July 9, 2024

Several events planned leading up to the Steubenville East Conference

REGIONAL
Staff report

Teenagers kneel before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during a Eucharistic Procession at the  Steubenville East Conference at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, July 22, 2023. (IObserve file photo)

SPRINGFIELD – With just a few weeks to go before the Steubenville East Catholic Youth Conference, several side events are planned for teen participants and chaperones. Steubenville East is back for a third year in a row at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, July 26-28. More than 1000 teenagers from across New England and the New York metro area are expected to attend.

“As Bishop Byrne has said before, Steubenville East is a great gift and blessing to the diocese from the Holy Spirit. Today more than ever it has become an opportunity to bring together so many from the greater community to support something big, something huge for our local community and beyond, to foster a culture for Christ in Western Mass,” said Joe Austin, the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Springfield.

The Steubenville side events, including Holy Hours and ice cream socials, will be held throughout the diocese July 21-24, the week prior to the conference. A full listing can be found at steubieeast.org.

Life Teen partners with Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, to host the Steubenville Catholic Youth Conferences held in different regions of the country each summer. The theme this year is “Illuminate,” based on John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The line-up includes worship leader Ricky Vazquez, a singer/songwriter based in Nashville. He is signed to Integrity Music and was nominated for a GMA Dove Award. This year’s host is Bob Lesnefsky, also known as Righteous B, an award winning Christian hip-hop recording artist. Other speakers include Noelle Garcia, a Catholic speaker and recording artist; Franciscan Father Jonathan McElhone, TOR, of Franciscan University of Steubenville; and Catholic speaker David Calavitta.

Inspiring talks and praise and worship music are a major part of the retreat, but it is centered around the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and confession. Bishop William D. Byrne will be in attendance for the entire weekend, including the live-game show events on Saturday, July, 27, and will celebrate the closing Mass on Sunday, July 28.

“It is true that Steubenville is an amazing event. Lives and hearts are changed in a moment but they need something more. These side events seek to provide a little something extra for our diocesan groups attending Steubenville East this year: to prepare their hearts prior to the conference and to throw some wood on the fire that has begun in their hearts after the conference. As St. Catherine of Siena said, ‘Be who you are and you will set the world on fire.’ We hope to set that fire for Christ ablaze in the Western Mass community this summer,” Austin said.