Steubenville: Where faith comes alive

For many teens, summertime means a weekend away in Steubenville, Ohio for a popular youth conference that draws thousands together each year for a meaningful Christ-centered experience. The three-day event is filled with activities to keep the momentum going: guest speakers, small group discussions, Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and Eucharistic Adoration.

For Father Christopher Ballard, pastor of Spirit of Hope Parish, having a front-row seat to the intimate encounter teens and chaperones have with the Lord is the most beautiful thing. “It’s a reminder to me of what my priestly ministry is all about,” he said. “It’s about helping people encounter Jesus.”

In the Syracuse Diocese, multiple parishes charter buses to bring teens on the at least six-hour drive to the Franciscan University at Steubenville campus — with many boarding the bus back home with their faith on fire.

First-time attendee Brecklyn Dixon is one teen who can attest to that. “It was everything I expected and a thousand times more,” she said. Dixon will be in ninth grade this fall at Holy Cross Academy. She is a member of Spirit of Hope Parish. “On the bus ride back, I said my faith came back 10 times more than when I got there.”

For Olivia Ranieri, she has been to the conference twice so far. Also a Spirit of Hope parishioner and about to enter her junior year at Holy Cross Academy, she shared two main reasons for her desire to return this summer. The first is that Steubenville connects her with her Catholic roots, where she finds comfort and common ground with those who have shared faith and beliefs. The second is Eucharistic Adoration.  “It’s like no other Adoration I’ve ever been to. You knew deep down [the consecrated Eucharist] was Jesus. No doubts,” she affirmed.

Dixon, too, said Adoration was so powerful and moving that she continues to think about it today: “If I look at a cross, I instantly think about Adoration. I don’t think I have felt His presence more than during that Adoration.”

When asked what advice she would give to someone on the fence about going next summer, Ranieri didn’t hesitate: “Go! Definitely, definitely go!” She then acknowledged real-life worries and concerns some might have when deciding to take that first step, such as homesickness, trouble sleeping, and just mixed emotions in general, “but it’s all worth it in the end,” she said. “You’ll feel like you’re on such a high. All I can think about is going back next summer.”

Another Steubenville Conference first-timer was Bishop Douglas J. Lucia. In the July 27 Catholic Conversations podcast, the bishop shared with host Joelle Zarnowski that it was wonderful to see 2,000 young people praying together reverently. He also mentioned that over the weekend, more than a thousand confessions were made. You can listen to or watch the diocese’s official weekly podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and the Diocese of Syracuse YouTube Channel.