The greatest commandments of our Catholic faith are to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

But, as Bishop Edward Rice reminded the 3,000 teens, leaders, and volunteers today during the Steubenville Conference closing Mass, Jesus calls us to go a step further. We need to love with our whole heart, so we can become fearless disciples.

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Sunday morning started with Michael Gormley who reminded us that, this weekend, we have heard about how we need to live fearlessly for Jesus. Maybe that has empowered you. Maybe you are ready and convicted to make a change in your life. Or, maybe you are nervous to return to your homes and families, and you are unsure about what life will look like now. Whatever way you are feeling, it is ok.

No matter what is going on in your mind and heart, God planned for you to be here this weekend at the conference, and He has done something within you. Even if you are not aware of it, God is moving within you. You might be tempted to pretend that has not happened. You might want to put on a mask and ignore the change within you. But Jesus is calling you to greatness. You are not called to a life of mediocrity. You are called to change the world, and the only thing that can truly change the world is the love of Jesus.

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Our evening keynote speaker, Lisa, walked us through the story of four gardens. In the gardens of Eden, Gethsemane, the garden of Jesus’ tomb, and the garden in Revelation, the story of our journey to fearlessness unfolds. Through the life and actions of Jesus, we discover the ultimate foundation for our hope.

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For our second workshop of the day, Brian Greenfield presented an honest and vulnerable message about family. When everything goes as God intended, our families are havens of love, consistency, and healthy boundaries. Unfortunately, Brian’s family (and many of our own families) don’t always meet that call. It is in these times that we need to remember that God is our perfect example of holy, familial love.

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Being a member of God’s family is more than just belonging; it’s also an adventure of learning to love each other the way God loves. Fr. Joe Freedy explained this during our first workshop of the afternoon.

For Fr. Joe, that adventure began with learning to love himself. As a young adult, he battled with addiction and anxiety. The different ways in which he was struggling, and also the ways he was trying to prove himself in sports, were really a result of a fundamental need that we all share: the need to be fully seen, fully known, and fully loved.

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