Northen Virginia Junior Catholic Youth Organization

The NVJCYO has its roots in the late 1940s with youth boxing matches at Ft. Myer in Arlington organized by a few veteran military men, parishioners of St. James church in Falls Church. On September 15, 1959, the NVJCYO received its present name, succeeding the Northern Virginia Parochial League. Since then, the NVJCYO has evolved to its current status as an all volunteer, non profit, lay organization, governed by the consent of the parish representatives and incorporated in the State of Virginia.

However, the participants continue to remain under the auspices of their respective parishes. The formation and conduct of the teams (coaches, participants, their families, and parishioner-spectators) are ultimately the responsibility of their respective parishes.

NVJCYO activities always have been predominantly athletic, with competitions between parishes located within the local diocese. The NVJCYO had sponsored some non-sports activities, namely an oratorical contest, a spelling bee, an art show, and a science fair. However, these activities gradually were assumed by other organizations, such as the diocesan Federation of Parent Teacher Organizations. The NVJCYO has not lost its interest in sponsoring cultural or educational activities, but the choices for those activities now are minimal.

Without fanfare, the NVJCYO has established a proud tradition of well-organized sports activities with excellent sportsmanship and instruction. In these times of upwardly spiralling costs, NVJCYO sports activities are a clear bargain to the participants and the sponsoring parishes. Through careful managing of its general funds, the NVJCYO regularly returns an investment to the diocese, by contributing significant funds to building or renovating gyms and ballfields at parishes and diocesan high schools.