by John Sorce
john.sorce@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The archdiocese has decided to take a different approach to what has long been known as the Junior High Youth Rally this year.
Instead of one event held at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg, the Encounter Youth Rally, as it will be known this year, will take place at three separate archdiocesan locations over three days in February.
“We’re trying to do some new branding, and we chose ‘encounter’ because that’s what we’re trying to do,” said Kyle Kuckelman, youth ministry consultant for the archdiocese. “We want these kids to have an encounter with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
“Not everybody is able to get to [Camp Tekakwitha] easily, so we pivoted and our goal this year was to make the event accessible to more people.”
The rally will offer sessions this year in Emporia, Shawnee and Topeka.
“Our thought this year was maybe we don’t have as big of an event, but we have smaller events more often and that are across the region,” Kuckelman said.
“I’d rather do what we can really well. And that’s to be more regional, local, affordable and accessible,” he added.
The first session will be held at the Didde Center on Emporia State University’s campus on Feb. 20 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. The evening event will feature dinner, a talk and adoration/worship. There is no cost for this session.
The next day’s event will be held at Good Shepherd Church in Shawnee on Feb. 21. It will be held from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and include talks, breakout sessions, lunch and adoration.
Cost for this session is $15 per person for members of the archdiocese and $25 for those outside the archdiocese.
The final event of the weekend will be on Feb. 22 at Hayden High School in Topeka. This all-day session from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. will feature Mass with Archbishop Shawn McKnight, talks, breakout sessions, lunch and adoration.
Cost for this session is $30 per person for archdiocesan parishioners and $40 for those outside the archdiocese.
“The conferences are going to be about the Holy Spirit and how to move in the Spirit,” Kuckelman said.
All three sessions will feature Oscar Rivera as the keynote speaker. Rivera, who is also known as Two Ten, is internationally known and is also bilingual, which enables the rally to connect with the Spanish-speaking community.
People can learn more about Rivera by visiting his website: https://www.oscartwoten.com/index.html.
The event is open for sixth graders through high school aged kids and registration is encouraged as a group, either through a church or with a parent. Chaperones will not be provided.
“We’re really looking forward to it,” Kuckelman said. “We think it’s going to be a great event and are excited for these young people to experience the church in a new and profound way.”
Register through Feb. 15 at: archkck.org/encounter-youth-events-2026/.
