What are High School Youth Conferences?

These conferences are specialized to address the resources and needs of today’s Catholic youth, organized on a regional level. With an exciting lineup of speakers, musicians, and presenters, the High School Youth Conferences will challenge Catholic youth to stand firm in their faith, rely upon the awesome power of Jesus Christ who is their guide, friend, and Savior, and to show that faith to the world.

The Sacraments are the highlight of the weekend. Teens will join in two dynamic Eucharistic Liturgies during the weekend and will be given numerous opportunities to participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There are also powerful times of Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration. Many youth have come to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit through this weekend.

If your teens are beginning their walk with Christ, needing strength to continue the journey, or just ready to rejoice in the many blessings He has given, then this is the conference for you!↑ Return to Top

What is Franciscan LEAD?

Franciscan LEAD is a five-day, Christ-centered, sacrament-soaked, prayer-fueled immersion in Catholic teachings on Leadership, Evangelization, And Discipleship inspired by the life and witness of St. Francis of Assisi. The philosophy of Franciscan LEAD is to teach authentic, lasting leadership that flows from intimacy with Christ, so we first seek to engage youth in a personal relationship with Christ and then give them the tools to share their faith with others.  
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What happens over the course of the week?

The week is rooted in the truths of Scripture, the Catechism, the Sacraments of the Catholic Church, and the lives of the saints. Each day of training will consist of workshops on discipleship including how to develop a prayer life, overcoming sin through the Sacraments, and other practical tools for developing their Catholic faith. The week will also include evangelization training on being an effective witness through topics such as how to share their personal testimony, servant leadership, how to answer difficult faith questions, and being an authentic witness.
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When does Franciscan LEAD take place?

Franciscan LEAD is offered the week before all of our 18 youth conferences. The training begins on the Monday evening before the Steubenville Youth Conference weekend and runs through Friday afternoon.  On Friday afternoon, Franciscan LEAD participants join their youth group when they arrive on site for the weekend conference. Therefore, each Franciscan LEAD applicant must be a registered conference participant with their group for the weekend.
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Who should apply for Franciscan LEAD?

Franciscan LEAD is for youth who are passionate about their Catholic faith, active in their youth group, and ready to step up to the next level of leadership through evangelization and discipleship training. 
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What is the age requirement for applying?

Youth can apply for Franciscan LEAD for the summer after their freshman year in high school through the summer after their senior year in high school. 
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Who facilitates the Franciscan LEAD week?

The program is led by a team of leaders who are experienced in youth ministry and have been specifically trained by Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Youth Outreach Office. Franciscan LEAD offers an 8 to 1 youth to leader ratio. 
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How do youth apply for Franciscan LEAD?

The application for Franciscan LEAD is a two part online process – the youth application and the referral form. All youth applying for Franciscan LEAD will need an adult that knows them to fill out their referral. The referral person can be their youth minister, their priest, or any other adult that knows them well enough to answer questions about their faith life. The youth’s parent cannot be the referral person. The application process is detailed step by step here. All applications and referrals must be submitted through the online process. ↑ Return to Top

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Can a youth apply to Franciscan LEAD at a site different from where their group is going for the weekend conference?

No.  One of the values of Franciscan LEAD is participants use their newly acquired skills and insights to serve their fellow group members throughout the high school youth conference weekend. LEAD applicants are required to be registered at the same Franciscan University of Steubenville Summer Youth Conference as their group and can only apply for LEAD if they are already registered for the conference. 
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What is the Franciscan LEAD acceptance process?

After the application has been reviewed, the conference office will send the youth and the referral person an email detailing whether or not the youth is accepted. No payment for Franciscan LEAD is received until after the applicant is accepted. Once the applicant is accepted, all travel and payment information will be emailed to both the youth and referral person. 
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What is the cost of the week and what does this price include?

The Franciscan LEAD program cost is variable depending on the conference location attended. For exact Franciscan LEAD costs, please call the regional conference registration office or email franciscanlead@franciscan.edu (be sure to mention the conference location for which you are requesting the cost). The cost includes training in discipleship and evangelization, resource book, official program t-shirt, and lodging/meals for the participant for the duration of the program. This cost does not include the registration fee for the conference weekend or transportation to and from the site. Full or partial payment options may be available through sponsorship by parish youth group. 
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How are travel arrangements made?

Once the participant is accepted to the program, they are responsible for arranging their own travel to the site on Monday and notifying the Steubenville Youth Conference registration office of their travel plans after acceptance. Please do not make travel arrangements until after the applicant is accepted. If a participant will be flying into the local airport on Monday, we will arrange pickup for the youth. We will not arrange transportation back to the airport on Sunday following the conference weekend. 
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Where will the participants join their group on Friday?

Franciscan LEAD staff will provide transportation to the conference site on Friday for all Franciscan LEAD participants, so they will be at the youth conference location upon your arrival at the conference on Friday afternoon. They must join their group by dinner on Friday because their meal plan begins with their group for the weekend conference. 
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Will youth be considered if they apply for Franciscan LEAD a second year?

Yes, however youth must go through the entire application process again and priority will be given to new applicants.  Previous participation in Franciscan LEAD does not guarantee acceptance.
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Can youth be considered for Franciscan LEAD if they have never attended a Franciscan University of Steubenville Youth Conference?

Yes. Applicants do not need to have attended a Steubenville Youth Conference to apply for Franciscan LEAD. 
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