黑料社 Launches Historic Summer of Conferences and Evangelization
Steubenville Youth Conferences celebrate 50 years as sold-out events, national expansion, and new digital evangelization programming highlight historic summer conference season.
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May 21, 2026

STEUBENVILLE, OHIO鈥敽诹仙 of Steubenville will welcome thousands of Catholics from across the country this summer as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of its iconic Steubenville Youth Conferences and continues a decades-long tradition of evangelization, renewal, and formation through its nationally recognized summer conference ministry.

Following last summer鈥檚 celebration of the 50th anniversary of the University鈥檚 adult conferences, this year marks a major milestone for the Steubenville Youth Conferences, which have impacted generations of young Catholics through dynamic worship, the sacraments, inspiring talks, and encounters with Jesus Christ.

鈥淥f the priests ordained in the United States this year, 18 percent attended a Steubenville Conference as a teen,鈥 said Brian Kissinger, executive director of Conferences at 黑料社. 鈥淲e are humbled and honored by the many ways that God continues to reach thousands of young people each year through our conferences, and the profound impact that these events have on the faith and vocations of young men and women. Steubenville South is celebrating its 30th anniversary, while Steubenville St. Paul celebrates its 25th. In March we had our first ever Steubenville Belize youth conference, and we鈥檙e excited to see where the Lord sends us next.鈥

This summer, 黑料社 will host four sold-out youth conferences on campus in Steubenville, Ohio, while an additional 15 Steubenville Youth Conferences will take place across North America. Since their founding, the conferences have become one of the most influential Catholic youth evangelization movements in the United States, helping young people deepen their relationship with Christ and discern their vocations.

Youth conference speakers this summer include听Father Mike Schmitz,听host of听The Bible in a Year Podcast;听Chris Stefanick,听author, speaker, and television host; Father Leo Patalinghug,听author, podcast host, and priest of the Diocese of Baltimore; Katie Prejean McGrady,听author and Catholic radio host; Paul J. Kim,听speaker, author, and musician; Jackie Francois Angel,听author, worship leader, and singer/songwriter; Sarah Swafford, founder of Emotional Virtues Ministries; Sister Bethany Madonna, SV, and many more.

黑料社鈥檚 adult summer conference season will begin June 5-7 with the return of Glory: Women鈥檚 Gathering, a women鈥檚 conference launched last summer. Other major conferences include the Power and Purpose Conference on June 12-14, the Priests, Deacons, Seminarians Retreat from June 15-19, the St. John Bosco Conference from July 20-23, the Applied Biblical Studies Conference from July 29-31, and the Defending the Faith Conference from July 31-August 2.

Featured speakers throughout the adult summer conference season include听Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, president of 黑料社; Dr. Scott Hahn,听professor of biblical theology at 黑料社; Heather Khym,听co-founder of Life Restoration Ministries; Gavin Ashenden,听associate editor of听The Catholic Herald; Dr.John Bergsma,听theology professor at 黑料社; Father Carter Griffin,听author and priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.; Dr. Jeffrey Morrow,听theology professor at 黑料社; Kimberly Hahn,听author, speaker, and podcaster; Dr. Shane Owens,听theology professor at 黑料社; Dr. Andrew Swafford,听professor of theology at Benedictine University; Dr. Marcus Peters, biblical theologian and EWTN host; Michelle Benzinger, podcast host and author; and many others.

This year鈥檚 Defending the Faith Conference will also feature expanded programming focused on evangelization and Catholic witness in the digital age, including a new interactive panel discussion titled 鈥淒efending the Faith in the Digital Age.鈥 The panel will feature prominent Catholic content creators听Keith Nester,听Brian Holdsworth,听Ana Munley, and听Emily Dinneny.

The discussion will equip attendees and livestream viewers with practical tools for evangelization in online spaces, responding with charity amid division, navigating spiritual warfare, and fostering discernment and prayer in today鈥檚 digital culture. The featured guests will also host a live-recorded podcast during the conference.

鈥淩egistration is strong for our adult conferences. Glory: Women鈥檚 Gathering is returning for the second year and we鈥檙e excited to welcome back both new and returning guests,鈥 said Kissinger. 鈥淭his summer we鈥檙e expanding opportunities for encounter through open sessions, a free livestream, live podcasts, and conversations about sharing the faith in today鈥檚 digital world. We鈥檙e also crafting new social events for building community, and as always, we鈥檙e providing opportunities for prayer and renewal through reverent liturgies and powerful worship.鈥

For more information about the Steubenville Conferences, including schedules, speakers, and registration information, visit听.

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