Steubenville Florida spiritualy energizes youth

For the third year in a row, the popular youth conference gathers teens and young adults for a three day, high energy spiritual-fest.

LINDA REEVES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC PALM BEACH BUREAU EDITOR

Posted: 06.18.09

At the closing Mass of the Steubenville Florida youth conference June 14, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito and Father John Gerth, left of the bishop, bless a group of youth gathered at the stage.

ARLENE SPAGNA | FC
At the closing Mass of the Steubenville Florida youth conference June 14, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito and Father John Gerth, left of the bishop, bless a group of youth gathered at the stage.

WEST PALM BEACH | A popular teen conference showcased around the country by an Ohio-based Catholic university made its way for the third time to the Diocese of Palm Beach, spiritually charging youths and young adults here June 12-14.

“I find that the conferences give you experience to grow in faith or open you into the faith if you are new to it,” said Megan Vilardi, 16, a parishioner of St. Martin de Porres in Jensen Beach, who attended the conference and has attended the others here over the years.

“I love my faith,” said the teen, who is considering attending Franciscan University when she graduates next year. “I hope to be a youth minister one day.”

The Steubenville Florida youth conference, designed by Franciscan University, is a three-day gathering for high school students from around the country, accompanied by young adults and adults.

“We are expecting just under 1,000 from Texas and Florida,” said Kathy Twist, co-founder of Catholic Servant Ministries, when asked about attendance days before the local conference themed “Above All.”

The event is brought here as a joint venture of Franciscan University in Ohio and Catholic Servant Ministries based in Palm Beach Gardens. Prayer, worship and adoration, sessions especially for the guys and for the girls, small-group meetings, entertainment and a lineup of speakers including Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, who presided at a closing Mass June 14, were part of this year’s activities held in the West Palm Beach Convention Center.

Dozens of volunteers helped stage activities, giving talents and giving up the entire weekend to serve.

“When I see the youths, it really energizes my faith,” said Jason Touw, 26, a parishioner of St. Jude and 2009 graduate of Lynn University in Boca Raton, who was among volunteers. “The people from Steubenville do a very good job. The conferences are exciting.”

This year, the event had a new volunteer component called “Mercy Crew,” a term given to young adult volunteers.

“With our young adults serving as ‘Mercy Crew’ members, I already feel the Holy Spirit moving,” said Twist, as volunteers worked on last-minute details days before the event kicked off. “They provide the hands-on work throughout the weekend in various capacities to serve the needs of the youths and those of the conference staff and volunteers. The conference offers this opportunity to young adults as a way to transition from being a teen participant to serving as an adult leader in the Church.”

John Beaulieu, director of youth and young adult outreach for Franciscan University, explained that the mission of conference organizers is to transform all the young participants attending the youth conferences.

“In 2009, we will be calling young people to tear down the facade the world has thrown up in front of them,” Beaulieu said. “We will draw them into the presence of the God of the universe where they will see that God truly is above all, better than anything else and living in their hearts through faith and baptism. We want to show them that God is not an experience, but a journey.”

Christian Pawlak, 15, is also a devotee of the youth conferences, attending them here in the diocese.

“Last year, it definitely put me in a place I didn’t know was there,” he said about the 2008 event held in Boca Raton.

This year, Christian, a parishioner of St. Martin de Porres in Jensen Beach, participated in a leadership program as part of the youth conference called Franciscan Lead. The program was held the week leading up to the youth gathering. Franciscan Lead is designed for youths who are passionate about the Catholic faith, active in youth groups and ready to strengthen leadership skills.

“I think that the experience with the conferences has strengthened me and my faith,” he told the Florida Catholic. “I think they are awesome.”

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