Members of NFCYM (National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry) Region V visit Meltdown, a downtown Bowling Green ice cream shop, during their April 8-10 gathering. COURTESY OF CHARLIE HARDESTY
Region V youth and young adult leaders gather at Gasper River
BY CHARLIE HARDESTY, OFFICE OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
Every year, the members of NFCYM (National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry) from Region V (Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana) gather for an in-person meeting. This meeting is a time of training, networking, regional business, and prayer. This year, the Diocese of Owensboro hosted this meeting at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green from April 8-10.
The Region V meeting is attended by diocesan directors of youth ministry, organizations that serve young people, and associate members who often consist of parish youth ministry leaders. This year there were 11 leaders present at the meeting all week and another 14 leaders attended the training day.
Highlights of the week included a great day of training on youth ministry with Mark Oestreicher. Mark is a veteran youth worker with over 40 years’ experience. He shared the six values great youth ministries embrace and taught about the need for belonging. Another highlight was an evening spent on the campus at Western Kentucky University hosting dinner at the Newman Center and spending time with the students in fellowship and prayer. The group from Region V also had Mass with Bishop Medley and found time to go to Meltdown for a special ice cream tasting experience with Susan Warrell.
It was an honor to host the 2025 Region V meeting in the Diocese of Owensboro and expose leaders from our region to the ministry of Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and the Newman Center at WKU.
Learn more at owensborodiocese.org/youth-ministry.
Mark Oestreicher shares the six values great youth ministries embrace and taught about the need for belonging during the April 8-10 NFCYM (National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry) Region V meeting, held at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green. COURTESY OF CHARLIE HARDESTY
Originally printed in the May 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
