Our History

CYO of Long Island was established in 1958 to provide athletic opportunities to children of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.  Since then we have grown to serve over 25,000 children a year across Long Island.  Our programs include: basketball, cheer, chess, flag football, field hockey, swimming, track, creative minds and volleyball. Our new initiatives include, ACES which is a sports/events program for children with special needs and the Outreach Club which gives students an opportunity to participate in community service projects.
 

Our Mission Statement

Pope Saint Paul VI wrote that the Church “exists in order to evangelize” (Evangelli Nuntiandi, 14). The Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) seeks to evangelize young people today through their love for their faith, sports, and other activities. By providing affordable, quality, educational, and recreational services, CYO seeks to nurture boys and girls in their vocation to holiness.  

What distinguishes CYO from any other athletic or recreational program is that we strive to encourage our young people to grow in the image of Christ by focusing on the development of the entire person. Along with assisting children in the advancement of their athletic and intellectual growth, CYO also seeks to teach them the liberating truths of their Catholic faith and encourages them to love and live the virtuous life. Put simply, our goal is to form young disciples of Christ who embody strong faith, character, humility, compassion, honesty, charity, selflessness, gratitude, and truth.