Adults who work with young people are convinced that the Steubenville summer conferences — like the one this weekend (July 24-26) in St. Paul, Minnesota — have a positive impact, energizing teens in their faith with the result that they willingly participate in additional faith formation, parish life and service to others.
The conference’s speakers, liturgies, workshops and times for prayer, adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation aim to “awaken and strengthen young people in their relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church,” according to the mission of the organizing group, Bloomington, Minnesota, based Partnership for Youth.
Curt Lauret, a volunteer youth leader from St. Katherine Drexel in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has been to Steubenville conferences in the past. “It’s about friendship as they learn about Christ,” Lauret said, “and its sparked their interest in other ministries.”
JoAnn Braegelman from a three-parish cluster in the Belgrade, Minnesota, area, said she’s seen plenty of evidence that Steubenville conferences work from attending 16
conferences. “I see the transformation when they get back,” Braegelman told The Catholic Spirit. “They’re more interested in learning about their faith, and they’re excited about volunteering for things in the parish. It refuels the kids, gives them energy to go forward in their faith.”
Braegelman’s volunteer helper Stefanie Steinhofer said she saw the impact after her son attended a previous conference. One of the benefits of attending a weekend with hundreds of other Catholic young people is “seeing kids all across the region that have same beliefs — that it’s okay to let the Holy Spirit work in you.”
The Steubenville North summer 2015 conference continues through July 26 on the St. Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas.