Holy Family Area Catholic Community Newsletter — November 2022

With the difficulties we all experienced during the pandemic, we could follow Scripture for comfort and guidance, particularly John 16:33 — “I have told you this so you might have peace in me. In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage; I have conquered the world.”

This message inspired the theme of this year’s Steubenville Youth Conference, Fearless, resonating with the young people of the Holy Family Area who attended the conference in Rochester this past summer. The event offered a wide variety of music and speakers, as well as opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration, prayer, and powerful experiences with the sacraments.

Sanjana Pullan, a high school senior and St. Andrew parishioner, was one of six from the parish to attend in 2022. In all, 13 students from Holy Family Area Catholic Community attended in 2022. This was Sanjana’s first time attending, at the recommendation of a friend, and she was blown away by the speakers and music. However, the Eucharistic Adoration stood out the most. During this portion of the retreat, the monstrance is carried throughout the entire large-group space, so everyone has the opportunity to venerate Jesus.

“This retreat made my faith stronger,” she says. In addition, Sanjana appreciated the opportunity to get to know other Catholic teens from the area more deeply.

“By going to Steubenville, I was able to connect with other teens in our area while also growing closer to God and strengthening my Catholic faith,” she says.

Sanjana would encourage other youth to learn more about the Steubenville Youth Conference and consider attending the 2023 event. This retreat could truly change your life.

“I would love to attend again,” she says. “I would tell others hesitant about going that they should check it out. I promise you that you won’t regret it.”

Upon her return, Sanjana gave a witness talk this summer at St. Andrew’s, where she shared the power of this retreat and thanked everyone for their support and prayers.

Ann Voller, the Area Coordinator of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, agrees that the Steubenville Youth Conference is fantastic, and loves attending the event herself. She is always amazed at the retreat’s impact on those who attend.

“I love how the speakers are so good at engaging the youth by sharing their own life experiences in a funny and relatable way, and how Jesus has met them in any and all circumstances in their life,” Ann says. “They are real and honest and do reach the hearts of our students!”

The theme for the 2023 retreat is Refuge, reflecting the message of Matthew 11:28 — “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Ann would love to see all youth of the Holy Family Area attend next year’s event.

“It’s an experience that is hard to describe and impossible to forget,” she says. “Every teen needs to attend. It could truly change their life!”

The 2023 Steubenville Youth Conference in Rochester will be held July 14-16. Current eighth to 12th-grade teens are welcome to attend. Please contact Ann Voller at areaffcoordinator@holyfamilyarea.org for more information.

St. Andrew parishioner Sanjana Pullan (front row, far right), was one of 13 high school students from the Holy Family Area Catholic Community who attended the Steubenville Youth Conference last summer.