World Youth Day - July 23-28, 2013 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The U.S. Catholic Bishop's have declared the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time as World Youth Day in the United States (not to be confused with the International Celebration of WYD, which is held every 2-3 years). The National Catholic Committee on Scouting encourages Scout Leaders to join parishes across the nation in acknowledging the many gifts of our youth during Sunday liturgies on that weekend. The National Celebration of Youth Day offers all those involved in youth ministry an opportunity to highlight the gifts and joys that young people bring to faithcommunities. Diocesan and Unit Leaders are encouraged to ontain resource materials from the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministers (NFCYM) or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

The annual event, directed by the Holy Father, will take place in October of each year. The U.S. Catholic Bishop's, through the NFCYM, are urging all Catholics, especially young people, to prayerfully reflect on the Gifts of the Spirit.

The NCCS has been actively involved in the preparation of suggested Youth Day Activities which have been published in the 1998 World Youth Day Resource Manual. All Diocesan Leaders and Committees are urged to actively promote unit involvement. The Manual, which includes a special section dedicated to Boy Scouts is available for purchase from National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministers (NFCYM). The U.S. Catholic Bishops, in recognizing Scouting as a Youth Ministry within the Church, reaches out to our Catholic Scouts through the NCCS to offer the unique opportunity to partner with NFCYM.