Author: Beth Price

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University of St. Thomas

University of St. Thomas: All for the Common Good

At St. Thomas we believe diversity, equity and inclusion are indispensable to academic excellence and the holistic development of our students. Our university community includes and welcomes ALL people.

With eight schools and colleges, St. Thomas offers a comprehensive university with undergraduate and graduate options.

With one campus along the Mississippi River in St. Paul, a second campus in the heart of downtown Minneapolis, and a third campus in Rome, St. Thomas offers an urban experience with lots of greenery thrown in. But you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. So come to campus and see it all for yourself.

Our two-year college, Dougherty Family College, is for students who want to obtain a four-year college degree. They receive financial, academic and professional support on the way to their goals.

All students can participate in Study Abroad, Research, and Internship opportunities, and access the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, which helps spread the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation across campus.

Contact Us!

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Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe

The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, faithful to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary through her appearances on the American continent in 1531, serves the spiritual needs of those who suffer poverty in body and soul. It is a place of ceaseless prayer for the corporal and spiritual welfare of God’s children, especially those in most need.

A Gift of Providence

Pilgrims come to the Shrine Church to receive God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance and to participate in Holy Mass. Through her beautiful image behind the altar, Our Lady of Guadalupe continues her vocation and mission of bringing Christ to us and bringing us to Christ.

In November of 1995, then-Bishop Raymond Leo Burke met with a small group of people to discuss his ideas for a Marian shrine.​

Through what many attribute to divine providence, a beautiful site of approximately 70 acres was gifted by the Robert Swing family. It was the desire of the late Mr. & Mrs. Swing that the tract of land which they had cared for so well might one day become a place that would draw people closer to God.

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Partnership for Youth


Partnership for Youth was founded out of a desire to offer a Catholic youth conference in the Midwest that would awaken and strengthen young people in their faith.

Vision

Our Holy Father is calling us all to participate in the evangelization of the Church, an evangelization beginning with young people and those who influence them. The vision of Partnership for Youth is to help youth discover their reason for being, through their relationship with Christ within the fullness of the Catholic Church.

Mission

Awaken and strengthen young people in their relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church by providing Catholic events.

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Diocese of Joliet

There is so much to learn about our faith and our diocese.

We serve, support, and collaborate with the clergy, religious, and lay leaders of our parishes, schools, and ministries to animate the mission of the Catholic Church through the bishop’s vision of Catechesis, Evangelization, and Faith into Action.

Diocese of Joliet

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Guest Policies

The Steubenville Conferences are closed events. Anyone not registered for the conference as a teen participant, young adult, adult chaperone, group leader, clergy, or volunteer WILL NOT be allowed into any areas of the event site at any time throughout the entire weekend. This includes Masses. Special requests for Guest attendance during ANY part of the conference must be pre-approved and compliance with Safe Environment requirements must be fulfilled. Please contact the Partnership for Youth office at least one month prior to the conference for information.

Infants and Children Policy
Although we strongly support Catholic family life, due to insurance regulations and facility constraints, infants and children are not allowed at the conference.

Late Arrivals and Early Departures
All participants (teens and adults) should attend the entire conference; arriving and departing with their group. The conference theme builds from one session to the next and it is important for participants to be present for the entire day. Late arrivals and early departures are strongly discouraged. In the event that the Group Leader wishes to make an exception, please contact the Partnership for Youth office to coordinate the arrival/departure.

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Alcohol, Drugs and Weapons

All local laws concerning alcohol, drugs and weapons will be strictly enforced. Possession and/or consumption of alcohol or drugs is prohibited at all Steubenville Youth Conferences. We have a zero tolerance policy, and youth or adults found consuming alcohol will be sent home.

  • Violation of Policy: If a teen is found in possession of drugs, alcohol or weapons; or has
    consumed drugs or alcohol or is a danger to themselves or others, their parents will be called to come pick them up. Teens may not return to the conference. Teens will be kept with officers at the conference security office in order to keep them safe. Teens will be released only to parents or approved adults to be removed from the conference site. During the time the teen is with site security, parents will incur a $30/hour charge.
  • At the discretion of Partnership for Youth staff and/or site public safety personnel some offences may be reported to and handled by local law enforcement.
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E-Cigarettes and Smoking


All Steubenville Youth Conference facilities are smoke-free. This includes the use of e-cigarettes. Outside of conference session times, smoking is permitted in designated areas.

The Smoke-Free Illinois Act is (SFIA) a state law which protects residents, workers, and visitors from the harmful effects of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor by prohibiting smoking of all forms of combustible tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, and hookah, and e-cigarettes, vapes, and any other electronic smoking device, in public places and places of employment. In addition to indoor areas, use of these products is banned outdoors within 15 feet from any entrance, exit, window that opens, or ventilation intake of a public place or place of employment. The SFIA has been protecting Illinois residents and visitors from the dangers of secondhand smoke since its enactment on January 1, 2008; e-cigarettes were added to the act beginning January 1, 2024.

The SFIA defines places of employment as any area under the control of a public or private employer that employees are required to occupy, enter, or pass through while on the job. Public places are defined as a portion of any building or vehicle, whether owned by a private or public entity, used by and open to the public. The definition contains a list of many types of public places, including hospitals, restaurants, stores, offices, elevators, indoor theaters, libraries, warehouses, concert halls, public conveyances, meeting rooms, schools, and private clubs. It is not an exhaustive list. All public places meeting the statute’s definition are subject to the requirements of the SFIA.

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Camera Use

VIDEO CAMERAS and FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY are not allowed during Liturgical services but are permitted during general sessions. This includes cell phones with cameras and video capabilities. Assigned media representatives will be the only individuals allowed to take pictures or videos during the Liturgy.

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Non-Compliance


Partnership for Youth reserves the right to deny entrance to, or request the ejection of, any group or individual who does not comply with the policies and procedures of th conference. In the event that entrance is denied, or a person(s) is(are) ejected, no refunds will be issued and they will return home that their own expense.

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Prohibited Items


Food may not be brought into conference session areas.

Glow-sticks, laser pointers and flashing items are not permitted.

Clothespins: No passing out clothespins (‘clipping’) during the conference

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Diocese of Joliet Vocations


Every person has a unique calling from God, and the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Joliet works to help all people discern and flourish in their calling as a priest, religious, deacon or spouse. God speaks to all of us and has a specific purpose for each of our lives, and a vocation is his holy invitation to pursue a religious life using the gifts He has given us.

When one experiences the unique and personal love of Jesus, desires begin to grow within his/her heart. These desires grow over time and begin to direct the individual’s life. To discern, then, is to ‘separate’ this deep holy desire from the many other desires of life and choose to follow the voice of Jesus, the good shepherd.”

Diocese of Joliet

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Missing Teen Policy

It is our primary goal to keep all young people safe while attending a Partnership for Youth Steubenville
Youth Conference. In the unlikely event of a teen being reported missing during the conference:

  • PFY Safety/Security Coordinator is notified
  • Gather details regarding when/where/by whom the youth was last seen
  • Confirm teen’s access to cell phone/internet/other communication
  • Security will check First Aid Station, Counselor, and Housing locations
  • After 30 minutes, notify venue safety/security staff
    o With venue staff determine when police are called
    o Once police have been notified, they will take over
  • After 60 minutes, Group Leader will be required to notify parent/guardian
  • Once teen is found, escort youth to Group Leader and request that parent/guardian be notified
  • Depending on circumstances, teen may be sent home
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Michael Dauphinais

Dr. Michael A. Dauphinais, serves as the Father Matthew Lamb Professor of Catholic Theology and co-director of the Aquinas Center for Theological Renewal at Ave Maria University in Florida. He holds academic degrees from Duke University and the University of Notre Dame. He has co-authored several books, authored numerous scholarly articles, and co-edited over 10 scholarly books in the areas of Thomas Aquinas, the Bible, and the renewal of Catholic theology. He launched a podcast, “The Catholic Theology Show,” to help a wide audience discover the richness of coming to understand God as he has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. A grateful revert to the Catholic Church, he has been married to his wife, Nancy, for almost 30 years.

 

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Teresa Hawes

Teresa Hawes grew up on a dairy farm in rural New York and has retained a love of the outdoors. She went to high school in southern Pennsylvania and attended college and graduate school in Michigan, earning a BA in English and French and an MA in English.

She then spent 25 years in France, teaching English and religion and completing doctoral studies in French before returning to the States via nine months in the Philippines. Certified as a K-12 French teacher in Vermont, Teresa has taught French and religion there since 2002 as well as serving as director of Religious Education in a parish.

She currently teaches high school religion and serves as a mentor for Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute. She is a professed member of Notre Dame de Vie Institute. Teresa enjoys hiking, singing, reading, and gardening.

 

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Dr. Greg Popcak

Dr. Greg Popcak is the author of many books and the director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, an organization providing Catholic-integrated tele-counseling services to the faithful worldwide. Together with his wife, Lisa, he is the host of More2Life Radio, airing weekdays at 10am Eastern across the EWTN Radio Network and on SiriusXM 130. In addition to his ministry work, Dr. Popcak is the director of the MA in Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College.

 

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Dr. Andrew Sodergren

Dr. Andrew Sodergren is a Catholic psychologist and director of Psychological Services for the Ruah Woods Institute, a Theology of the Body education and healing ministry based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dr. Sodergren earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Divine Mercy University’s Institute for the Psychological Sciences and holds a master’s degree in theology from the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C., where he also served as an adjunct professor for 13 years. Dr. Sodergren contributed a chapter on the “Psychology of the Sexual Difference” to the book Sexual Identity: The Harmony of Philosophy, Science, and Revelation. He and his wife, Ellie, have been married 23 years and have five children.

 

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Sr. Mary Madeline Todd, OP

Sister Mary Madeline Todd, OP, a Dominican Sister of Saint Cecilia, has spent over two decades joyfully sharing the teaching ministry of Christ. After completing a master’s in theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, she pursued her doctorate in sacred theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. She writes and speaks on spiritual and moral theology, and she serves as a member of the Catholic Women’s Forum and on the Board of Directors for the GIVEN Institute. Sister Mary Madeline currently teaches philosophy at Mount de Sales Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, where she finds joy in helping young women discover the beauty of who they are in Christ.