PROVIDENCE -In 1976, 1,000 youth attended the first high school conference in Steubenville, Ohio and now, nearly 40,000 high school youth attend conferences each summer around the United States, and for the first time, this year in Rhode Island.
Steubenville East High School Youth Conference, sponsored by Franciscan University of Steubenville, has been held at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro, MA. since 1998. This year, the two weekend conferences will be held at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston from July 24-26, which is already sold-out, and July 31- August 2. Housing will take place dormitories with separate facilities for males and females.
Franciscan University describes the conference as “a weekend to get rocked by God, to get serious about life in Christ and His Church, and to learn the truth of the Gospel.”
The conferences combine powerful witness talks from well-known speakers, praise and worship, time for prayer, adoration and reconciliation, entertainment, and beautiful liturgies for high school students grades 9-12.
“The conference not only brings the teaching of the Church to life for the teens, but it also enables them to open their hearts to God's love in a way that many of them never have before,” said Father Michael Najim, director of vocations for the Diocese of Providence.
“Many of the youth experience a deep transformation of their lives as a result of attending the conference.”
Louise Dussault, director of comprehensive youth ministry expressed how thrilled she is that Steubenville East is being held in the Diocese of Providence.
“It is a very positive and faith enriching experience,” said Dussault. “This is certainly an enthusiastic event and we are confident in the quality of the conference.”
An important aspect of the weekend is the focus on the Eucharist. Father Najim describes the Eucharist as the heart of the conference, just as the Eucharist is the heart of the Church.
“It is truly amazing to see these young people come to a deeper understanding of the Eucharist and to open their hearts to the Lord as they adore him in the Blessed Sacrament,” said Father Najim.
According to Franciscan University admissions counselor Susie Weiss, the youth conferences also have a great impact on recruiting students for Franciscan University. Conferences enable admissions counselors to connect with high school students who embrace the mission of the University, want to grow in their faith and see Franciscan University as an exciting and challenging place to complete their college education.
“We are so fortunate to be able to introduce or reinforce the mission of FUS,” said Weiss. “We explain that as a school we are academically challenging and passionately Catholic, and share stories of the effectiveness of the culture of our campus.”
At the conferences, counselors share a video which gives the students a glimpse into all aspects of campus life: the variety of majors available, the personal attention of the faculty, the multiple opportunities for prayer and community life, athletics, the Austria program and mission trips.
“Recent figures indicate that approximately 25 percent of the students we enroll have attended a youth conference,” said Weiss. “Most colleges would give their right arm to have such a unique and effective recruiting tool that accounts for one fourth of their incoming class."
Having admission counselors attend youth conferences is a great way to get to know many future students and to experience the energy and enthusiasm of thousands of high school youth that are excited about their faith and their relationship with God.
“It energizes us,” said Weiss. “It reminds us how fortunate we are to be able to recruit for a University that has this same love for Christ at the heart of its mission.”
Father Najim noted that the weekend conferences are successful in leading youth to fall deeper in love with Christ and the Catholic faith.
“There's no doubt in my mind that the Steubenville high school youth conference is one of the most effective ways to help teenagers enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to live that relationship in the Catholic Church,” said Father Najim.
For more information on cost as well as signing up for Steubenville East, visit www.steubenvilleeast.org
