April 19, 2022

Diocese to offer $75 scholarship for youth to attend Steubenville East retreat

REGIONAL
By Carolee McGrath

 

SPRINGFIELD – The Office of Youth Ministry is offering a $75 scholarship per youth attendee to sponsoring parishes for the Steubenville East Catholic Youth Conference, which will be held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, July 29-31. This is the first time the retreat has been held in the Diocese of Springfield.

Steubenville East has been canceled for the last two years due to the pandemic. Typically, thousands of teenagers from across New England attend for the retreat weekend, which includes inspiring talks, eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, and praise and worship music.

“To better support our parishes in promoting and attending Steubenville East, the diocese is thrilled to offer a special scholarship of $75 per attending teen. We hope this is a great opportunity for the youth of our diocese to rally together for Christ this summer and we strongly encourage all to consider attending,” said Joseph Austin, the director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Springfield.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Fearless,” based on what Jesus said in the Gospel of John, “Take courage, I have conquered the world” (John 16:33).

A few parishes in the Diocese of Springfield have sent youth to the conference in past years, including Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Westfield.

“I would definitely say they should go because I had a life-changing experience when I was there,” said Julia Sabat, a member of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish. The senior at St. Mary High School in Westfield is a triplet and attended with her two siblings, Corrine and Matthew.

“That was the first place I learned about how amazing eucharistic adoration was. I wasn’t really into the faith, but when I went with Blessed Sacrament it was one of the best things I had ever done in my life,” she said.

Representatives from Life Teen were in Springfield in February, touring the MassMutual Center. Life Teen partners with Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, to put on Catholic youth conferences throughout the United States.

The line-up includes Sister Miriam James, of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, as the emcee for the weekend. Renowned Catholic speaker and author Mark Hart will also speak to the youth during the weekend. Hart and his wife have three daughters. The executive vice president of Life Teen, he produced the popular DVD Bible study series, “T3.”

Other speakers include Catholic author and evangelist Chika Anyanwu; Catholic speaker and podcast host Nic Frank; and Franciscan Friar of the Renewal Father Augostino Torres, who also hosts EWTN television shows “Icons” and “Clic con Corazon Puro” in Spanish.

Music will be a major part of the weekend as each session will be kicked off by the praise and worship band, led by Andrew Laubacher, also known as “Alob,” from Ventura, Calif.

“It’s very dynamic, very upbeat, very happy, sort of like a PG version of a rock concert. There’s a mosh pit, the speakers are very cool. It’s great,” Sabat said.

Cezza Cardaropoli, a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Springfield, also attended a Steubenville retreat.

“I think it’s very encouraging for youth members just to see other youth members be involved with Christ,” Cardaropoli said.

Life Teen has blocked rooms at several local hotels in Springfield and the surrounding area. Local groups have the option of commuting.