Diocese of Gary OYYA

Mission Statement

The Diocese of Gary OYYA serves those who serve the young Catholic Church.

Vision Statement

Through collaboration with parish leaders and youth-serving organizations, the Diocese of Gary OYYA seeks to nurture the total personal and spiritual enrichment of our youth and young adults, and to call them to full participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community as portrayed by Jesus in the Gospels.

OYYA programs are funded in part by generous donations to the diocesan Catholic Services Appeal
THANK YOU for your gifts!

The Catholic Youth Xperience will be held July 27-29 in Valparaiso. CYX is 3 days of faith and fun, with speakers, youth-friendly topics, learning, live music, prayer, new friends, a lot of fun, and very Catholic! Open to incoming freshmen through just-graduated seniors. This year, discover why you are CALLED FOR DUTY! click here for more...

Young Adults for Catholic Charities: We're looking for Catholic young adults throughout Northwest Indiana ready to launch the next great OYYA ministry! Starting the Summer of 2012, YACC will begin serving Catholic Charities, the social services agency of the Diocese of Gary. We need young adults- single and married, college students, 20's and 30's- ready to lead and serve a variety of projects that will benefit the hundreds of people served by Catholic Charities. And along the way, we'll pray together and play together too! Stay tuned...More details coming soon!

Meanwhile, learn more about the great services of Diocese of Gary Catholic Charities!

> Whether or not you knew Jade Sleaford (Our Lady of Sorrows, S. Haven), OYYA is asking all youth ministries in the Diocese of Gary to pause the next time you gather together, to pray for the eternal repose of her soul, and to pray for suicidal teens everywhere. Click here for resources.

Evangelization to, with, by, and for Catholic Teens:
Insights from the Diocese of Gary Youth Council
Read what our Diocesan Youth Council had to say about why teens participate- or DON'T participate- in faith-based activities, including Mass and youth ministry activities. click here

NCYC 2011, Indy! Nearly 230 youth and adult youth leaders from at least eighteen parishes and two Catholic high schools represented the Diocese of Gary at the biennial National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), held Nov. 17-19 in Indianapolis. The attendance was more than triple the previous largest delegation ever for the diocese. Visit the diocesan website to read the many blogs from attendees! Visit www.ncyc2011.com

Middle School Youth Ministry: More Important Than Ever!: Ministry with youth in grades 6-8 (junior high or middle school youth ministry) has evolved from “a good idea to have something to feed into your high school program” to “essential if you hope to have anyone in your high school program.” Kev writes...

For those of you who were a part of “Generation Christ” Symposium for Catholic Young Adults, thanks for being part of something special! One of the themes that surfaced often throughout the day was a genuine desire to network with other Catholic young adults in Northwest Indiana.

As Facebook has become arguably THE means of social networking, we have decided to expand the “Generation Christ” Facebook group site. “Generation Christ” is no longer just an event, it is the name we’ve given to a renewed outreach to Catholic young adults, college-aged, singles and marrieds, 18-30’s, in Northwest Indiana. Join today!