One of the blessings of being in the Diocese of Steubenville is our proximity to Franciscan University of Steubenville. The university is what drew our family to Ohio from Oklahoma back in 1984 as well. Over the years the university has grown to become a hub for many renewal movements within the Church.
One of the ways the university has extended their outreach to beyond college-aged students is through summer conferences. These have ranged from their high-energy high school youth conferences to an annual priests, deacons and seminarians retreat and conference. Additionally, they have hosted a “prayer group leaders” conference and one that has been at the heart of the Church’s apologetics renewal movement called the Defending the Faith Conference. They have also developed a summer Biblical studies institute. This week they will be hosting their annual catechetical conference called the St. John Bosco Conference.
This year they are offering a free live-streamed event this Wednesday evening, July 14th, 6:45 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Here is a link for registering for this: steubenvilleconferences.com/events/sjb/.
And, to become familiar with their other remaining conferences, which will also have some live-streamed options as well as to see some of their very inspiring past conference presentations, here is a link to their summer conferences home page:
I’m already looking forward to promoting a conference for next year called the “Steubenville Encounter Conference” described as a “Steubenville youth conference for adults.”
This week on Wednesday, July 14th, we also are celebrating the feast of a Native American saint, St. Kateri Tekakwitha. The Knights of Columbus have a website that presents many ways that the inspiring faith of Catholics of Native American heritage are benefiting all of us throughout the whole Church: www.kofc.org/en/news-room/enduring-faith/index.html
As in years past, we are progressing through this year’s Diocesan/Parish Share Campaign, the DPSC. I plan to return the brochures and envelopes to the pews in the next week or so and have another pulpit appeal. Among the ways other parishes have been able to meet their goals is that a number of parishioners might give their parish support offerings through the DPSC. We have an annual parish goal and once that goal is reached, the extra returns to the parish, assessment-free. When we don’t reach our goal during the campaign time, we add that remaining amount to our regular, monthly assessment. Thank you to all who have already participated in this year’s campaign.
May the Lord help us to experience the transforming power of God’s mercy! May Our Lord help us to be always ready for the gift of eternal life in Heaven!