More than 7,300 teens from Midwest attended two weekends in July
Teens from across the Midwest were illuminated by Christ’s love through inspiring talks, praise and worship and the sacraments at the annual Steubenville STL Mid-America youth conferences over two weekends in July.
Father Christopher Martin carried the Eucharist in a procession around the Great Southern Bank Arena during week one of the Steubenville STL Mid-America youth conferences July 6.
Held on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, the conferences are organized through a partnership among the archdiocesan Office of Youth Ministry, Steubenville Conferences and Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. The event is one of several Steubenville youth conferences typically held in the summer across the United States.
This year’s theme was “Illuminate,” which comes from John 1:5. Throughout the weekend, teens heard from speakers on various topics related to the theme. The sacraments are key elements of the weekends, including Mass, confessions and eucharistic adoration. For many teens, the weekend is a life-changing experience, shaping how they practice their faith.
From its inception in 1999 as a weekend event hosted at Marquette High School in Chesterfield — just a few months after St. John Paul II’s visit to St. Louis — the conference has grown over the years. This year, 2,711 teens from across the Midwest attended the weekend of July 5-7. And 4,600 attended the second weekend, held July 12-14. From the Archdiocese of St. Louis, there were 55 groups with a total of 1,420 participants over the two weekends.
Visit steubystl365.com for photos, blog posts, videos and other highlights from both weekends.
Photo by Savanah Heltzer
The Eucharist was processed around the Great Southern Bank Arena during week one of the Steubenville STL Mid-America youth conferences July 6 on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield. This year’s theme was “Illuminate,” which comes from John 1:5.
Teens took part in the Steubenville STL Mid-America youth conference July 6 on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield.
Bishop Edward M. Rice, bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, posed for photos with Steubenville STL Mid-America youth conference attendees July 5.
