Powerful liturgies, dynamic talks, and engaging worship: Life Teen Steubenville Conferences offer the ultimate Catholic experience for your teens to encounter Christ in His Sacraments and in His Church!
Ennie Hickman graduated from Franciscan University in 2001 with a degree in theology and spent eight years in parish youth ministry. Today, Ennie and his family serve as full-time domestic missionaries in Houston, Texas, with ADORE Ministries. With passion and energy to see God’s kingdom come “on earth as it is in heaven,” Ennie has dedicated his life to furthering the New Evangelization. He has spoken at numerous large-scale retreats and conferences throughout the United States, Central America, Eastern Europe, and Africa. He and his wife, Cana, have four children.
Matt Maher is one of the most popular contemporary Catholic music artists in the country. Matt has taken his calling as a “musical missionary” to create a substantial impact on a national and global stage. As an award-winning songwriter, Maher gained notice as the co-writer of the internationally renowned modern-worship song, “Your Grace Is Enough,” recorded by Chris Tomlin. His music, writing and live performances are intentional, compelling, experiential and draw people into a community of dependence on Christ. He’s not only a songwriter and worship leader; his ability to communicate allows him to facilitate community at the intersection where culture meets the church. Amid busy touring and writing schedules, Maher finds it important to serve alongside ministries including Life Teen, Adore Ministries, and Catholic Relief Services while still playing an active role with Oregon Catholic Press’ spiritandsong.com.
Entertainment: Bob Lesnefsky
Bob Lesnefsky serves as the president of Dirty Vagabond Ministries. He has over 12 years of hands-on experience in youth ministry, serving as a youth minister in both urban and suburban churches. Bob is also an award-winning Christian hip hop artist and speaker, traveling to over 100 venues each year using rap music as an engaging outreach to teens. Bob and his wife, Kate, both Franciscan University alumni, live in Steubenville, Ohio, with their five children.
Speaker: Fr. Leo Patalinghug
Father Leo E. Patalinghug is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore who serves as the director of Pastoral Field Education at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. A dynamic speaker and popular retreat master, his pre-ordination background includes undergraduate studies in political science and journalism, music ministry service, work as a third degree martial arts instructor in the Tae Kwon Do and Arnis (Arnees), and choreography for an award-winning break dancing group. He began seminary at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and was appointed to the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He received degrees at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and an advanced license degree from the Pontifical Marianum Institute, specializing in the study of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Speaker: Fr. John Gerth
Father John Gerth (aka, Father J) has had the incredible blessing of serving the Lord and his Church as a priest for the past 17 years. His greatest joy has never changed in all these years and that is his love of the Eucharist. “Even now, almost 24 years after going into the seminary, I am still amazed that God chose me—the guy who still keeps his long hair, doesn’t like to wear shoes, plays his music way too loud—can you believe God wants this guy, ME, to be a priest for his people?” In his fifth year at Steubenville Youth Conferences, Father J is thankful for everyone who puts so much effort into these events.
Speaker: Mark Hart
Mark Hart, affectionately known as the “Bible Geek®,” serves as executive vice president for Life Teen International. A graduate from the University of Notre Dame, Mark is a popular speaker, award-winning author and weekly regular on Catholic radio programs. Mark’s Catholic teen DVD Bible Study series, “T3”, and free weekly Life Teen podcasts help hundreds of thousands of Catholics, young and old, explore Scripture in a new way. He has written seven books and lives in Arizona with his wife, Melanie, and their daughters, Hope, Trinity and Faith.
Speaker: Lisa Epperson
Lisa Epperson is the resource director for Life Teen. In this role, she prepares Life Teen’s youth ministry resources, blogs on their Web site, and heads out across the country to speak at training events, youth retreats, and rallies. Lisa is honored to share her love for Jesus and the truth of his Church with others. In addition to leading teens closer to Christ, she co-founded On the Deck, a ministry committed to building faith and community among college students. Lisa recently moved from Georgia to Arizona, bringing a little southern hospitality to the desert.
Speaker: Melanie Pritchard
Melanie Pritchard speaks on modesty, chastity, and pro-life issues at schools and churches across the country. She is the founder of a line of modest Christian clothing for teens (www.refugeclothing.com). Melanie is currently the education director for the Life Educational Corporation, in cooperation with Arizona Right to Life, and the formation speaker for Phoenix Pure Fashion. Proving that the secular world can recognize truth and goodness, in 2007 she won the Phoenix Business Journal’s award as one of “The 40 Most Successful People Under 40.” Melanie resides in Arizona with her husband and son.
Speaker: Kris Frank
Kris Frank is a small-town boy from northwest Ohio who has worked with the Steubenville Youth Conferences since 2006. He graduated from Franciscan University in 2008 with degrees in catechetics and theology, then traded the cold Ohio winters for the sandy beaches of Florida to answer the call to youth ministry. Last summer, he married the love of his life, Grace. Now living in Fort Pierce, Florida, he serves as the director of Youth Ministry at St. Anastasia Catholic Church. Kris’ life is focused on bringing everyone he meets into an intimate relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ.
Make all checks payable to: Life Teen and mail to:
Life Teen Inc.
2222 S. Dobson Rd, STE 601
Mesa, AZ85202
You will receive a confirmation email when your registration is processed.
Prepare your group and accountant for paying the final balance.
Pay in FULL before May 15th: Early Bird pricing
Pay in FULL after May 15th: Regular pricing
ANY NEW REGISTRATIONS ACCEPTED AFTER MAY 15TH, 2010 MUST PAY THE FULL AMOUNT UPON REGISTERING
Download all of the forms for chaperones, clergy and teens. Make sure to turn them all in by the appropriate date.
Due to overwhelming interest in the conference and the need for accurate planning, all deposits are non-refundable. There will be NO REFUNDS given on ANY payments after June. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS:
In order to receive the early discount of $145.00/person, your payment MUST be to the Life Teen office before 5pm on May 15th.
Due to overwhelming interest in the conference and the need for accurate planning, all deposits are non-refundable. There will be NO REFUNDS given on ANY payments after June 15th. Payments will be accepted only in US funds, by check, money order, MasterCard, or VISA. Please send ONE form of payment for your organization when making payments and include the group leader’s name on all payments.
If your group’s balance is not paid by June 15th, all spots will be forfeited and you will be placed on the waiting list.
The Luke Raphael Berghoff Scholarship Fund generously offers several full or partial registration fee scholarships for first-time participants. This scholarship is meant for teens that have never attended and would not be able to attend due to financial hardship. Interested teens will find the application link below. Applications are due April 30, 2010 to the Life Teen office and scholarships will be awarded by May 15, 2010.
If you are interested in volunteering for Steubenville West this year, please take a moment to download and read over the documents below. We are always looking for new volunteers, so please join us and bring a friend too! In order to be a volunteer you must:
Be 20 years old as of July 23, 2010
Be in compliance with requirements of your home diocese Safe Environment Policies
When does registration open? Registration opens January 15, 2010. Registrations are taken with a non-refundable deposit of $35.00 per person and are first come, first served. The deposit is due with the group registration form. Please estimate the number of spots you can fill conservatively. Please remember – there will be no on-site registration.
Can I send my youth alone? In order to provide the best possible context for fellowship, sharing, ministry, and supervision, the youth conferences handle registration by groups only. No individual registrations will be accepted.
What are the criteria for youth, group leader, and chaperone?
Group Leader: The adult responsible for organizing your trip and serving as the main contact for your group. Written and oral correspondence takes place between the group leader and the conference office. The group leader must be attending the conference and will be responsible for the entire group.
Adult Chaperone: Young adult, age 20 +, attending to chaperone the youth. For the safety of the youth and to foster productive small group times, the ratio of youth to adult is 1 adult per 6 youth in your group. We ask that your group not exceed the maximum adult to youth ratio. This weekend is challenging physically and spiritually. It is a time of deep ministry and small group time. We recommend chaperones feel comfortable directing, sharing, and praying with youth.
Youth: youth participants in the conference must be entering 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grades in the fall of 2008 or a 2009 high school graduate.
Where will we stay? We have a limited number of dorm rooms on campus this year. This year you have the option to choose to stay off campus for a discounted price (see costs for details). Groups will be housed in the dorms on a first come, first served basis. They housed either 2 or 3 to a room. If you choose on campus housing and we are out of dorms, we will have some hotel rooms blocked for groups who wish to stay off campus. There will be a reduced registration fee at that point. If you are bringing a priest with you, please be sure to indicate whether he would like us to make a single dorm room reservation for him or if he will make his own hotel arrangements.
Can group leaders and adult chaperones bring infants and children? Although we strongly support Catholic family life, our staffing, facility constraints, and insurance regulations do not allow us to provide childcare. Meeting rooms and residence halls are not designed for the care of young children. In addition, the focus of the Adult Chaperones/Group Leader need to be on the youth participants. If these adults bring their own children, their focus will be split. With the best care of the youth in mind, this is not allowed.
What will the weather be like? Arizona is very hot in July. Even though the conference area is swamp cooled, please advise your group to drink plenty of water, get regular sleep and eat all meals while at the conference.
How many adults need to come? We require you to have one adult chaperone per six teenagers. Please Note: No teenagers will be allowed to drive to or from the conference site.
What should we pack? Each participant should bring clothing appropriate/comfortable for a church function and warm weather, his or her personal items, sleeping bag, pillow, towel, washcloth, Bible, journal, and spending money. Many participants like to get things from our bookstore.
What about the bus driver? Your bus driver can be accommodated on the U of A campus in a single dorm room for $70.00/night. You can also a room at a nearby hotel. We must know if you need on campus accommodations by June 15, 20010. We will not be able to feed your bus driver on campus. There are quite a few restaurants right around campus. Please make the necessary provisions.
What if my teen has a disability? Please inform the Life Teen office as soon as possible of any special disability needs an individual in your group may have. For example, we can arrange to have an interpreter for someone who is hearing impaired during parts of the conference. We need to know this in advance, however, in order to do our best to accommodate your specific needs.
Cost: $69.99 – Includes Full Hot Am breakfast; Kings and Doubles available Distance: ½ mile from U of A
DoubleTree Hotel at Reid Park
Cost: $69.00 single/double/triple; includes hot breakfast; Doubles available Distance: 2.5 miles/8 minutes from U of A
The Hotel Arizona City Center
Cost: $69.00 – Includes Hot full American breakfast; Kings and doubles available Distance: 3 miles/7 minutes from U of A
Hotel Tucson City Center Conference Suite Resort (known by the locals as Best Western Inn Suites)
Cost: $62.00 – 1 room studio suites (1 king or 2 queens); $72.00 – 2 room suites – (1 king or 2 queens); Kings and doubles available Distance: 2 miles/5 minutes from U of A
Windmill Suites at St Philip’s Plaza
Cost: $69.00 includes continental breakfast; Kings and double available Distance: 4 miles/10-15 minutes of U of A
11. Franciscan Lead – Leadership, Evangelization, and Discipleship Training
What is it?
Franciscan LEAD is a dynamic Catholic leadership opportunity for teens that are ready to step up to the next level of leadership. This program, in the spirit of St. Francis, will teach participants the principles of Leadership, Evangelization, And Discipleship. Franciscan LEAD is directed and facilitated by well trained young adults and youth ministers and will train, equip and empower your high school youth to witness the Catholic faith to their peers and prepare them for ongoing service in evangelization. The week is rooted in the truths of Scripture, the Catechism, and the lives of the saints. Each day of training will consist of workshops on discipleship including how to develop a prayer life, overcoming sin through the Sacraments, and other practical tools for developing their faith. The week will also include evangelization training on being an effective witness through topics such as how to share their personal testimony, servant leadership, how to answer difficult faith questions, and being an authentic witness.
When?
This is a 5 day training that will run the week before the Youth Conference; beginning Monday and ending Friday afternoon when the participant will join back with their group for the weekend youth conference.
Who?
Franciscan LEAD is for youth who are passionate about their Catholic faith, active in their youth group, and are ready to step up to the next level of leadership through evangelization and discipleship training. We are looking for applicants from your group that are ready to participate in a leadership training program that will challenge them in their Catholic faith and give them the tools to evangelize to their peers. Applicants must be a registered conference participant at one of the Steubenville Youth Conferences this summer.
How?
Contact us at franciscanlead@franciscan.edu for an application packet. Only registered group leaders can request an application packet.
Steubenville West
July 23-25, 2010
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ
1. Overview
Powerful liturgies, dynamic talks, and engaging worship: Life Teen Steubenville Conferences offer the ultimate Catholic experience for your teens to encounter Christ in His Sacraments and in His Church!
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2. Speakers and Worship Leaders
Host: Ennie Hickman
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Music: Matt Maher
Entertainment: Bob Lesnefsky
Speaker: Fr. Leo Patalinghug
Speaker: Fr. John Gerth
Speaker: Mark Hart
Speaker: Lisa Epperson
Speaker: Melanie Pritchard
Speaker: Kris Frank
Kris Frank is a small-town boy from northwest Ohio who has worked with the Steubenville Youth Conferences since 2006. He graduated from Franciscan University in 2008 with degrees in catechetics and theology, then traded the cold Ohio winters for the sandy beaches of Florida to answer the call to youth ministry. Last summer, he married the love of his life, Grace. Now living in Fort Pierce, Florida, he serves as the director of Youth Ministry at St. Anastasia Catholic Church. Kris’ life is focused on bringing everyone he meets into an intimate relationship with the Living God through Jesus Christ.
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3. Steubenville West Details
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4. Registration
To register, follow the steps below:
** Note: All liability forms, chaperone forms, and rooming rosters should be turned in at the event. DO NOT TURN THEM IN BEFORHAND!
Due to overwhelming interest in the conference and the need for accurate planning, all deposits are non-refundable. There will be NO REFUNDS given on ANY payments after June. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PAYMENTS:
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5. Scholarships
The Luke Raphael Berghoff Scholarship Fund generously offers several full or partial registration fee scholarships for first-time participants. This scholarship is meant for teens that have never attended and would not be able to attend due to financial hardship. Interested teens will find the application link below. Applications are due April 30, 2010 to the Life Teen office and scholarships will be awarded by May 15, 2010.
Steubenville West Scholarship
6. Volunteer Forms
If you are interested in volunteering for Steubenville West this year, please take a moment to download and read over the documents below. We are always looking for new volunteers, so please join us and bring a friend too! In order to be a volunteer you must:
Here are the forms to download:
If you have any questions, please email: westvolunteers@lifeteen.com
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7. Frequently Asked Questions
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8. Hotels
Distance: ½ mile from U of A
Distance: 2.5 miles/8 minutes from U of A
Distance: 3 miles/7 minutes from U of A
Distance: 2 miles/5 minutes from U of A
Distance: 4 miles/10-15 minutes of U of A
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9. Conference Schedule
Coming Soon
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10. Transportation
Groups are responsible for their own transportation
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11. Franciscan Lead – Leadership, Evangelization, and Discipleship Training
What is it?
Franciscan LEAD is a dynamic Catholic leadership opportunity for teens that are ready to step up to the next level of leadership. This program, in the spirit of St. Francis, will teach participants the principles of Leadership, Evangelization, And Discipleship. Franciscan LEAD is directed and facilitated by well trained young adults and youth ministers and will train, equip and empower your high school youth to witness the Catholic faith to their peers and prepare them for ongoing service in evangelization. The week is rooted in the truths of Scripture, the Catechism, and the lives of the saints. Each day of training will consist of workshops on discipleship including how to develop a prayer life, overcoming sin through the Sacraments, and other practical tools for developing their faith. The week will also include evangelization training on being an effective witness through topics such as how to share their personal testimony, servant leadership, how to answer difficult faith questions, and being an authentic witness.
When?
This is a 5 day training that will run the week before the Youth Conference; beginning Monday and ending Friday afternoon when the participant will join back with their group for the weekend youth conference.
Who?
Franciscan LEAD is for youth who are passionate about their Catholic faith, active in their youth group, and are ready to step up to the next level of leadership through evangelization and discipleship training. We are looking for applicants from your group that are ready to participate in a leadership training program that will challenge them in their Catholic faith and give them the tools to evangelize to their peers. Applicants must be a registered conference participant at one of the Steubenville Youth Conferences this summer.
How?
Contact us at franciscanlead@franciscan.edu for an application packet. Only registered group leaders can request an application packet.
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