{"id":34997,"date":"2025-07-29T10:34:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-29T15:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/?p=34997"},"modified":"2025-07-29T11:11:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T16:11:24","slug":"youth-group-has-life-changing-experience-at-steubenville","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/?p=34997","title":{"rendered":"Youth Group Has Life Changing Experience at Steubenville"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our Youth Group travelled to Steubenville, Ohio for the Steubenville Youth Conference July 11-13, 2025. The whole weekend was about how Jesus is alive and loves you! Our youth learned strategies on how to live with Jesus in confidence and strength. During the offertory at Friday night\u2019s Mass, it came to me that every one of our youth literally carved out time from their Summer jobs to be here. And, during fundraising they could feel that they are precious to our parishioners at Holy Family.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of Adoration on Saturday night, I felt like St. Peter did when he witnessed Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. He wanted to build three tents so it would never end. The whole auditorium of 2,000 teens felt loved. I never wanted it to end.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you for supporting our youth monetarily and through prayer. This trip was truly a life changing experience for all of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

– Sue Blackall –<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Below is a Question & Answer the kids did about their weekend in Steubenville.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Adriana Marble<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>My favorite part was the sessi<\/span><\/em>ons, where they talk to us<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>I think that when they talked a lot of the things they talked about I could relate to. So, it felt nice listening to them talk.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>This trip helped open my eyes to a lot of things. Things I\u2019m doing wrong, how to better myself. I learned life lessons.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Anything else?<\/strong> <\/span>10\/10 would go again<\/span><\/em> \ud83d\ude0a<\/span><\/p>\n

Andrea Rodriguez<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best?<\/span><\/strong> I liked the chance to try out something new and go to a place I\u2019ve never been before. It was nice to experience what a youth group is like.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you for allowing me to come. It was very fun.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Audi Henderson<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>I love how everyone there was super supportive and kind and when we went into the field house I was amazed at how powerful the music was. Like the music that everyone was singing back was from the heart.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>This day was special to me because I got to feel God\u2019s presence and I got to acknowledge that he\u2019s here and I can finally let my guard down.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>This experience can help me create a stronger relationship with God. It also helps me know that God is listening and he wants me to be heard.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else? <\/span><\/strong>This camp has really helped me open my eyes and heart to God and I\u2019m super grateful for that because now I know that he\u2019s with me I feel at peace! I\u2019m 100% coming back next year with more excitement than ever!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Carter DeGraaf<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best?<\/span><\/strong> I liked how I was able to connect to God in many new ways.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>I was able to connect to the speakers on a personal level.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>It can help me have a better outlook on life and appreciate how much God has done for me.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else? <\/span><\/strong>The food wasn\u2019t great.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Claire Kober<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best?<\/span><\/strong> Adoration was my favorite. Seeing so many people my age being touched by God in such amazing ways was a great experience.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>Having so many teens come together to worship God was very impactful knowing there are so many people my age loving God.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future?<\/span><\/strong> I will focus more on my spiritual relationships with friends as we were never meant to do it alone.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else? <\/span><\/strong>It was such an impactful experience and fun. Everyone should try and come if they can.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Dani Hall<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>\u00a0I loved the Adoration on Saturday night.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>I got to connect with God and remember that He died not just to save everyone, but He <\/span>WANTED<\/span> to save me.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>To remember no matter what hardships I face, the Lord wants it. Not just the best of me but He wants all of me.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else? <\/span><\/strong>Just that the Lord will always be there for me and with me.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Dominic Vanderhyde<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best?<\/span><\/strong> Adoration, and the love we would feel in the room during every session.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you?<\/span><\/strong> Some of the speakers were able to guide my struggles in faith.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>There were lots of insightful and helpful talks regarding how to pray that were discussed. I may consider implementing.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else?<\/span><\/strong> If you love to hear singing, go to their adoration. The symphony of voices heard in that room is truly life changing.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Janalynn Martinez<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>The singing. I enjoyed it a lot.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>That we spent time with each other and prayed.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>To go more to church and read the bible.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Jocelyn Martinez<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>Having the opportunity to experience something new to me and going to Ohio for the first time.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>Feeling God\u2019s presence last night and seeing how the people around me were so emotional made me feel happy that they really love God.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>Motivate me to spend more time and take some time to speak with God, and that it\u2019s okay to be angry at God.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else? <\/span><\/strong>Confession helped me a lot, and now I am going back home knowing that I was just forgiven by God.<\/em> \ud83d\ude0a<\/span><\/p>\n

Kate Kober<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>The best part of the trip for me was the openness that everyone seemed to have for the Lord to speak. Seeing 2,000 teens worshipping our God is a pretty memorable experience.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>The adoration on Saturday night is one of my favorite things about Steubenville. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for the gifts I have received, and I always feel so close to Jesus during adoration.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>All of the speakers give information in their talks that help me learn more about navigating the beginning of adulthood, especially about maintaining my faith through it all.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else? <\/span><\/strong>I would recommend that every young person, no matter where you are at in your faith, should attend at least one. It changed my life, it will definitely change yours.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Lauren Bradford<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>My favorite part of Steubenville was the praise and worship. I loved seeing everyone lifting their hands and their hearts in song.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>Adoration was really special to me. It was a new experience for me where I was filled with God\u2019s love, mercy, and hope!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>Steubenville taught me the importance of a close and strong Christian community and how that community can help build each other up in faith and love for God.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else? <\/span><\/strong>I would recommend everyone who can come to this wonderful conference to come and invite a friend!!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Lila Volkers<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>What I like best about Steubenville is the people. Everyone from different walks of life gather and worship God. You can feel and see the Holy Spirit move in everyone. What\u2019s better than that?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>The most meaningful part to me was Adoration. I had a smile on my face the whole time and could feel God\u2019s presence.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How can it help you in your future? <\/span><\/strong>Coming here has created lifelong Godly friendship for me. Which is an answered prayer of mine.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Anything else?<\/span><\/strong> I wish I could come back<\/span><\/em> \u2639<\/span><\/p>\n

Michaela Hall<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

What did you like best? <\/span><\/strong>I really liked the talk during the women\u2019s session and the women\u2019s adoration.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

How was it special for you? <\/span><\/strong>I didn\u2019t really have a lot of close relationships with other women until later in life and it was cool to be with that many other women.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our Youth Group travelled to Steubenville, Ohio for the Steubenville Youth Conference July 11-13, 2025. The whole weekend was about how Jesus is alive and loves you! Our youth learned strategies on how to live with Jesus in confidence and strength. During the offertory at Friday night\u2019s Mass, it came to me that every one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":35013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1044,1049,1048],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34997"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35014,"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34997\/revisions\/35014"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.holyfamilysparta.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}