On May 19th, seven Delbarton students traveled to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey for the 2025 NJ Catholic Youth Rally.
The New Jersey Catholic Youth Rally (NJCYR) stands as one of the most enduring and beloved events for Catholic teens in the state, combining faith, fellowship, and fun in a uniquely engaging format. Held annually at Six Flags Great Adventure, this event brings together thousands of Catholic youth, their leaders, clergy, and families for a day of celebration centered on Catholic identity, community, and worship.
The NJ Catholic Youth Rally was founded in the early 1990s as a collaborative initiative between the diocesan offices of youth and young adult ministry across New Jersey’s five Roman Catholic dioceses: Camden, Metuchen, Newark, Paterson, and Trenton. The rally was designed to create a large-scale gathering where Catholic teens could experience the universality and vibrancy of the Church outside the typical parish setting.
The primary goal was twofold: to evangelize young people by offering them a joyful and dynamic experience of their faith and to build a sense of solidarity among Catholic youth from different regions of the state.
The Delbarton contingent had a great experience at the NJ Catholic Youth Day. After an opening prayer with the Diocese of Paterson, the group hit the park from 12:00 to 6 pm. During this time, the group went on fearsome rides such as “El Toro” and “Nitro,” ate great carnival food, and interacted with youth groups from all over the state. At 6 pm, the congregation of Catholics re-assembled in the Batman Stunt Arena, where Bishop Sweeney, the Bishop of the Diocese of Paterson, conducted a closing liturgy complete with inspiring music and the communion sacrament of the Eucharist of those in attendance.
For countless teens, it’s a memorable milestone—sometimes their first time hearing a bishop speak directly to them, or their first time attending Mass with thousands of others their age. For youth ministers and clergy, it’s a powerful reminder of the Church’s future: alive and joyful.
