Steubenville or bust
Teens head west for youth conference
By Kevin Reavey
Correspondent
ANNANDALE — Rows of backpacks, sleeping bags, pillows, guitar cases and excited teens filled the front patio of Immaculate Conception Church early the morning of July 14. The 87 high school students had gathered for a 7:30 a.m. send-off Mass before their departure to the Steubenville Youth Conference at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.
Given the early hour, the energy level in the church was much greater than one would expect from a group of high school students. Clapping their hands and dancing in the pews, the teens — anxious to begin their weekend right away — led the congregation in upbeat contemporary songs.
The Mass was concelebrated by Msgr. Leon Kasprzyk, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Lambertville; Father Krzysztof Kaczynski of Immaculate Conception Parish; and Father Roberto D. Coruna from the Annunciation Parish, Bloomsbury.
In his homily, Father Kaczynski told the teens that the Holy Spirit uses them to spread the good news and that the Spirit will give them the words. He said the trip would be a great opportunity to “see how others face the difficulty of life.” He concluded by telling the group that they should “share faith, give witness and grow together in faith.”
For Lauren Barr, a senior at North Hunterdon High School, this year’s conference was her fourth trip to Steubenville. “It gets better every year!” she said. “The music is as amazing as the people you meet.”
Barr described how the faces of first timers walking into the field house “light up like kids in a candy store.” She said she loves to watch their eyes fill with excitement. Being a conference veteran she planned to help the younger, first-time participants experience the weekend fully. She said that she continues to go every year because there is always something new and exciting.
Mark Pincus, a youth minister at Annunciation Parish, said Steubenville is an “opportunity to bring our teens closer to Christ in a way they may not normally experience.” He added that “through this experience we’ve not only brought the teens closer to Christ, we’ve brought the diocese closer together by uniting six parishes.”
Michael Wojcik, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, said the conference “gives the teens an opportunity to celebrate their way, with contemporary songs, along with others who share their faith from all over the country.”
The Diocese of Metuchen’s 87 attendees included 52 boys and 35 girls, along with 23 chaperones and one priest. The conference, held July 14-16, costs $300 for each attendee. It is supported primarily by parents, with fundraisers and parish support.
More information about the history of the conference can be found at www.franciscanyouth.com.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law