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A Guide to DBYCDBYC is a conference rooted in a lot of history while continuing to evolve, spiritually and physically, each year. With many moving parts, from schedules and logistics to traditions and expectations, this guide is designed to help you navigate it all. -
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Friday Night I Roll Call & Bishop's Gift I Banners I Table Display I T-shirts I Spirit Sticks I Voting Creative & Spirit Awards (banners, displays, t-shirts) I Leadership & Service Recognition Awards I
Where to Stay I Parking I Upcoming DBYC Reminders
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Friday Night at DBYCFriday night at DBYC sets the tone for the entire weekend. It’s a celebration of youth ministry, community, and the joy of being together before the conference officially begins. -
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As groups arrive, the space quickly fills with energy and creativity. Parishes come dressed in a theme they’ve chosen, often bringing along small items to share, decorations, and displays that reflect both their identity and the larger theme of the conference. It’s a time to reconnect, meet new people, and celebrate the wider diocesan community in a way that’s engaging and memorable.
When choosing your parish theme, we encourage you to have fun with it while still connecting it to the overarching DBYC theme for the year. This helps create a unified experience across the event while still allowing each group to express their personality. Themes can be simple or elaborate; what matters most is that your group is unified and excited to participate.
Friday night is so much more fun when you can encourage your group to engage, meet others, and fully enter into the experience. It’s one of the most impactful parts of the weekend and a powerful reminder that they are part of something much bigger than their own parish.
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TO-DO
to make the most of Friday Night- Choose your Parish theme
- Create a display
- Table Cloth
- A way to display pictures of your group
- Make a Banner
- Costumes
- Design and Order T-shirts(For Saturday)
- Decide who will represent you for roll call
- Bishop's gift
- Giveaways or other ways to interact (EX: moving photo booth, challenge for the teens to meet people, clothes pins, etc.)
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Roll Call
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Roll Call is a longstanding DBYC tradition that officially kicks off the weekend, recognizing and celebrating every parish in attendance.
During Roll Call, each youth group is called by name, and a few representatives come forward to the stage, dressed in their parish theme. It’s a fun way to showcase the presence of youth ministry across the diocese while also actively involving our Bishop in the life of youth ministry. As they come forward, groups present a small gift to the Bishop.
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BANNERSBanners should be 3–4 feet wide and 6–8 feet long, and will hang on stands designed to fit that width. Each banner should reflect your parish’s theme for the conference.
Please do not include your parish name on the front of the banner.
Make sure your banner has a top hem large enough for a dowel rod (you’ll need to bring your own). This allows it to hang properly on the stands we provide.
Banners can be made from cloth, burlap, fleece; whatever works best, and decorated however you’d like. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative!
SPIRIT STICKSThe Spirit Stick Award recognizes the parish that fully enters into the heart of DBYC. While energy and excitement are part of it, this award goes beyond who can be the loudest. It’s about a group that is present, engaged, and uplifting throughout the entire weekend.This looks like a parish that participates wholeheartedly, supports and encourages others, and creates a positive, welcoming environment for everyone they encounter. They show their spirit through joy and respect. It’s about the kind of presence your group brings to the weekend!
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TABLE DISPLAYSWe are also happy to see DBYC growing! With that growth come a little less space to work with, so we ask everyone to be mindful with their setup.
Each group will be given half of an 8-foot table to create a display that represents your youth group. This is your chance to show off what your group has been up to this year, whether that’s a scrapbook, a science fair–style board, or something more creative and interactive.
Many groups bring giveaways that go with their theme. Just a reminder, please no glow sticks, slime, or anything "gooey" that could mess up the carpet!
While we know it's fun to extend your display slightly beyond your space, please don't extend more than half a foot out from the table. We encourage you to build forward rather than spreading out to the side.
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T-SHIRTST-shirts are designed to represent your youth group and match whatever theme your parish has come up with.Some groups design shirts that fully match their DBYC theme, while others take the opportunity to create something a little more subtle that their teens can wear year-round to represent their youth group.Not sure where to start? Many groups use tools like Canva to find inspiration and easily create custom designs.Parish t-shirts will be worn on Saturday; conference t-shirts that your group can order from the youth office are worn on Sunday.VOTINGVoting for all Creative Awards (Banner, Display, T-shirt, and Spirit Sticks) opens on Friday night at registration. You’ll receive either a voting link or paper ballot when you check in.
Since voting is done by you and your group, be sure to take time to walk around, explore, and check out the creativity of other parishes!
All votes must be submitted by Saturday Night.
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AwardsAll awards will be presented Sunday morning. Leadership and Service Awards for seniors and adult volunteers will be presented before Mass, and the final Creative and Spirit Awards will be presented after Mass at the conclusion of DBYC. -
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Leadership & Service
Recognition Awards
Each year, a select group of seniors and one adult volunteer are recognized through a nomination process reviewed by the Diocesan Youth Office and an awards committee. The awards presented at DBYC include:The Bragg Moore Award is presented to a male youth for being a backbone to his Parish and youth group; accomplishing what needs to be done with a servant's heart and willing spirit. His hard work and dedication serves as an example to his peers and his parish.The Brenda Sargent Award is presented to a female youth for being a backbone to her Parish and youth group; accomplishing what needs to be done with a servant's heart and willing spirit. Her hard work and dedication continues to serve as an example to her peers and her parish.The Ann Rivera Faith Through Service Award recognizes someone who is a quiet servant of Christ, who shares their faith through kindness and service to others, and who believes that service to others is our Christian responsibility.The St. Timothy Award is presented to youth - multiple recipients- who are actively seeking to develop deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. These youth have given of their time, talents, and spiritual gifts in making their parish youth group strong in faith and their community.The Ananias Companion on the Journey Award is present to adult/s who have accompanied our youth on their path to discipleship. To recognize them for their long term commitment to youth ministry in their parish or diocese. These adults have given more than their time. They have been examples of their Catholic faith, as well as shown leadership and service both to and with young people they serve.CHECK THE DUE DATE FOR NOMINATION PACKETS - they are normally due between 3 weeks to 1 month before DBYC.
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Creativity & Spirit
Awards
In continued celebration of youth ministry and the joy of fellowship across the Diocese of Biloxi, we present the Creativity Awards and Spirit Sticks!Voting for these awards takes place throughout the weekend by all attending youth groups using ballots distributed at registration. Ballots must be turned in by Saturday night.
T-Shirt Award Most groups will design a t-shirt to represent their youth group and DBYC theme. Vote for your top three youth group t-shirts, which will be worn Saturday morning. Criteria are up to you — most creative, best theme, best design, and more.
Banner Award Each youth group will create a banner representing their parish and chosen theme. Vote for your top three banners. Banners will be identified by a number pinned to the bottom right corner rather than the youth group’s name. Criteria are up to you — most creative, best theme, best overall design, etc.
Table Display Award Each youth group will create a table display representing their parish and chosen theme. Vote for your top three displays based on creativity, theme, originality, and presentation.
Spirit Awards Vote for the top three most spirited groups throughout the weekend. Spirit Awards recognize groups that fully embrace the heart of DBYC by being present, engaged, joyful, and encouraging to others throughout the conference.
These awards are meant to encourage creativity, fellowship, and parish community among our youth groups and volunteers. We love seeing the energy, imagination, and encouragement shared between groups each year.
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Other Important Information
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Parking passes are required by the Biloxi Coliseum Convention Center. Passes are $10 a day at the gate. Each registered youth group will be given two parking passes(for the whole weekend) for free from the youth office.
If your group will need anymore passes - We recommend taking the opportunity to buy parking passes in advance through the youth office, these tickets are $15 for the entire weekend.
Because there is normally multiple events happening throughout the weekend, parking at the coliseum can be a pretty far walk to hall D. Please be aware - that, unfortunately, there is not always enough ada/handicapped parking available near the entrance. If anyone with your youth group cannot walk far, drop them off at the door before parking.
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The Diocese of Biloxi youth office calls a few hotels in the area to block off rooms for anyone attending DBYC. Room blocks are at the Quality Inn and the Days Inn. Rooms can go quickly, call earlier rather than later.
Some groups choose to stay at an Air-bnb if their group will fit.
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