Young set to Renew

Hundreds of young adults from across the Archdiocese of Toronto and beyond will gather Nov. 20-21 for Renew 2026, the annual conference focused this year on finding the courage to defend the faith in today’s world. 

Following this year’s festivities is a special World Youth Day Mass with Cardinal Frank Leo at nearby St. Thomas More Parish, adding to the excitement for young adults in the region hopeful to celebrate their Catholic faith at home and abroad next year in South Korea. 

Organizers have again shaped the Renew conference around the real questions and challenges young adults are facing, with upwards of 800 young adults expected. 

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Office of Catholic Youth director Fr. Paul Magyar shared a glimpse into what is in store for attendees this year at Scarborough’s 12Fifty Event Centre.

“This year is very important because the theme is entirely focused on the courage to defend the faith,” he said, referring to John 16:33 being used for Renew, this year’s local WYD celebrations and the 2027 International World Youth Day — “Take courage! I have overcome the world.” 

This year’s keynote speaker will be JJ Niekro, former Atlanta Braves pitcher, son of Houston Astros legend Joe Niekro and nephew of MLB Hall of Famer Phil Niekro. Today, Niekro works as a young inspirational Catholic speaker who hopes to touch on life's various challenges and curveballs that often require enacting the courage to stand in your faith.

“We are excited to have him join us, alongside a panel of our own priests from the archdiocese, namely Fr. Eric Rodriguez and Fr. Kevin Belgrave, as professors at St. Augustine Seminary. Both are very qualified to answer the questions of young adults in the proper language, and the conferences’ workshops are very intentional about how to live your life as a Catholic whether you’re married, a couple, single or whatever stage of life you're in — we want to cater to that,” Magyar said. 

Additional voices from Covenant House Chaplain and past-OCY Faith and Fitness instructor Ramuel Villardo, Sr. Marie Veritas and Anna Boyagoda, among others, are set to make the two-day conference loaded in delivery but of interest to all. 

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The variety of voices and topics planned to be covered is largely thanks to the feedback of local young adults themselves through OCY’s Spiritus Ministries, which is operational in all six regions of the archdiocese.

“We always ask what topics they are looking for, what they are struggling with, and what they need to be met with. We then design the entire conference based on their particular needs, and we bring in keynote and workshop speakers based on those,” Magyar said. 

Renew also incorporates the archdiocesan pastoral plan theme and objectives into its delivery as well, making everything, from every song and its lyrics to each workshop and breakout, intentional. 

Of course, Eucharistic adoration, Confessions, Benediction, extensive praise and worship and Holy Mass at the conclusion of the conference are set to return as staples to the event.  Two workshop classes offered on the Saturday have been tailored to young children ages three to 10, deliberately designed to encourage more young families to attend this year’s event. 

Magyar also looks forward to seeing “every Catholic vendor imaginable,” perhaps the best way to describe the many booths from local schools, Catholic organizations, institutions and artists that showcase their products and services. 

“That’s always popular as well, and a great opportunity to see the extended Catholic world beyond the parishes. Often, it reminds us how extensive that world really is even here in the Archdiocese of Toronto,” he said. 

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Magyar noted that the Office of Catholic Youth is approaching the Renew 2026 gathering as part of a much larger journey. Many who attend are also preparing for Archdiocesan or OCY pilgrimages to World Youth Day in Seoul in August 2027, where the office plans to offer formation before, during and after the trip.

To register, visit renewtoronto.org/.

A version of this article appeared in the November 15, 2026 issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "Young set to Renew".