CELEBRATION — Thousands of young people attended Steubenville Conferences across North America this year, including this july event on the campus of the Franciscan University of Steubenville. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — As the 50th anniversary of Steubenville Conferences comes to a close, Franciscan University of Steubenville considers what is has accomplished while looking forward to a future of deeper evangelization, wider reach and ongoing spiritual renewal.

This summer, more than 43,000 youth and adults attended Steubenville Conferences across North America, experiencing prayer, fellowship and dynamic Catholic teaching. Now, as the mission enters its next chapter, the university is launching Franciscan Revival, a series of one-day events designed to spark deeper renewal and bring the Gospel to people across the country.

During the course of the summer, 15 youth conferences were held at regional locations throughout the United States and Canada, with another four youth and six adult conferences hosted on campus in Steubenville. These events featured worship, eucharistic adoration and talks from well-respected Catholic speakers and leaders in the church, including the Rev. Mike Schmitz; university President the Rev. Dave Pivonka, TOR; Scott Hahn, Noelle Mering, Heather Khym, Karlo Broussard, Katie Prejean McGrady, John Bergsma, Kimberly Hahn, Shane Owens and others.

A major highlight was the launch of the first Glory: Women’s Gathering, a weekend conference co-sponsored with Life Restoration Ministries and the Abiding Together podcast. Women from across the country gathered June 6-8 on the university campus to worship, pray and experience the restorative power of God’s presence. Speakers included Heather Khym, Michelle Benzinger, Debbie Herbeck and Sarah Kaczmarek, with music led by Sarah Kroger Quaglia.

“As we wrap up the 50th summer of Steubenville Conferences, we continue to be amazed by the Lord’s providence,” said Brian Kissinger, executive director of conferences at the university. “This summer, one of our guests for the priests, deacons and seminarians retreat shared that he had been here for the very first conference in 1975. From the participants who encountered Jesus’ personal love for the first time to the bishop moved to tears as teenagers came forward expressing openness to the priesthood and religious life, we are in awe of what God is doing–and so grateful to play a role in serving the church.”

Kissinger added, “As someone who attended our youth conferences as a teen, brought groups as a youth minister and served as a host, I’ve seen the fruit of these events firsthand. We are privileged to witness the Holy Spirit transforming hearts and lives.”

With an eye toward the next 50 years, the university is launching Franciscan Revival. This initiative features single-day, mini-conferences offered year-round. These events will include live worship, inspiring kerygmatic preaching and many opportunities for personal renewal.

The first two revival events will be held before Holy Week on March 28 in Orange, Calif., and before the Advent season on Nov. 14, 2026, outside Dallas.

Confirmed speakers include Chris Stefanick, Pivonka, Heather Khym and Bishop Joe Espaillat, with additional speakers to be announced. The events will be held in-person and livestreamed, making them accessible to Catholics around the world.

“As we reflected on 50 years of conferences, we were praying about where the Lord might be inviting us to grow,” Kissinger said. “We partnered with Father Dave to reach out to Heather Khym, Chris Stefanick and Bishop Espaillat, and together, we discerned this call to go out and bring revival and kerygmatic proclamation to parishes and dioceses across the country. We are blessed to live in a time where Catholics have access to more resources and programs than ever before — but we still need revival. We need the Holy Spirit to make us holy, to heal us, and to bring us life.”

The university will continue to host its Night of Joy events on campus during the Advent and Easter seasons. The evening gatherings will feature Catholic preaching and worship, and they will be available through livestream to parishes and homes across the globe.

Officials added that as the university celebrates five decades of ministry through the conferences, the mission remains the same: To lead others to encounter the living Jesus Christ, to deepen discipleship and to rebuild the church one heart at a time.