Where priestly vocations begin: The lasting impact of Steubenville Youth Conferences

In April, the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate’s (CARA) survey was released and showed that 18% of priests ordained this year attended a Franciscan University of Steubenville Youth Conference during their vocational journey. This was more than any other Catholic conference ministry in the United States.

In previous years — specifically from 2010 to 2025 — this percentage ranged between 8% to 16%.

In 1976, Franciscan University of Steubenville held its first youth conference on its campus in Steubenville, Ohio. Celebrating 50 years this summer , the youth conferences have helped over 1 million young people encounter Jesus Christ through dynamic talks, the Mass, Eucharistic adoration, confession, prayer, and fellowship.

So, what is it about the Steubenville Youth Conference that is having such an impact on young people and specifically vocations?

EWTN News spoke to a priest and a transitional deacon — both of whom credit their experience at a Steubenville Youth Conference with impacting their vocations — about their journeys to the priesthood and why they believe this conference is igniting a fire for the faith in the hearts of young people.

Seeing joyful…