Steubenville  Conference

Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” -Psalm 80:3 RSV

Can you remember a time when you weren’t anxious about something? The chaos of our lives can overwhelm us and make it difficult to see anything other than confusion and brokenness.
And somewhere along the way, we’ve forgotten who we are – and, more importantly, who God is.
We have a good, loving Father in heaven who created us to share in His glory, to see everything and everyone with His eyes. His greatest desire is to raise us up out of our fear and anxiety and restore us to the hope and abundant life that only He can give.

We look forward to participating once again summer of 2021 in a Steubenville Conference. Consider joining other Catholic teens from across North America and attend Steubenville Youth Conference to encounter the God who calls us out of the darkness and into his marvelous light.
Lift your eyes to the glory of God. Be restored.

United with Christ and with each other we can restore hope to our world

Who can participate in this trip? Incoming high school freshmen through graduating seniors from any parish within the diocese.

How do I register my teenager for the GI Diocese trip? To attend the trip with our diocese you must register by following the link above. You will then fill out the diocesan registration form and make a deposit. Registration opens early 2021.

Which Steubenville Conference are we going to? There are 25 Steubenville youth conferences held each summer across the country. A decision on location will be made early 2021.

Where will we stay? We will be staying at a hotel near the event.

How will we get there? We will be traveling by motorcoach and plan to pick up and drop off in several locations.

I have never been to a Steubenville Conference, what does the weekend involve? What's the schedule look like? Steubenville Conferences have the same schedule/theme each year, no matter what location it is being held.  Basically the weekend offers youth an opportunity to connect with other believers their age and creates an environment that helps young people be open to what God has to say to them. This is done through keynote talks, mini-sessions, the sacraments and particularly through giving them a sense of Eucharistic amazement. 

How much do I have to pay?  2020 the total cost for the trip was $345. All registrations required a $100 non-refundable deposit, with the final payment due by May 1, 2020. All payments were made to the Diocese of Grand Island.  Cost for 2021 to be determined.

What if I need financial assistance? We believe the cost should not keep youth from participating. Please contact your parish about whether fundraising opportunities are available to help with the costs beyond the initial deposit. In addition to this, there are scholarships available through the diocese for those in need, please contact the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for more information.

What is the refund policy for 2020? We hope that your child will have the opportunity to join us for the conference, however, we understand that extenuating circumstances do arise, such as a medical emergency or the death of a family member.  If your child will not be able to attend, and we receive notification before the May 1, 2020, registration deadline, you will be refunded all fees except the non-refundable $100 deposit. After May 1, 2020 part of the registration fee may be refunded in certain circumstances. If you cancel within 20 days of the conference or do not show up for the bus, no money will be refunded. This is necessary due to costs related to expected participation.
 
Who will be leading this trip? The diocesan trip is being coordinated and led by Eric Heckman, the diocesan director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, who is familiar with the conference and has experience in leading these trips. 

Will there be adult chaperones? Chaperones? Let's call them Leaders! We will have at least 18 adults assisting in leading this trip, including at least one priest as our chaplain. We have a ratio of 1:6 as our standard policy. We request that parishes who have marketed the event and have more than three youth attending supply a leader from their parish. 

How many spots are available for youth? We currently have 108 spots available for youth, due to available seating on the bus. Once the trip is full, we will create a waiting list if necessary. We could possibly make this trip available to more youth if there is interest. We will know by April 1, 2020, if we plan to increase the number of spots.

Who do I contact if I need more information? If you need more info or have suggestions on additional FAQs, please feel free to contact Eric Heckman or Michalene Iversen in the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at the Chancery.