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Steubenville of the Rockies

June 21-23, 2024 | Gaylord Rockies Resort

Conferences and Retreats

2024 Theme: Illuminate

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
– John 1:5

This summer, over 50,000 Catholic teens across North America will attend one of 25 Steubenville Youth Conferences to encounter the God who calls us out of darkness and into his marvelous light. Lift your eyes to the glory of God.

2024 Steubenville Team

Bob Lesnefsky

Host

Bob Lesnefsky serves as assistant director of Household Life at Franciscan University. He has spent most of his life sharing the hope of God's love with inner city kids in the nonprofit he started, Vagabond Missions. Bob, aka RIGHTEOUS B, is also a washed up, award-winning Christian hip-hop artist and speaker who uses rap music to share the Gospel. Bob and his wife, Kate, both Franciscan University alumni, live in Steubenville, Ohio, with their seven children. Bob also has a ton of stupid tattoos.

Jackie Francois Angel

Female Speaker

Jackie Francois Angel is a speaker, vlogger, worship leader, and author from Orange County, California. In 2013, Jackie married Bobby Angel, who shares her passion for Jesus, coffee, and super hero movies. Together they have written two books, including Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: 5 Steps to Discerning God’s Will (with Fr. Mike Schmitz). They reside in Texas with their four young children.

Fr. Mike Schmitz

Team Priest

Father Michael Schmitz is the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth as well as the chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Father Mike attended Saint Paul Seminary and was ordained in 2003. He offers weekly homilies on iTunes and bulldogCatholic.org and has appeared in programs for youth and young adults through Ascension Press, as well as through regular short video messages on Ascension Presents.

Ben Walther

Worship Leader

After producing two albums as an independent Christian musician, Ben Walther joined the Oregon Catholic Press family and released his album Make Your Home in Me in 2013. It debuted at No. 12 on the iTunes Christian charts. In June 2016 he released Ablaze, again partnering with OCP. A graduate of Franciscan University, Ben is honored to serve the Walsh University community as the director of Campus Ministry. He completed his master's degree in theology and spiritual direction training through Franciscan University. He and his family live in North Canton, Ohio.

Paul J. Kim

Male Speaker

Paul J. Kim is an internationally recognized Catholic speaker, beatboxer, and comedian whose presentations have impacted people in 48 states and 16 countries over the past decade, leading them to life-changing encounters with Christ. He’s the author of the bestselling CatholicAdulting.com online course, the founder of the Triumph Men’s Conference, and his videos have accumulated millions of views. His background includes work as a marriage and family therapist and religious formation with the CFR's. He resides in Texas with his wife and five children. Learn more about Paul's ministry at PJKmusic.com.

Franciscan LEAD

June 17-21, 2024

Are your teens ready to take their faith to the NEXT LEVEL?

Leadership

Evangelization

Discipleship

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. This program takes place the Monday-Friday leading up to Steubenville of the Rockies.

Our leadership philosophy is based on the foundation that youth leadership flows from a personal relationship with Christ. Therefore, we first give teens the tools to grow closer in their relationship with Jesus and then give them the essentials for servant leadership and evangelization. Spots are limited so learn more at the button below!

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