Author: Andrea Johnson

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Deborah Nearmyer

Deborah Nearmyer has served in ministry for 30 years in parish, school, and Catholic camping settings. Deborah is the director of Faith Formation at St. James Academy in Lenexa, Kansas. She was hired a year before the opening of St. James Academy to coordinate the development of an all-encompassing Catholic mission. Since 2005 she has served as part of the administrative team while nurturing the mission and cultivating the Catholic culture. Deborah, along with her husband, Deacon Dana, are the co-founders and co-directors of Camp Tekakwitha, an archdiocesan summer camp celebrating its 22nd year. Her joy is found in her five children and two grandchildren and in facilitating first generation encounters with Jesus for them and her community.

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Father Tom Valenti

Father Tom Valenti was ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Rochester. For 13 years he served as the assistant to the bishop for Vocations. He then became the Catholic chaplain of Ithaca College. In 1997 he accepted an assignment with the Archdiocese of New York as a Catholic chaplain to the undergraduates at Columbia University. Presently, he is a chaplain for Columbia’s Athletic Department. He in now in his third year serving as the pastoral administrator of four parishes comprising all of Tioga County in New York State. Since the early 1980s, he has been a speaker and a member of the planning teams for conferences and retreats.

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Sunday Small Group Discussion (maybe for the ride home)

Sunday Morning Keynote Scripture: Romans 12:4-5 (Belonging to the Body of Christ)

  • What about the Sunday morning talk most impacted you? What area of your life did the talk most make you consider?
  • What did you learn about the Church?
  • What is one thing you can do to foster your relationship with Jesus after the conference and every day?
  • Why is it important to pray every day? How will you strive to pray every day?
  • What is one thing you can do to foster your relationship with the Church, the Body of Christ, after the conference?
  • How will you stay connected with youth group, friends, community who are striving to live as followers of Christ?
  • How can you be a witness of Jesus Christ and share your faith with others?
  • How can you help others know that they too belong to the Body of Christ?
  • What are some ways you can serve Jesus and the Church?
  • Why is it important to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit?
  • How can you pray for more of the Holy Spirit in your life?
  • In what areas of your life do you most need the Holy Spirit to help you and be with you?
  • If you could ask the Holy Spirit for two things to be a better disciple, what would they be?
  • What did your experience at this conference show you about God’s love and His plan for your life?
  • What are some challenges you are going to face in going home?
  • What will you do if you struggle to live your life in Christ or the circumstances at home make it challenging to live your faith?
  • How can you bring this conference experience back to your parish, youth group, high school, family, etc.?
  • What did you hear this weekend that gives you hope for going back home today?
  • Continue to ask questions based on what you know about each of the youth in your small group and how they experienced this weekend conference.
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Sunday | Bayou

7:30-8:45am

Marketplace Open

8:00am

Main Doors Open
(Arena)

9:00am-Noon

Morning Session
Belonging to the Body of Christ

Celebration of Holy Mass

Noon-12:30

Lunch To Go
(Lobby)

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Saturday Dinner Small Group Discussion Questions

  • What workshop did you attend? What stood out to you most from the presentations?
  • What are some practical take-ways from the workshops?
    • This is a good opportunity for the youth to share with one another about the content of the workshops. They can learn about the workshop they did not attend by hearing from those that did attend.
  • What is the greatest obstacle in your life to recognizing that you belong to God the Father?
  • What are some ways you feel you are being called to change?
  • What is one additional thing you want Jesus to do in your heart this weekend?
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Saturday | Bayou

7:00- 8:15am

Reconciliation
(Bayou Blessings)

Marketplace Open

7:30am

Main Doors Open
(Arena)

8:30-10:45am

Morning Session

Celebration of Holy Mass

11:00am-Noon

Women’s Session
Belong Together: Authentic Friendship
(Arena)

Men’s Lunch
(Hall)

Noon-1:00pm

Women’s Lunch
(Hall)

Men’s Reconciliation
(Bayou Blessings)

Small Groups

Group Leaders’ Lunch

1:00-2:00pm

Men’s Session
Belong Together: Authentic Friendship
(Arena)

Women’s Reconciliation
(Bayou Blessings)

2:00pm

Session Doors Open
(Arena)

2:15-3:15pm

General Session
Belong Together: Family Ties

3:15-5:15pm

Open Time: Recharge

Small Groups

Marketplace Open

Various Activities
(Hall)

3:30-4:15pm

Workshop
 Dating 101
(Arena)

Adult Ministry Time
(Chapel)

4:30-5:15pm

Workshop
Eternity 101: Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory
(Arena)

Adult Ministry Time
(Chapel)

5:15-7:15pm

Dinner
(Hall)

Reconciliation
(Bayou Blessings)

Marketplace Open

6:15pm

Main Doors Open
 (Arena)

7:15-10:00pm

Evening Session
Belonging to Christ Our Hope

Eucharistic Holy Hour and Procession

10:00-11:30pm

Reconciliation
(Bayou Blessings)

Small Groups

11:30pm

Conference Site Closes

 

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Matthew Leonard

Matthew Leonard  is an international speaker, author, and founder of Next Level Catholic Academy (NextLevelCatholicAcademy.com), the fastest growing school of Catholic spirituality in the world. An accomplished filmmaker, he has written, produced, directed, and hosted multiple best-selling Catholic video series that have been translated into almost a dozen languages. A convert to Catholicism and former missionary, Matthew is a frequent guest on radio and television programs across the country. His podcast, The Art of Catholic, is heard in more than 180 countries around the world. Matthew holds a master’s in theology from Franciscan University and is the author of two books. He is married with six children. Learn more at  MatthewSLeonard.com.

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Rules and Regulations

When participants (or their parents) signed the Liability Form, they acknowledged having read the Participant Policy Acknowledgement Form. By signing the liability form, all participants (adult and youth) agreed to adhere to the rules and policies of the Steubenville On The Bayou Catholic Youth Conference as set forth in the Participant Policy Acknowledgment Form. Anyone not following the policies may be asked to leave; a refund will not be issued.  

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Marketplace/Concessions

The Bookstore is located in the Marketplace.  The sale and distribution of any items is strictly prohibited without the permission of the Conference Director. Concessions will be sold in the lobby intermittently during the weekend.

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Chapel

The Chapel is open during conference hours. It is located at the end of the Meeting Room Wing. Prayer ministers are available for assistance during the conference. They are wearing red vests.

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Health/First Aid/ Lost and Found

Health
It is absolutely vital that you drink lots of water throughout the weekend. Water coolers are located just outside of the lobby doors.

First Aid
For all medical needs, please go to the First-Aid Station located at the end of the Lobby. First Aid is open when the conference site is open. Youth requiring first aid must be accompanied by an adult. Medication requiring refrigeration should be checked in with the nursing staff.  

Lost and Found
Lost and Found is located at the Central Office. If you realize after the conference that you lost something, please call 985-262-9064 within two weeks to claim your items.

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Dress Code

All participants, including adults, are expected to dress appropriately in modest attire. Low-cut tops, mini skirts, short shorts, leggings without tops of an appropriate length or clothing with offensive language or obscene pictures are not allowed.

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Instructions

Supplies Needed:  

A camera. Don’t have a camera? Find someone who does!  Alternatively, grab a pen and paper. Have fun!

Prizes are located at the Transportation Tent in the Rosary Circle.

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Security

  • Lanyards MUST be worn at all times.  If you lose your lanyard, immediately report to Central Office (youth must be accompanied by an adult chaperone).
  • Bag Size Limits: Bags should be “flat bags” like a cinch bag/drawstring backpack (picture below). No multi-zipper backpacks, oversized backpacks or large totes will be allowed.
  • Youth are not allowed to leave the inside of the conference site without a chaperone
  • No one without proper Conference Credentials will be allowed onto the conference grounds:
    -Participants: Lanyards for Participants: Lanyards will be required to be worn by all participants when on the conference site. The lanyard will be your conference credentials (instead of bracelets) this year. Chaperones will have one color identifier on their lanyard and young adults will have another. No one without a lanyard will be allowed into the conference.
    -Safe Environment Trained Persons:Volunteers are identified by their “uniform” and MUST wear their conference vests, scrub top or apron at all time as this is your “entry” to the conference. / Priests will be wearing lanyards./Mercy Crew is identified by their shirts./Logistics persons are identified by their shirts.
    -Non Safe Environment Trained Persons: Civic Staff: will have their I.D.s on and many will have Civic Center shirts/Production Staff: will have Gulf Coast Production shirts on/Catering: will have 360 catering shirts on.
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Smoking

Smoking
Except for designated outside areas, all conference venues are smoke-free facilities. During the sessions we ask all participants, including adult chaperones, to refrain from smoking.

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Friday | Bayou

4:00-5:00pm

Travelers’ Mass
(Arena)

4:30-6:30pm

Dinner
(Hall)

4:30-6:30pm

Reconciliation
(Bayou Blessings)

5:45pm

Main Doors Open
 (Arena)

6:45-9:15pm

Evening Session
Called to Belong

9:15-10:00pm

Opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration
(Chapel)

9:15-11:30pm

Reconciliation
(Bayou Blessings)

Small Groups

Marketplace Open

11:30pm

Conference Site Closes

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J – L

Life Teen

Life Teen is a movement within the Roman Catholic Church, Life Teen leads teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church.

Life Teen Inc www.lifeteen.com 

Little Way Design Co.

Spreading the Gospel through the little way of beautiful and modern designs!

www.littlewaydesign.co

 

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Jeff Cavins: Young Adult Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Come along with Franciscan University on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to explore the sites and sounds of the place where our faith all began:  the Holy Land!  Join nationally acclaimed evangelist, author, and biblical scholar Jeff Cavins, along with Father Mike Schmitz and Fr. Dominic Foster, TOR on an amazing journey where you will:
  • Walk in the footsteps of Jesus, His Mother, the Saints and apostles
  • Touch Mount Calvary, take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, float in the Dead Sea, and walk through ancient water tunnels
  • Experience daily Mass at biblical holy sites
  • Hear inspirational talks by Jeff Cavins and Father Mike Schmitz
  • Pray in the Upper Room, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Mount of Beatitudes, the Church of the Nativity, and other sites
  • Renew baptismal promises at the Jordan River
For more info about this exciting opportunity, click on the resources below:
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A – C

Adventures In The Great Mystery

LOOKING FOR A NEW WAY TO TEACH ABOUT THE CATHOLIC LIFE OR TOB? This Catechetical Novel and its discussion guides will help you engage, inspire, and inform individuals and groups, ages 14 to 104.

Designed by a team trained in theology, Adventures in the Great Mystery is an action-packed story about Catholic college students, a story which pulls readers into the excitement and beauty of following Jesus in the Catholic Church. The first novel, The Five Questions, contains personal reflection questions after each chapter, group discussion questions for four meetings, and two hundred footnotes to Scripture, the Catechism, and the writings of saints and popes. Special group discussion questions are available for Lent and for Theology of the Body classes. Through the eyes of the characters, readers will experience and learn about the sacraments, various types of prayer, ethical decision-making, discernment of vocation, offering up suffering, and much more. Less-catechized readers will find a great introduction to the Catholic faith; well-catechized readers will find inspiration to build both their personal prayer life and their apostolic activity. Staff members are ready to design discussion questions with your class or group’s specific needs in mind.

For lists of topics covered, comments from readers, and sample discussion questions, or to contact our staff, visit AdventuresInTheGreatMystery.com. For sale at the Franciscan bookstore during all conferences.

Catholic Apologetics Institute of North America (CAINA)

In support of the Catholic Church’s New Evangelization, the Catholic Apologetics Institute of North America (CAINA) provides informative and interesting presentations and writings to help Catholics better understand and uphold our faith heritage to an increasingly secular society in need of hope and the Christian vision.

Church of Saint Paul

Family Formation is designed to help parents respond to the Church’s call to be the first and foremost educators of their children and to help families grow in the transforming love of God by understanding and living the Catholic Faith.

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Bishop Sam Jacobs

Bishop Sam Jacobs was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Lafayette in 1964 where he served as pastor, chaplain, and associate pastor of several parishes there and also in the Diocese of Lake Charles. He has served as chairman of the National Service Committee for the Charismatic Renewal and diocesan director of Vocations and Seminarians for the Diocese of Lake Charles. Bishop Jacobs was appointed the tenth bishop of Alexandria in 1989 and was installed as the third bishop of Houma-Thibodaux in 2003. He retired in October of 2013 and is now the bishop emeritus of Houma-Thibodaux. He celebrated 50 years of priesthood on June 6, 2014, and marks 25 years of episcopacy on August 24, 2014.