by Zurima Martinez
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24 September 2025
EN: Now that fall is officially here, we're going to take a peek back at one of our teens' favorite summer activities. Every summer, our young people attend the Steubenville Youth Conference. This year we went to Ohio. It was a wonderful experience for all our teens and their " slightly older" adult chaperones... For many of our teens, it was more than just a trip—it was life-changing. Here’s what they had to say in their own words: " Steubenville was one of the best experiences of my life. You don’t only get to meet new people, but you get to be right there with God during Adoration. This event made me 10x closer with God and really appreciate the Eucharist. I would recommend this for any youth that wants to grow a relationship with people and the Lord. " — Nora, age 14 "It gave me an opportunity to build up my relationship with God and fully envelope myself in His presence, especially during Adoration. It also brought me closer to my friends in youth group." — Aiden, age 16 "Honestly, I was scared that the topics weren’t going to hit me like before—but they did. I learned so much and realized that God loves us no matter what. Even when we make poor choices, He still wants us to talk to Him. Adoration always brings me to tears because I can feel Him with me. I definitely recommend going to retreats—you will always feel welcomed and leave better than when you came." — Alex, age 17 "Steubenville 2025 was a wonderful experience for me. Although there were a few obstacles we encountered as a group, it was so much fun. One of my favorite talks was the one just for young women—it was comforting to see so many who share the same faith and love for God. This retreat is definitely a core memory for me." — Aneth, age 17 "For me, Steubenville was life-changing. It was amazing to bond with other people who also desire to come closer to Jesus. If I could describe the whole conference in one word it would be ‘Astonishing.’ It woke me up and helped me realize so much about God’s love. Steubenville had a knack for knitting together old friends and creating new friendships as well." — Mena, age 14 Our teens came back renewed in faith, strengthened in friendships, and filled with hope. Steubenville is more than a conference—it’s an encounter with Christ. We are so grateful to our parish community for making this trip possible, and we look forward to seeing how God will continue to work in the lives of our young people.
