parishes across the country. Chenele is the co-founder of the Before Gethsemane Initiative, a Catholic nonprofit dedicated to education and reconciliation around racism and xenophobia. Outside of her work, you can find Chenele watching reality TV, going to confession, and updating her Spotify playlists. She lives in Florida and is always up for a good story and a great snack.
house collective
What Breakout sessions are offered at ncyc?
Breakout sessions at NCYC are led by nationally recognized speakers, allowing participants the flexibility to choose sessions that align with their roles and interests. Full session details and speaker lineups are below.
Breakout sessions repeat on Friday and Saturday.
Round 1 & 4 (11:45 am - 12:45 pm)
Session Title: Before You Hit Send: Following Jesus in Online Conflict
Session Description: We live in a world where disagreement often turns into division, especially online. As Christians, we are called to speak the truth but never apart from love. This session will explore what the Church means by fraternal correction and how young people can navigate difficult conversations with wisdom, humility, and courage. Through Scripture, practical examples, and real-life scenarios from social media and everyday life, participants will learn how to stand firm in their convictions without attacking others or sacrificing charity. Rather than asking, “How do I win the argument?” we’ll ask the better question: “How do I help someone encounter Christ?” Participants will leave with practical tools for responding rather than reacting, engaging in difficult conversations with respect, and becoming digital witnesses who reflect both truth and love.
Session Title: Blessed are the Real
Session Description: In a world that rewards image, curation, and the pressure to have it all together, Jesus offers a radical and upside-down invitation to live in the light of the truth. This session explores the exhaustion of the masks we wear, and the freedom found in taking them off. Through a blend of relatable storytelling, spiritual reflection, and a few unexpected throwback surprises, Aires Patulot invites participants to examine the weight of trying to be everything to everyone. Students will discover that vulnerability is not a weakness to be hidden but the very door through which deeper connection and joy enter. This workshop helps youth see that the path to holiness is not about becoming someone else. Instead, it is about the courage to become who God already knows and loves.
Session Title: Offer It Up: Making Everyday Life a Prayer
Session Description: Every moment of our lives matters. Often, we live waiting for big moments, but how can we encounter God in the minute details of life? In this session, you will discover how your everyday experiences, from your greatest joys to your biggest challenges, can become opportunities to encounter Christ. You will leave with simple, practical ways to recognize God’s presence, deepen your relationship with Him, and make every day an opportunity to grow in faith.
Session Title: Jesus Loves You Just Because You Exist
Session Description: Many of us know that Jesus loves us, but far fewer truly understand why. We can recount many of Jesus’ teachings and the stories of Jesus’ passion and resurrection, yet still wonder if God’s love depends on our performance, our mistakes, or whether we are “good enough.” But this isn’t the Gospel–Jesus does not love us because we’ve earned it, He loves us just because we exist as His creation. In this session, we will dig into the life-changing truth that salvation is a gift freely given, not something we achieve on our own. Through Scripture, reflection, the lives of the saints, and practical tips for better receiving and sharing God’s love, you will discover how embracing your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God can transform the way you live, love, and pursue sainthood.
Session Title: Real Ones: FInding Friends Who Get You to Heaven
Session Description: In a world full of group chats, social media, and packed schedules, it’s still possible to feel lonely and unknown. We all want friendships that are real, lasting, and meaningful, but not every friendship helps us become the person God created us to be. This session takes an honest look at the friendships shaping our lives and challenges us to seek the kind of Christ-centered community we’re truly made for. Together, we’ll explore what authentic friendship looks like, how to recognize relationships that help us grow, and how to build a community that encourages us, strengthens our faith, and helps us get to heaven.
Session Title: Navigating Faith & Sexual Orientation: Guidance for Walking with People
Session Description: Questions around faith and exploration of sexual orientation are present in young Catholics in the Church today. Many of us are seeking ways to walk with those we love and draw from the wisdom of our Catholic faith as we do so. This breakout will incorporate theological insights with psychological guidance as we learn together to better accompany those we love with LGB experiences.
Bishop Larry Silva
Session Title: Trail of Grace: Exploring Prayer on the Path with Jesus
Session Description:
In this dynamic, Scripture rooted workshop, NET Missionaries invite participants into the heart of what prayer truly is: a relationship with Jesus who longs to walk beside us. Prayer isn’t just words we say—it’s a friendship we grow. Jesus is not distant or abstract; He is a living guide who calls each of us by name, invites us into conversation, and desires to be part of every corner of our lives.
Throughout the session, missionaries will share practical ways to pray, drawing from the Gospels to show how Jesus Himself models intimacy with the Father. Participants will explore how to speak to Jesus honestly, how to listen for His voice, and how to surrender the parts of life He gently asks us to entrust to Him. Together, we’ll look at Scripture passages that reveal Jesus’ desire for closeness, His invitation to “come and see,” His promise to remain with us, and His call to follow Him step by step.
Session Title: Equipping Families to Accompany Young People (Adult Session)
Session Description: Families are the primary place where teens can be known, seen, and loved as they grow in faith. But many adults feel unqualified to accompany young people in their faith journey. In this session, we will look at how Simple Mentoring Keys can help families walk with young people toward a lifelong faith and discuss opportunities for parish leaders to support and equip families for accompaniment.
ROund 2 & 5 (1:45 pm - 2:45 pm)
Session Title: Community and Accompaniment
Session Description: What if the greatest gift you could give someone wasn’t your advice, your words, or your ability to fix their problems? This session invites you to discover the power of simply being present. Through meaningful conversation and shared experiences, you will explore how authentic community is built when people are willing to listen, be known, and walk alongside one another. You do not need to have all the answers to make a difference. You simply need the willingness to show up. You will leave with practical ways to bring the gift of real presence into your everyday relationships.
Session Title: Mercy, Honesty, and Starting Over
Session Description:Most of us know we should go to confession. But what if we’re looking at it all wrong? Reconciliation isn’t about earning God’s love; it’s about receiving it. Every one of us has chapters we’d rather rewrite. The beautiful news of the Gospel is that God gives us the chance to start over again and again. In this engaging session filled with music, laughter, and powerful stories, Steve Angrisano explores how the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings healing, freedom, and a fresh start that can change your life.
Session Title: Stop Waiting, Start Something
Session Description: What if you didn’t have to wait to make a difference? Too often, we think we need permission, experience, or the “right moment” to act. But what if God is already calling you to start something now? This session invites you to see your faith as something active, creative, and lived out in real ways. Through stories, practical ideas, and interactive moments, you’ll explore how your passions, talents, and experiences can become the starting point for something meaningful. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need a willingness to begin.
Session Title: Belonging Beyond Confirmation (Adult Session)
Session Description: Drawing from personal experience, peer surveys, and real stories, Noah and Matthew offer a candid, teen-led perspective on what sustains youth engagement beyond Confirmation. They will examine why some youth remain connected to youth ministry while others disengage. The session is designed primarily for youth ministers and adult leaders, while remaining relevant for teen leaders seeking to strengthen their communities.
Session Title: No Filters Needed
Session Description: Through personal experiences of rejection, conversion, and serving immigrant families, Anamaria discovered that lasting joy is not found in popularity, achievement, or the approval of others, but in God’s unconditional love. In this session, you will reflect on your own search for belonging and learn how encountering Christ can transform the way you see yourself and others. You will leave encouraged to embrace your identity in God and to live that love through compassion, service, and authentic relationships.
Session Title: Finding Jesus Christ in the Experience of Migration
Session Description: What if the journey of migration isn’t just a human story but a place where we can encounter Jesus Himself? In this powerful session, we’ll explore how the struggles, hopes, and courage of migrants reveal something deeply true about who Christ is and how He moves in the world today. Through real-life stories, Scripture, and the Church’s teaching, you’ll be invited to see migration not as a distant issue, but as a sacred opportunity to recognize Christ at the margins. Come ready to reflect, be challenged, and discover how faith calls us to respond with compassion, courage, and hope.
Bishop Mark Seitz
Session Title: It Used to Be Drama, and Now It’s Trauma
Session Description: The new drug, the most prevalent drug in 2026, is pornography. It is damaging the lives of men and women of every age, race, and vocation. The average age at first exposure is 8-9 years. Young people are often traumatized by these experiences, and since parents and parish leaders often lack the proper understanding of themselves, they are unable to speak about the topic in a way that is intentional, pastoral, and focused on being against the bad and about the good. This talk presents facts and a three-part approach centered on God and the Sacraments, science and proven truth, and the importance of accountability and relationships. For 16 years, Fr. Hoffa has been a high school and college chaplain, Diocesan director of youth ministry, youth conference speaker, worship leader, and has worked in the field of pornography for 10 years.
Session Title: God Sees So Much More
Session Description: Your anxiety, depression, learning difference, or diagnosis doesn’t define you. Neither do your talents, grades, popularity, or secrets. God sees so much more in you, and for you. Sometimes, we just need help seeing ourselves the way He does. Leah and her mom, Cathy, will share their journey through anxiety, a dyslexia diagnosis, and other family changes, and how they learned to see themselves—and each other—through God’s eyes. Along the way, they discovered helpful coping strategies, found strength in their parish community, and built stronger relationships with one another and with God through prayer and the sacraments. They’ll share practical tools and hard-won wisdom so you can discover hope, healing, and the truth of whose you really are.
ROund 3 & 6 (3:45 pm - 4:45 pm)
Session Title: Faith Under Pressure
Session Description: Following Jesus in today’s world takes courage, and staying rooted in your Catholic faith isn’t always easy. Whether at school, online, with friends, or at home, you’ll encounter challenges to living as a disciple of Christ. In this session, we’ll discuss those pressures, explore how Jesus and the saints model perseverance, and discover how prayer, the sacraments, and authentic community can give you the strength to remain close to Christ.
Session Title: Hope When Life Hurts
Session Description: In a world filled with pressure, disappointment, anxiety, heartbreak, and confusion, it can be tempting to give up on what is good. When life hurts, many people numb themselves, isolate, chase distractions, or begin to believe the lie that goodness is no longer worth pursuing. But what if pain does not have to make you bitter? What if suffering could actually shape you into someone stronger, deeper, and more loving?
Session Title: Built to be Bold
Session Description:Jesus never called His followers to stay silent; He called them to “go and make disciples.” In a world where it can feel easy to blend in, stay comfortable, or keep faith private, this session will challenge you to live boldly for Christ and share Him authentically in everyday life.Through Scripture, storytelling, music, practical examples, and interactive moments, you will discover that evangelization is not about being perfect or having all the answers. It is about personally knowing Jesus, loving others deeply, and courageously saying yes to the mission He has given His people.You will leave inspired and equipped to live as a missionary disciple in your school, friendships, sports teams, home, online spaces, and community, bringing the hope and love of Christ wherever you go.
Session Title: Never Been Kissed: The Love Story I didn’t See Coming
Session Description:This was not how I imagined my story would go. I grew up expecting life to feel like a teen rom-com—the girl gets noticed, chosen, and finally has her moment. Instead, I found myself waiting, comparing, and wondering: What’s wrong with me? Why hasn’t it happened yet? What began as a simple insecurity uncovered something much deeper: the desire to be seen, chosen, and loved. In a culture that often measures worth by relationships, attention, and validation, it’s easy to believe the lie that if we are not chosen by someone else, we are somehow not enough. In this honest, relatable, and creatively presented session, Nellani J.P. Tabada shares her story through the lens of a teen rom com while inviting participants to encounter a deeper truth: our identity is not rooted in popularity, relationships, or romance, but in a God who already knows us, sees us, and loves us completely. Because maybe the love we’ve been waiting for… has been there all along.
Session Title: Fiat and Fire
Session Description:What does it mean to say “yes” to God? In this inspiring and practical talk, we will explore how Mary’s humble response and St. Francis’s bold surrender offer a model for discovering your own calling. Through real-life stories and simple tools for discernment, you will learn how to hear God’s voice, trust His plan, and live with courage and purpose. Whether you feel uncertain or curious about your path, this session invites you to say “yes” to something greater and to live your faith with joy and boldness.
Session Title: Resisting Numbness: Faith, Discernment, and Peacebuilding
Session Description: When violence, division, and suffering seem constant, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed, discouraged, or numb. Drawing from their ministry in Haiti amid gang violence and social unrest, Sister Judy and Sister Marilyn share stories of faith, resilience, and hope in the face of profound challenges. Through reflection, conversation, and the practice of discernment, you will explore how to recognize God’s presence in difficult circumstances, respond to suffering with compassion, and become an instrument of peace. This session offers practical ways to deepen faith, resist indifference, and bring hope to your school, parish, family, and community.
Session Title: Stop Venting, Start Thinking (Adult Session)
Session Description: Most of us have people we love and trust. What we rarely have is a structure that lets us use that community for the hard stuff. So we catch up, we vent, we encourage each other, and we go home carrying the same questions we arrived with. The Wise Council gives community somewhere to go. A structured peer consultation method, it is rooted in wonder and curiosity rather than advice-giving or problem-solving. It creates a container where adult leaders can bring a real challenge from their ministry and receive something more useful than sympathy or quick fixes: genuine collective thinking, honest questions, and new ways of seeing a situation they have been too close to. There is something fitting about adults who accompany youth learning this discipline. We ask teenagers to be vulnerable and to trust that the community around them will respond with honesty and care. The Wise Council invites leaders to practice exactly that themselves.
Session Title: Ministry in the age of AI (Adult Session)
Session Description: Artificial intelligence is already shaping how young people search, learn, and ask life’s deepest questions. Instead of reacting with fear, what if youth ministers saw this moment as an invitation? This session offers a clear, non-technical understanding of AI and explores what its popularity reveals about the human heart. Why do young people feel heard by machines? What does that teach us about listening, accompaniment, and presence in ministry? Together, we will reflect on how AI exposes a hunger to be known and how youth ministers can respond by becoming more attentive, relational, and intentional in forming disciples.
