July 28, 2026

Steubenville East inspires faith, reminds teens they are ‘worthy’

REGIONAL
By Michael Pedro

SPRINGFIELD – A little more than 1500 teenagers from all over the Northeast flocked to the MassMutual Center July 24-26 for the Steubenville East Catholic Youth Conference. This is the fifth year in a row that the conference has been held in Springfield. The theme was “Worthy,” and based on 1Samuel 17:47, “For the battle belongs to the Lord.”

“Because we are children of God, we are called to be who he’s created us to be. So, we might not feel worthy, but he calls us worthy to be his followers and his servants,” said Bishop William D. Byrne who spent the weekend at the conference, participating in games, visiting with teens, celebrating Mass and hearing confessions.

During his homily at the closing Mass on Sunday, he told the young people, “You’re not the future of the church. You are the present.”

Life Teen partners with Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio to host the Steubenville Catholic Conferences held in different regions across the country each summer. The weekends include inspiring talks, praise and worship music, reconciliation, Mass and eucharistic adoration.

The weekend began with a Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral, followed by a eucharistic procession down to the MassMutual Center. Springfield police accompanied the procession as more than 1000 people made the walk down State Street. Then, singer/songwriter and worship leader Ricky Vazquez, kicked off the Friday session with popular praise and worship music, as teens ran down to the front of the stage. Vazquez, who is signed to Integrity Music, played popular hits such as “Goodbye Yesterday,” “Amazing,” and “Freedom.”

“I think when you bring Christ into [your friendships], it’s just so different,” said Jada Mattrey who attended the conference with the group from the Newman Catholic Center in Amherst. Mattrey is also a member of the Diocesan Youth Leadership Team. “There’s this sort of connection that you can cultivate and this understanding you both have, and love for the Lord.”

The ministry team was led by Catholic author, speaker, podcaster and host of SiriusXM’s “The Catholic Channel,” Katie Prejean McGrady. The wife and mother of two writes for Blessed is She, Our Sunday Visitor and Aletia. She is also a Vatican analyst for CNN. The other speakers included: Franciscan Father of the Renewal Agustino Torres, a sought-after youth speaker and host of the EWTN shows “ICONS” and “Clic con Corazon Puro”; Catholic author, speaker, and Hallow podcaster Tanner Kalina; and Catholic author and evangelist Chika Anyanwu, who spoke in Springfield at the 2022 conference.

The diocesan contingent included a total of 198 attendees: 177 teens and 21 chaperones. The following parishes sent groups: St. Cecilia Parish, Wilbraham; St. Michael Parish, East Longmeadow; St. Elizabeth Parish, Ludlow; Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Springfield; the Westfield Catholic Community; St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Belchertown; Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Southwick; St. Ann Parish, Lenox; St. Agnes Parish, Dalton; the Newman Catholic Center, Amherst; St. Stanislaus Basilica, Chicopee; and St. Thomas of the Apostle Parish, West Springfield. A highlight for most of the teenagers was Saturday evening’s eucharistic adoration and procession inside the hockey arena.

 

“I’ve always looked forward to it since the first Steubenville I attended,” said Jerin Kaufmann, a recent graduate of Pope Francis Preparatory School in Springfield. Kaufmann attended the conference with the group from St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in West Springfield.

“It feels so personal. I feel like I am able to freely talk to God,” he said.

Abby Nicolson, another attendee, agreed with Kaufmann in regard to the adoration. “Adoration is always really powerful to me,” she said. 

In between talks, Mass and adoration, the teens had a chance to mingle in what was called the “Fun Zone,” on the second level of the MassMutual Center. Organizers set up basketball, karaoke, cornhole and other games.

The Diocese of Springfield’s Office of Missionary Discipleship, partners with Life Teen to bring the conference to Springfield each year.

 

“There is a moment at Steubenville when the kids are asked to put their hands on their heart and just be open to the Lord and when they are ready to commit, to stand up – it’s referred to as the commitment. I think for many kids, they are afraid to commit to anything, just in case something better comes along. At Steubenville, they are given an opportunity to commit to being open to the Lord working in their lives. And He always delivers,” said Joe Austin, the director of the Office of Missionary Discipleship.

 

“We see that at adoration, which comes right after the commitment. When we intentionally open ourselves up to an encounter with God, he comes through. For me personally, during adoration, I felt like the Lord present in the monstrance was coming at me like the Titanic ship, a great tidal wave of His love and understanding. To be known, and in that knownness, loved. I’ve often said that in our modern times, we have an epidemic of loneliness. The best antidote to loneliness is God’s love. It’s easy to say that out loud, but at Steubenville East, it’s not just a fun phrase to say out loud, but rather a real and personal experience,” Austin said.

A video version of this story will be featured on an upcoming edition of “Real to Reel” which airs at 7 p.m. on WWLP-22 NEWS.