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.

Each group must have at least one male chaperone for every 8 male youth AND one female chaperone for every 8 female youth. All chaperones must be 21+ and show compliance with the safe environment requirements of their home diocese.

Priests are not able to serve as chaperones.

• Understand any health or special needs those in your group might have.
• Monitor health and safety of teens.
• Accompany all teens to first aid if needed.
• Be present to your teens throughout the weekend.
• Pray with and for your teens throughout the weekend. 
• Facilitate small group discussions.
• Monitor dorm rooms and enforce “lights out”.
• Ensure all aspects of check out procedure are followed by teens.

Adult Chaperones must 21+ and be Safe Environment trained and background checked to the specifications of his/her 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.

Click here for more clergy information!

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

Yes, 18 year olds are welcome to attend with your group as youth. 18 years old are considered teens and do not need to complete safe environment to attend the conference.  If they are 19-20 they will be categorized as “young adults” and can still accompany your group, but they will need to complete their safe environment training (according to your diocese) with your group and will be roomed separately.

We work closely with Benedictine University and their Campus Safety during the event. For a full list of emergency information & preparedness please visit thier website at: https://ben.edu/emergency-preparedness/

Yes, a participant fundrasing guide can be found here. 

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 June 11.

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.

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

Meals included in the ticket price include Friday Dinner, Saturday Lunch, & Saturday Dinner.

The following meals can be added on if requested:

Saturday/Sunday Breakfast: Coming Soon!

Sunday Box Lunch: Coming Soon!

Dietary needs can be noted on the registration forms. They will be given a dietary wristband and at meal times they will be directed to the dietary needs table to replace any food they could not eat in the regular meal line. Separate box lunches can also be requested if they are unable to eat on a shared food line.

Yes. You will find your group’s seat assignment in the MyParish App a few days before the start of the conference.

Group seat assignments rotate throughout the weekend, beginning with the evening session on Friday night. (The Friday traveler’s Mass does not have assigned seating.)

Each year a local organization is selected that is in need of donation for their mission. Teens are invited to bring items from the wish list with them to the event to donate to the selected organization.

Bus parking is not available at the Mayo Civic Center. We recommend reaching out to your hotel to find parking.