Over 2,500 Belizean Students Gather for Catholic Youth Conference

The Belize City Civic Center turned into a sea of excitement today as more than twenty‑five hundred young people from every corner of the country came together for Belize’s first‑ever Catholic Youth Conference. The atmosphere felt more like a youth revival than a formal gathering, music, prayer, and laughter filling the arena as students reconnected with their faith and with each other. Organizers say they want this momentum to last well beyond today, and Deacon Bob Rice hopes this inaugural event becomes the start of a tradition that grows stronger every year.

 

Deacon Bob Rice, Organizer, Catholic Secondary School, Student Leadership Conference 

“The goal of the conferences is to allow young people to hear how exciting it is, to have faith, to have religion, to follow Jesus, to be Catholic, all of those things. I think so many times young people think that the faith is trying to ruin their life where it’s not exciting or interesting. And so we put together a real celebration and joy what it means to be a follower of Jesus.”

 

Britney Gordon

“So how many students are we seeing here today, or how many schools are represented.”

 

Deacon Bob Rice

“I think we have about twelve schools represented today and about 2,500 teenagers that are here.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Can you tell me a little bit about these conferences and what countries you’ve hosted them in before and how exactly did it reach Belize?”

 

Deacon Bob Rice

“So we have a number of conferences in the United States as well as in Canada. It happened here in Belize because many of our students have come down to Belize to do missionary work, whether in Benque or San Pedro and a conversation just started.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What are some of the activities being hosted at the event? What are some of the things the students will be learning?”

 

Deacon Bob Rice

“A lot of what we try to do is just share witnesses of lives that have been changed by Jesus. We have really engaging music whether it’s really fun and upbeat or something more worshipful. And then because we’re Catholic, we have reconciliation available and we’re gonna conclude with the time to worship Jesus in Eucharist to adoration.”

 

As everyone heads home, organizers say they’re hopeful that today’s enthusiasm becomes the spark that keeps young Belizeans fired up about their faith long after the conference ends.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: