by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A weekend of faith and fellowship is approaching for high school youth within the archdiocese.
The Rural Catholic Youth Conference (RCYC) is set to take place from March 22-23 at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg.
The event began in 2016 out of Topeka and was initially hosted every other year to not interfere with the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).
But during COVID, organizers had to pivot to the ranch during the spring, and they have been hosting it there every year since.
According to rural youth ministry outreach coordinator Angie Bittner, having to move the conference to the ranch was a blessing in disguise.
“It’s beautiful to have the freedom to enjoy the beauty of the ranch and nature, especially for people in our rural parishes,” Bittner said. “We’re really blessed to have the ranch and want to make sure everybody gets to experience that.”
On-site check-in will be on March 22 until 9:30 a.m. and the conference concludes on Sunday with lunch served to- stay or to-go.
Kids will have the chance to participate in beautiful liturgies and the sacrament of reconciliation, as well as enjoy inspiring messages, great food and hospitality, and music, dance, parish time and free time.
“The weekend is going to be filled with a bunch of different stuff, but there will be an emphasis on developing relationships with those around you and with God,” Bittner said.
Guests include Andrew and Sarah Swafford; The Culture Project; Joe Heron music; and Mike Debus. Mass on Sunday will be celebrated by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann.
There is a lot of help that is needed to host an event like this, and Bittner credits a lot of the organization to the kids of the rural youth council, who serve in various capacities at different events over the course of the year.
“As an adult, I can’t come up with things that are going to speak to the hearts of teens like they can,” Bittner said. “So, we start the year with a retreat and brainstorm the main things that we want to focus on, and they felt like family relationships were what we should focus on this year.
“If your relationships within your family are strong, then chances are you will be able to have a good relationship with God.”
There is no cutoff for registration, and anyone is welcome to attend. Students do not have to be from a rural parish or even from within the archdiocese to attend.
Registration for the weekend is $140 and includes meals, accommodations, all sessions, a conference T-shirt and packet.
All payments should be sent directly to the ArchKCK Youth Office, Attn: RYMO RCYC, 12615 Parallel Pkwy., Kansas City, KS 66109.
Bittner hopes at the end of the weekend, the kids will leave different from when they arrived.
“We hope the kids will come away changed,” she said. “That’s what we pray will happen.”
To learn more, visit the website at: archkck.org/rural/events/rcyc for additional details and parish registration or contact Bittner at (785) 221-2644 or by email at: ruralyouth@archkck.org with questions.
