Second “Comeback Year” for Local Parish Youth Ministries at Franciscan University in Ohio

For the second straight year, the Office of Catholic Youth organized a collaborative trip with 13 parishes to send 216 young people and chaperones to attend the Franciscan University of Steubenville Youth Conference in Ohio from June 27 to 29. 

While 13 was the official parish count, numerous young people joined these parishes, bringing the actual number of parishes represented from the archdiocese closer to 18. As well, a group of parishes around Belleville from the Archdiocese of Kingston tagged along under the OCY umbrella to attend the conference, as well as a family from Montreal, looking for fraternity among young Catholics their own age.

The conference hosted a wealth of great speakers, such as Bishop Joseph A Esppaillat II, Auxiliary Bishop of New York, Dr. Alex Gotay Jr. and Katie Prejean McGrady.

The Office of Catholic Youth continues to seek a more local location around the Greater Toronto Area to partner with for future youth conferences.