Florida Catholic | Steubenville Florida Speakers Preview Their Talks

Steubenville Florida speakers preview their talks

The conference theme – “Witness” – will be reinforced by a host of dynamic speakers during the June 13-15 youth event.

PAT LANGFORD | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 06.06.08

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Who: High school students entering ninth through 12th grades in fall 2008, along with their adult chaperones and group leaders

What: Steubenville Florida 2008 youth conference

When: June 13-15

Where: Pope John Paul II High School and Lynn University in Boca Raton

Cost: $145 per person (includes $50 per person nonrefundable deposit)

Registration: Form available at www.steubenvilleflorida.com

For more information, see www.steubenvilleflorida.com, call Kathy Twist at 670-1455 or e-mail steubenvilleflorida@diocesepb.org

BOCA RATON | The “Witness” theme will be central when the popular Steubenville conference series makes its Florida debut June 13-15 at Pope John Paul High School and Lynn University in Boca Raton.

The event, sponsored by the Diocese of Palm Beach and the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, will be attended by high school students from around the country, and there’s still time for youth ministers and group leaders to sign up to participate.

Visitors to the Steubenville Florida Web site are greeted by a message that registration has been extended and that limited space is still available.

Catholic youths and youth group leaders who follow that advice will be greeted at the conference by Jim Beckman, a graduate of Franciscan University and a veteran host and speaker at Steubenville’s summer conferences.

“I’m kind of like the (master of ceremonies) that leads the whole weekend, introduces the other speakers and just kind of leads the overall direction of the conference,” said Beckman, who, in addition to his role as host, will also be addressing the audience Friday evening.

“That talk is really going to be about the cross and specifically opening up to young people a little bit of what Jesus has done for them on the cross,” he told the Florida Catholic. “We’re going to be kind of focusing that around the story of St. Paul and his conversion experience and that personal encounter between him and Jesus.”

Beckman is hoping to touch the hearts of teenagers.

“The overall focus of the conference is trying to lead young people into a place by the witness and testimony of other people’s lives that have gone before them,” Beckman said. “Other people have played their part and now it’s their turn. Will they step into the story and what kind of part are they going to play? Will they be a witness? We’re kind of hinging a lot of our theme around what the pope is trying to say to young people all over the world. That’s kind of the heart of the message.”

Beckman, who lives in Colorado, will have a lot of help in trying to get that message across to attendees.

Deacon Ralph Poyo, who will speak at a session for young men, and a Saturday morning and evening event, will talk on the importance of the Holy Spirit in teens’ lives.

“This particular weekend is really geared to sort of dealing with probably the best kept secret in the Catholic Church, and that is the movement and purpose and role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer,” said Deacon Poyo, who is from the Archdiocese of Raleigh, N.C., and is currently living in Steubenville, Ohio. “With the Saturday night keynote, the idea is that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live, love and witness.”

Lisa Epperson will be taking the theme in another direction in her talks.

Epperson, in her third summer of speaking at Steubenville conferences, will lead a workshop on prayer “and developing a prayer life,” she explained. “And that all evangelization flows from a heart of prayer.”

Epperson, who lives in Atlanta, will conduct a session for young women on Sunday morning titled “Can I Get a Witness.” Her talk will focus on “the unique ways that we’re called to serve and to give back, to be the hands and feet of Christ,” Epperson said.

Other speakers during the weekend include Shannon Dietz, John Beaulieu, Charlie Cantrell, Father Larry Richards and Father Stan Fortuna. The entertainment lineup includes the Servant Singers and Kelly Pease.

Bishop Gerald Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach will celebrate Mass June 15 at 11 a.m. Priests will be available for confessions.

“We kind of go with where the Holy Spirit is leading things,” said Beckman about his experience with past Steubenville events. “I would say, generally, we stick to the heart of the message.”

Event coordinator Kathy Twist is happy with the interest she is currently receiving from groups across the country.

“The phone keeps on ringing,” she said. “People can’t wait to get on board. We have a group coming in from Minnesota … bringing down two buses and three priests, and the priests travel with them on the bus. ‘I said ‘God love you.’”

Speakers are looking forward to the event.

“Absolutely,” Epperson said. “It’ll be exciting to have it with a new location.”

Beckman is “very excited to be coming. … It seems so far away and then all of sudden you realize, ‘Hey, this is just around the corner here,’” he said.

“It’s much a blessing just to see … what God is doing, bringing a lot of different young people together,” Epperson said.

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Steubenville Florida speakers preview their talks

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