03/02/2026
Many from our Camp Carlo family were involved back in November with NCYC(National Catholic Youth Conference). This article talks about the importance of youth ministry, formation, and the amazing things that are happening here in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. As Pope Leo said to our young people at NCYC “You are not only the future of the Church, you are the present”
Be an Ambassador for Christ? Count on It!
Lenten Call Resonates with WV Catholic Youth Leaders
-Pausing for a photo on the last night of the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis are (from left to right) Kristy Riedel, Central Catholic High School Campus Minister, Wheeling; Sr. Maria Rukwishuro, SJI, principal of Notre Dame High School and St. Mary Catholic School and youth leader at Immaculate Conception Church, Clarksburg; Jenny Imer, of St. Michael Parish Youth Group, Wheeling; Andrew Kemp Myers, Campus Minister of Parkersburg Catholic High School and Youth Leader for St. Francis Xavier and Hidden Gems, Parkersburg; Mary Odin, youth leader of Blessed Sacrament Church, South Charleston; and Gregory Gust, Assistant Director of Faith Formation for the diocese.
This year, our Lenten journey opened with a powerful call from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians: to be “Ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2). That message carries significant meaning for our youth and young adult ministers across the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
Catholic youth leaders throughout West Virginia are answering that call with dedication and joy, understanding their critical role in shaping the future of the Church.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to lead our students to Christ,” said Andrew Kemp Myers campus minister at Parkersburg Catholic High School. “The kids have shown a hunger for the Lord and His Church by wanting to dive deep into Sacred Scripture and evangelism. I know they are changing their community and schools through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
In addition to his work at the high school, Myers leads youth ministry at St. Francis Xavier Parish and Hidden Gems Ministry, which serves Catholic youth in Parkersburg and surrounding communities. His experience reflects a broader trend across the diocese: young Catholics are eager not only to learn about their faith, but to live it boldly.
Large-scale events can have a profound impact on that growth. More than 120 youth from the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston attended the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) this year, joining thousands of teens from across the country for prayer, worship, and formation. Such events offer powerful moments of encounter, especially during Eucharistic adoration and Mass, when young people see the Church alive and vibrant.
These opportunities, however, require committed adult leaders willing to invest months of planning, fundraising, and organization.
Kristy Riedel, campus minster at Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, and Jenny Imer, youth leader at St. Michael Parish, Wheeling, took 42 students to NCYC this school year.
“The fire for Christ they returned with was incredible,” Riedel said. Even more meaningful was what happened afterward: students seeking deeper involvement in parish life and ministry. Many stepped forward “as lectors, altar servers, and Eucharistic ministers.” Some non-Catholic students who attended began exploring the faith more seriously, with a few entering OCIA formation classes.
“That’s the ‘why’ behind all the months of planning and logistics,” she said. “Providing these opportunities creates a great reward (for the Church).”
The momentum continues beyond NCYC. On Feb. 28, Riedel will help lead students from Central Catholic High School to Winter Jam in Pittsburgh, one of the nation’s largest Christian music tours. Events like this, along with diocesan retreats and parish youth gatherings, extend the enthusiasm sparked at larger conferences.
“It’s all about fanning that flame across the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston,” Parkersburg’s Myers campus said.
Diocesan leadership echoes this vision. Greg Gust, Assistant Director of Faith Formation for the diocese, recently attended his first NCYC and spoke about its impact in an interview with The Criterion, Indiana’s largest Catholic newspaper. He emphasized that the goal of such events is to help young people draw closer to Christ and understand that the Church is alive, totally relevant to their lives, and accessible.
“When students are ignited by the Holy Spirit, they go forth and make disciples,” Gust said. “Getting to see young people thriving and living genuine and authentic Catholic lives brings me so much joy.”
His words underscore an important truth: youth ministry is not simply programming—it is mission. Young people today face cultural pressures that can challenge their faith and identity. They need mentors who will walk beside them, answer questions, encourage prayer, and model authentic Christian living.
As Lent reminds us, the call to be “Ambassadors for Christ” is not optional. It is a call for all of us - to every baptized believer - and it carries special urgency when it comes to guiding the next generation. Youth and young adult leaders across West Virginia are embracing that mission wholeheartedly.
Through prayer, formation, conferences, service opportunities, and their presence, are youth faith formation leaders are helping young Catholics grow in confidence, deepen their relationship with God, and step into active roles within the Church, Gust said, concluding, “They are true ambassadors for Christ.”
