The Steubenville Youth Conferences, an outreach of Franciscan University of Steubenville, are a series of 19 Catholic conferences across North America that help teens encounter the love of Christ every summer. Our mission is to build the Church by evangelizing, equipping, and empowering God’s children to become radical and joyful disciples. For more information about the Steubenville Conferences, visit steubenvilleconferences.com.

Participants arrive with their groups and check-in mid-afternoon Friday. After dinner, the conference starts with a welcome from the Conference Host, a short teaching about worship, and closes with the Friday night Keynote. The evening concludes with time for small groups and Confession.

Saturday begins with Mass and a morning Keynote which then transitions into Men’s and Women’s sessions with participants trading off going to lunch. After lunch and Men’s and Women’s session the afternoon begins with Recharge, a time for everyone to relax, play games, have small group time, and opportunity for Confession. Following Recharge groups gather together for the afternoon Keynote.

Dinner, small group time and an opportunity for Confession begin Saturday evening. This is followed by the Keynote and, what is often described by teens and adults alike as the absolute highlight of the weekend, Eucharistic Adoration with formal procession throughout the entire arena. The night closes again with time for small groups and Confession.

Sunday morning starts with the Keynote address, which generally focuses on how to bring the things they have heard throughout the weekend into a personal and practical reality for their everyday life. The conference wraps-up with the closing Mass usually celebrated by the local Bishop.

Conference policy is one adult for every eight youth of the same gender. Chaperones must be 21 and older and show compliance with the safe environment requirements of their home diocese. 

Absolutly! All Bishops and priests are strongly encouraged to attend the Steubenville Youth Conferences. All bishops and priests attend free of charge and must be registered online with your group. Bishops and priests may NOT register as chaperones. We ask that all bishops and priests participate in Liturgies and Reconciliation during the conference weekend, therefore, groups must have other adult males registered to meet the chaperone requirements.

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Yes – T-shirts will be available for preorder through your group leader portal!

The Steubenville Youth Conferences serve high school students, those entering 9th– 12th grades or who will have just graduated from high school. To be eligible to attend, teens must have at least completed 8th grade. Young adults ages 19-20 are invited to attend the conference with your group. They may not be chaperones or counted as youth. As an alternative, they may be interested in serving as Volunteers. All young adults attending with groups are required to show compliance with the Safe Environment requirements of their home dioceses.

Housing at Steubenville Joliet is not included in the ticket price. Lodging at Steubenville Joliet is at hotels booked by each group.

No. When you register your group, you only need to reserve the number of participants in your group (teens, young adult, group leader, chaperones, and priests.) All participants must be registered by May 27, 2025.

Yes. There is a $50.00 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit per ticket. This is due 2 weeks after you register your group. 

No. All participants must be registered with a group. A group consists of one adult leader with one or more teen participants. Chaperones are required to accompany each teen, with a ratio of 1 chaperone per 8 youth of the same gender.

Meals included in the ticket price includes:

Friday: Dinner

Saturday: Lunch & Dinner.

The following meals can be added on if requested:

Saturday/Sunday Breakfast: Coming Soon

Sunday Box Lunch: Coming Soon