Discipleship Panel

We began Sunday as we ended Saturday, with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.

Following Adoration, the Discipleship Panel provided insight on living our faith when we return to our everyday lives.

Fr. Brian Fallon suggested prayer. Prayer is your relationship with God. It’s not about getting it right, it’s about building a community. He suggested finding a saint and talking to our Mother, Mary. And he said, “Don’t give up. Keep showing up.”

Lisa Cotter told us to take advantage of receiving the Sacraments. The Sacraments are ties when God is most closely with us, during those moments. She encouraged us to take advantage of receiving Eucharist and Reconciliation often.

Matt Regitz suggested service. He reminded us all not to just serve out of duty, but as an extension of God’s love for us. We should live out our faith through service. He encouraged us to do something with no expectation of anything in return.

Lauren Wright encouraged us all to form a community that brings us closer to God. She reminded us that community is reciprocal and the purpose of our community should be to remind you who you are and who you belong to.

Holy Mass

Bishop Rice once again joined us from the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. His homily was a message of encouragement. We all  have an intense hunger in our hearts for God, an innate desire to be in communion with God. And, like Bishop Rice, many of us may feel frustrated to feel this desire but not quite be able to give it all to God. He called on all of us to be constantly striving to give ourselves fully to God.

Vocations Call

To watch the livestream click here.

Afternoon Keynote: Consumed by Stress

In the afternoon session, Lauren Wright taught us a process for prayer to give Jesus our worries and anxiety and stress. The four steps for inviting Jesus in begin with Acknowledge. This is a process of self examination. What is going on? What are you feeling? The second step is Relate. This step is when you share these feelings with Jesus, talking to Him like you talk to a friend. After this, you Receive. Who does Jesus say that you are? What does He want to say about the situation. The final step is to Respond in Gratitude. After thanking Him, discern is there anything Jesus is asking you to do?

Watch the livestream of the afternoon keynote here.

Keynote: All-Consuming Love

While it often feels like everything in our live are competing with Jesus for our attention, Matt Regitz reminded us that being in relationship with Jesus is the goal. Jesus is reaching down to speak to us. Matt used the seven last passages of Jesus in the Bible to prepare us for Adoration.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus is our lifeline in good times and bad.

“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” Jesus is making excuses for US on the cross!

“Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” It’s not too late for any of us.

“Woman, behold,  your son…Behold, your mother.” Jesus creates the family that spiritually nourishes us.

“I thirst.” St. Mother Teresa said, “His thirst is quenched when we bring him souls.”

“It is finished.” We try to control things in our lives, but Jesus haws already done it all. He’s won the battle.

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” The Holy Spirit works to bring us into relationship with the Trinity.

Jesus wants to set our hearts on fire!

Adoration

Fr. Brian Fallon processed through the crowd with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. And just like the disciples stood in Christ’s presence over 2,000 years ago, we were able to be with Jesus in the Eucharist. We had a moment of encounter with the Lord, and something happens when a group of people encounter the Lord and decide they are going to respond. As Fr. Fallon said, “We know for sure, Lord, that You will show us the path to life. The fullness of joy is in Your presence. At Your right hand, happiness forever.”

Watch the livestream of the Saturday night session here.

Taming Wildfire: Women’s Session

Lauren Wright spoke to the women today, sparking conversations about belonging and how to rest in Jesus. She articulated “if, then” thinking that many of use in our lives, like “If I am funny enough or nice enough or pretty enough, then they will like me” or “If they like me, then I’ll feel like I belong or I’m enough.” Lauren reminded us that we already belong to God. We belong so we can give that to God in prayer. Lauren also directed us to Romans 12:2 – “Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you will be able to discern the will of God and to know what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We shouldn’t live with the idea that we have to prove we’re enough, instead we should be transformed by the renewal of our mind. Renewal that allows us to rest in Jesus.

Taming Wildfire: Men’s Session

Matt Regitz spoke to the men this afternoon, challenging them to begin again in God. Too often, we try to fix our own problems instead of asking for help. We even rationalize decisions and sins, convincing ourselves that it’s all okay, that we’re fine. But we are not the best Master. But we are really good sons. Matt gave us the reminder that we don’t have to fix our lives, we can just begin again in God.

Consuming the Word

Lisa Cotter opened Saturday’s morning session reminding us that God’s greatest desire is to be with us. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. He gave us the Church and He gave us the Sacraments so He can be with us in a real way. Each Sacrament confers Grace on us; Baptism makes us children of God, going to Confession reconciles us to God, and Eucharist provides us spiritual food for the journey. Lisa said, “Through the Eucharist, God gives us what we need to thrive in this world – His very self.” Her talk brought us back to the Parable of the Sower. If we’re covered in thorns or among the rocks, it’s harder for Jesus to pour his Graces on us. We have to do the hard work. We can confront those things that consume us so we can come to Mass ready to engage with full and active participation. As we prepared to transition into Holy Mass, Lisa encouraged everyone to give their hearts to Jesus, to use the offertory to give our worries, our hurts, all that consumes us, to Jesus. We literally come to Mass to consume Jesus, and in consuming Him, He consumes us.

Holy Mass

Along with over 40 concelebrating priests, Bishop Rice offered Mass on Saturday morning in honor of Our Lady and her Immaculate Heart. During the homily, Fr. Brian Fallon asked us “Are you worth more than a sparrow?” and gave us the emphatic answer of Yes. Fr. Brian reminded us that Jesus was thinking of us, of you and me, on the cross. It’s too easy to become too complacent at Mass and we miss out on what he wants to give us. We have to believe in the goodness God wants to give us. Fr. Brian called on us to remember that Mass isn’t about us, it’s about worshiping God and as we worship, He pours His Grace into us.

Watch the livestream of the morning session and Mass here.

Conference Theme

Across the country, at nineteen different locations, thousands of teens are gathering at Steubenville Conferences to experience a life-changing encounter with Christ. This year’s theme, Consumed, comes from Deuteronomy 4:24.  In this verse  we hear, “For the Lord, your God, is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” This passage highlights God’s passionate desire for our exclusive devotion.

Ministry Team

• Host: Kris Frank
• Worship Leader: Josh Blakesley
• Team Priest: Fr. Brian Fallon
• Keynote Speaker: Lisa Cotter
• Keynote Speaker: Matt Regitz
• Keynote Speaker: Lauren Wright

Keynote: Consuming the World

The first keynote of the conference was given by Fr. Brian Fallon. He reminded us that we are good. Genesis tell us in Chapter 1, Verse 31, “God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.” And we are not exempt from this. God looks at us and finds us very good. He cherishes us and holds us close to his heart. As Fr. Fallon said, we can sometimes forget his and then we start to spiral. We go out into the world and all of the things reaching out for our attention draw us in. Instead of seeking our identity in Christ, we seek it from other places. We forget that we are GOOD. Fr. Fallon challenged us to hear Jesus asking us, “Will you receive My love?” and reminded us that the life we’re called to live, the life that will truly bring us happiness, rests in Him. He also reminded us that the Lord speaks to us with conviction and kindness. And when we get discouraged, when we’ve allowed the world to consume us, Fr. Fallon reminded us to turn to the Gospels, the Good News that God gives us through His son. He invites us to put ourselves in the arms of the Father, to allow Him to be proud of us, to be in relationship with God through prayer.

Click here to watch the recorded livestream of this session!