The Diocesan Youth Conference is an annual gathering for ALL teens
in the 8 - 12th grades of the Diocese of Trenton. It is an exciting day filled with great music, powerful talks, fun service projects and more!  Most importantly it is a chance to encounter Jesus, grow in your faith, and connect with other Catholics teens beyond your parish or school!

• Doors open at 9:30am
  • All participants will enter through the School's main doors and gather in the gym... where there will be music, activities and more!
  • We ask ONE adult chaperone to check in at the registration table while the rest of the group goes directly into the gym.  
  • We will officially start the program approx. 10:15am
• The day will end at approximately 5pm at the conclusion of Mass with Bishop.
• Do NOT allow teens to leave early or before the conclusion of Mass unless truly unavoidable!

DYC 2027 Schedule at a glance:

9:30am  Doors open/registration begins

9:45am  Band plays and welcome activities

10:15am DYC officially begins

Keynote Talk

12 - 3pm Workshop/Lunch/Service project (groups rotate)

4pm Mass with Bishop O’Connell 

5pm (or at the conclusion of Mass) Day ends

• ALL Teens in the 8th -12th grades are Welcome!
  • ALL Teen Participants must be accompanied by fingerprinted and VIRTUS trained Adults. 
  • ALL  Participants must submit a Permission slip to their lead Chaperone.  The completed forms should be carried by their Chaperone during DYC.  

• ALL Teen Participants must be accompanied by fingerprinted and VIRTUS trained Adults
• It is best if chaperones from the parish are present at DYC to lead a group of young people from your community through out the day. If a teen does not have a parish/school group to accompany them, a Parent may attend. 
• Please accompany your teens throughout every aspect of the day, travel with your group to each location AND participate fully alongside your teens helping them to be successful in their experiences.  Please help your teens to understand and follow through on instructions, and if necessary, please remind them to participate and be respectful.    
• More specific Chaperone information will be available on the REGISTRATION PAGE

• When you arrive, please enter Donovan Catholic High School through the school's Main entrance (look for signs!)
• Bus Parking is available in the parking lot at the end of the High School to the left of the Church. 

• Please have ONLY 1 parish leader go to your County’s registration table... All teens and other adults should proceed immediately into the gym!    PLEASE do NOT wait in the lobby!
• Leader checking in... 
  • Please be prepared to pay your registration fee, add any walk-ins, and receive your packet of information for the day that will include your lunch bracelets.  
  • After you check in, you will be instructed to pick up your t-shirts... and then meet you group in the gym. 
  • Please distribute t-shirts and lunch bracelets as soon as possible and encourage all members of your group to wear them for the day!
    
• If your teens are traveling separately and meeting at the school, we request:
  • At least 2 adult chaperones arrive to the school BEFORE your teens arrive.  
  • One adult should check in, pick up the t-shirts and proceed to the gym to wait for the group members
  • The other adult can remain outside to “check kids in” as they arrive, and then send them immediately into the gym where your other adults can meet/remain in with the teens.  
  • There is not enough room inside at registration area to gather and wait! 
  • you may consider bringing a sign/item on a poll or to hold high in the gym so kids can find your group more easily as they arrive.

• If your group is in need of transportation to DYC, we suggest partnering with other local churches to share the expense of a bus.  
• If you would like the Diocese to help you make a connection with another parish to share transportation, please email Dan at [email protected].
• If your bus needs to park at the School, please drop off teens just beyond the front door FIRST, then use the the parking lot at the end of the High School to the left of the Church.    

• Lunch will be provided.
  • Lunch will include a sandwich, chips, cookie, and a bottle of water.
  • Everything in the lunch is 100% nut free.  All ingredients come from nut free facilities.  
  • Vegetarian AND Gluten Free lunches will be available by request. This option is now on the registration form.  If you order these options, instruct participants to ask for them as through the line. **We will not have many extras, so please order in advance!**
    
  • If a participant has a SEVERE allergy or other dietary needs, we encourage them to bring their own lunch.
  • Condiments will be available. 
• All participants are encouraged to bring water and possibly a snack.
  • Some groups will eat lunch late
  • There are a few water fountains and refill stations in the school, but they may not be readily available.

• DYC will conclude with Mass.  
  • MASS is NOT optional! Please plan to stay through the end of Mass and avoid teens being picked up early unless truly necessary.  
  • This will be the “Vigil Mass” for the weekend, thus participants will not need to attend Mass on Sunday to meet their obligation.    
• Unfortunately, Confession can not be offered this year as a part of DYC.  
  • Please consider scheduling a follow up opportunity for your participants to go to Confession.
  • Consider attending your parish’s Lenten Penance service as a group or leading your own penance service with the support of your Pastor and parish clergy. (Contact us if we can help you plan!) 

• Adoration will take place during the day. It will be "youth friendly", less than an hour, and will include some instruction/formation, music, guided prayer moments, and a Eucharist blessing with the blessed Sacrament.  Please prepare your participants in advance by helping them to understand what Adoration is and what to do. 

• The cost is $25 per person, INCLUDING ADULTs.  
• Please note the following dates: 
  • Register by January 20th to guarantee a FREE DYC T-Shirt. (AFTER 1/20, t-shirts are first come, first serve while supplies last and will be distributed based on the date/time of registrations)
  • Register by February 2nd- for Advance Registration price ($25)
  • After February 2nd- only Walk-In registrations are welcomed (at an additional cost). 
    • **PLEASE DO NOT “walk-in” with a large group**  The walk in option should only be used for adding a few late registrations to your group.  
    • Please pre-register your group in advance.  If you need to “walk-in” with a large number, after Feb. 2nd  please contact us so we can be prepared.  
    • Lunches and t-shirts are not guaranteed for Walk-ins 
• Please pay using the online link in your registration confirmation email.  If you pay in person the day of the event, cash/check/credit card are acceptable.  One check for the group is preferred.  
• All additional registration and cost information will be available on our REGISTRATION PAGE...