Who We Are

The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) of the Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens is a parish, church, and community based organization committed to the holistic development of young people through athletic and faith-centered programming.

CYO exists to provide youth with the opportunity to grow in faith and understanding of their Catholic beliefs through participation in parish-based athletic programs. These programs strive to foster spiritual, physical, emotional, and social growth, nurturing young people to live as disciples of Christ within their parish and broader communities.

The organization functions as a cooperative union of administrative staff, operational volunteers, pastors, Parish Athletic Representatives (PARs), Athletic Directors, coaches, and parents. Together, they promote and sustain the mission and philosophical goals of CYO, ensuring consistent alignment with the broader evangelizing mission of the Church.

Through continued collaboration with the departments of the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis, CYO ensures that sports and youth ministry are seamlessly integrated, creating environments where character, virtue, and community thrive.

Vision & Values

Inspired by the Good News, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s School of Evangelization and its Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) uphold the following values:

To encourage spiritual development, supporting the total formation of each participant through a Christ-centered approach.

To cultivate Christian leadership by guiding young men and women toward personal growth, social awareness, and the development of sound Christian values.

To promote fairness, compassion, truth, and cooperation through inclusive recreational activities that build character.

To challenge youth to serve others, especially those in greater need within their parishes and communities.

To uphold the dignity of every person, fostering respect, patience, kindness, and understanding in all interactions.

To model true sportsmanship and self-control, particularly in moments of adversity.

To support each participant’s growth, nurturing a positive spirit and rejecting a “win at all costs” mentality.

To build cooperation and community, where participants, coaches, officials, and volunteers work together to embody Gospel values.