Father Dave Pivonka, TOR '89 President | Franciscan University website

For the past 50 years, the Steubenville Conferences at Franciscan University have connected Catholics and seekers to a faith-centered experience. Brian Kissinger, the executive director of Conferences at Franciscan University, expressed profound gratitude as they approach this milestone. “Heading into our 50th summer, we’re overwhelmed by the Lord’s generosity and the ways he continues to reach people through our conferences,” he stated. The conferences have been instrumental in individual spiritual encounters, impacting families, parishes, and apostolates.

This summer introduces a new event, Glory: Women’s Gathering, scheduled for June 6-8 at Franciscan University. Designed to cultivate belonging and inspiration, the women's conference partners with Abiding Together podcast’s Heather Khym and Life Restoration Ministries. The lineup features speakers such as Michelle Benzinger, Debbie Herbeck, Sarah Kaczmarek, Father Tim Hepburn, and Monica Richards, with music led by Sarah Kroger Quaglia. Khym shared her enthusiasm about the event: “I’m so excited to host the Glory women’s conference at Franciscan this summer and welcome women of all generations to encounter God’s presence, experience joy and renewal, and refocus our lives on Jesus.”

Five additional adult conferences will welcome Catholic leaders, including Noelle Mering, Dr. Scott Hahn, Father Dave Pivonka, Dr. Mary Healy, Deacon Bob Rice, Karlo Broussard, Dr. John Bergsma, Father John Riccardo, Dr. Shane Owens, Kimberly Hahn, and Katie Prejean McGrady at Franciscan University.

Youth also remain a focus with 19 summer conferences for teenagers across the United States and Canada, including four at Franciscan University, a new conference in Joliet, Illinois, and a return to San Diego, California. Kissinger noted his personal journey with the youth conferences, saying, “As someone who attended our youth conferences as a teen, brought groups as a youth minister, and served as a Steubenville Youth Conferences host, I’ve seen the fruit and the evidence of what God can do through these weekends.”

Further details and registration options are available on SteubenvilleConferences.com.