July 16, 2018

Youths from diocese join thousands at Steubenville East Conference

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

 

LOWELL, Mass. – Twenty-five hundred teenagers from New England converged on the Tsongas Center at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell for the annual Steubenville East Catholic Youth Conference, held Friday July 13 through Sunday, July 15.

Close to 75 youths from the Diocese of Springfield took part in the weekend retreat presented by Life Teen youth ministries, which included eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession and talks geared toward the youth. Music was a major part of the weekend, as the praise and worship band, led by Jon Niven, had the teens on their feet.

“This Steubenville East conference has been a very liberating experience for me. Never have I felt so much peace in my heart,” said Rodney Duteau, a parishioner at Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Turners Falls. Duteau was one of 41 teenagers from the Franklin County Deanery who traveled as a group to the conference.

“I truly believe God has revealed himself to me in such a way that will forever change my life. I encourage anyone who is still in high school to go. The Lord will reveal something amazing to those who are willing to listen,” he said.

Father Jonathan Reardon and youth from his parish, Holy Family in Deerfield, joined the Franklin County group. At the conference, Father Reardon joined other priests to hear confessions and to concelebrate Mass. Father Reardon is a graduate of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, which sponsors the conference.

“This is my second time going with this group. I used to work the conferences when I went to school there,” said Father Reardon. He said the Saturday evening eucharistic adoration was especially moving as Father John Parks, who was part of the ministry team, walked with the monstrance around the entire arena.

“At one point during the Saturday night adoration, I looked over at my group and nearly all of them were on their knees, with their hands in the air before God. How awesome is that?” said Father Reardon.

“There’s a sense you look at that and say, ‘There is hope for us.’ These kids are the next generation and they are going to carry the torch.”

Deacon John Leary, of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Greenfield, was one of the chaperones on the trip.

“I thought the weekend was a great witness to our faith. So many teenagers experiencing the love of Christ in what may have been a completely different way with Mass, confessions, eucharistic adoration, praise and worship, spirit-filled talks and small groups. It gives me great hope for our church,” said Deacon Leary.

The talks included an explanation of the Mass and questions and answers about dating and chastity. Life Teen hosts six Steubenville East conferences across the country each summer.

“Steubenville is eye-opening and refreshing. Never have I seen so many youth gathered in one place to celebrate Jesus and the church,” said Kayla Riordan, who belongs to St. Elizabeth Parish in Ludlow.

“It’s a unifying experience and each year I go I feel more and more closer to God as well as my brothers and sisters in Christ,” she said.

Teens from St. Cecilia Parish in Wilbraham also attended the conference, as did teens from several parishes in the Berkshires. Father David Aufiero, pastor of St. Mark Parish in Pittsfield, traveled with the Berkshire group.

“I think that the Steubenville East Conference is the latest and the greatest for anything related to youth ministry. I felt truly blessed to be able to be part of a group to go to UMass Lowell from the Berkshires,” said Father Aufiero. “I think that it is so important for us as a church to invest in our youth because not only are they the future, but they are the ‘now’ of the church.

“There is such a great emphasis these days on evangelizing, and the only way we can effectively do that is if we are empowered through the gift of the Holy Spirit,” said Father Aufiero, who helped organize a group picture of all of the youth from the Springfield Diocese.

“Through great music, numerous talks, small groups and an opportunity to go to confession, adoration, and Mass, they meet each participant where they are at in a profound and powerful way,” Father Aufiero said. “The talks are geared toward relevant topics in our everyday lives and they challenge, not only the teens, but the adults and priests in an uplifting and positive way.”

Cardinal Sean O’Malley of the Archdiocese of Boston celebrated the closing Mass. At the end of the liturgy, he gave a blessing to a large group of young men and women who are considering a vocation to the priesthood and religious life. The entire arena erupted in applause for the teens who came forward.

“I got chills when I saw the young men march so confidently up to the stage when they were thinking about a vocation to the priesthood. There were transformations in the teens’ lives during the weekend,” said Father Aufiero. 

For more information, log on to lifeteen.com.