Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria
CYON is the official association for Catholic youths and young adults, fostering spiritual formation, moral uprightness, and active apostolic zeal.
Mission and purpose
To gather Catholic youth into vibrant communities of faith, promoting intellectual, spiritual, moral, and vocational growth, while bearing witness to the Gospel in contemporary society.
Catholic identity and spirituality
Christ-centred, dynamic, and mission-oriented, drawing inspiration from youthful saints who embraced heroic holiness in the modern world.
History of the wider movement
Formed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in 1985 as the unified national youth structure, collaborating with the universal Church's World Youth Day movement inaugurated by Pope Saint John Paul II.
Major activities and apostolate
Youth retreats and seminars, skills acquisition workshops, youth rallies and sports festivals, hospital and prison visitations, liturgical animation, and choir or drama outreach.