STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Franciscan University of Steubenville kicked off its landmark 50th summer of Steubenville Conferences with Glory: Women’s Gathering on June 6–8. The three-day event welcomed more than 500 women from across North America to encounter the presence of God, rediscover their identity as beloved daughters of the Father, and enter into deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ.

Steubenville Conferences was hosted in partnership with Life Restoration Ministries and its co-founder Heather Khym, who also co-hosts the Abiding Together podcast. Speakers included Khym; Michelle Benzinger, Abiding Together podcast co-host; Debbie Herbeck, founder of Pine Hills Girls’ Camp and Be Love Revolution; Sarah Kaczmarek, director of Pastoral Ministry at Encounter Ministries; and Monica Richards, full-time missionary and director at Damascus. Worship was led by GMA Dove Award-nominated artist Sarah Kroger Quaglia.

The weekend focused on renewing hearts through sisterhood, worship, testimony, and powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit. It included daily Mass, eucharistic adoration, keynote talks, worship music, breakout sessions, prayer ministry, and a new Catholic marketplace. 

Kaczmarek called women to deeper intimacy with Christ the Bridegroom. “He goes first,” she said. “On the cross, arms stretched wide, he was infinitely vulnerable. And now he says, ‘Will you come close?’”

Herbeck led attendees in a powerful reflection on covenant love. “You are here as the bride,” she said. “You are not the friend, the guest, or the plus-one. You are the one he chooses. You are his beautiful bride.”

Benzinger said she does not remember another time in history when women have been so tired and weary. She urged women to come together more often to strengthen one another in their faith. 

“There is something just so powerful when women gather,” Benzinger said. “The Spirit and the bride say, come … Come as you are. Come with all your disappointments. Come with all your weariness.”

Richards echoed Benzinger, saying “The power of unity among you is so significant. When you all galvanize together, there is something so attractive that not only other women want to come join. But guess what? The men want to join, too.”

Khym, who led the weekend with numerous impactful reflections, said she felt honored to be at the forefront of the conference and to witness the Holy Spirit move so powerfully.

“We experienced an incredible outpouring of God’s presence, and it was especially meaningful that it happened on Pentecost weekend. More than 500 women, ranging in age from 18 to 90, showed up hungry and open-hearted, and I watched in awe as they encountered the Living God in powerful, life-changing ways,” Khym said. “The stories of freedom, healing, and renewal have continued to pour in ever since.”

The Glory Conference is part of Steubenville Conferences’ summer lineup that includes five other adult conferences and 19 youth conferences hosted by Franciscan University or in partnership with dioceses across North America. These events are part of Franciscan University’s 50-year conference tradition of evangelization and renewal. The remaining adult conferences this summer include the Priests, Deacons, and Seminarians Retreat, which was the first summer conference held at Franciscan beginning in 1975, from June 23-27. 

Additional conferences include:

• St. John Bosco Conference, July 14-July 17
• Applied Biblical Studies Conference, July 30-August 1
• Defending the Faith Conference, August 1-August 3

Featured speakers include Noelle Mering, author of Awake, Not Woke; Dr. Scott Hahn, professor of biblical theology at Franciscan University; Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, president of Franciscan University; Dr. Mary Healy, professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit; Deacon Bob Rice, Franciscan University catechetics professor; Karlo Broussard, author and staff apologist for Catholic Answers; Dr. John Bergsma, theology professor at Franciscan University; Father John Riccardo, founder of Acts XXIX; Dr. Shane Owens, assistant professor of theology at Franciscan University; Kimberly Hahn, author and podcast host; Katie Prejean McGrady, host of The Katie McGrady Show on Sirius XM; and many others.

In addition to all the adult offerings, Steubenville Conferences is sponsoring 19 summer conferences for teens in dioceses throughout the United States and Canada. This summer’s Youth Conferences will include four events at Franciscan University, a new conference in Joliet, Illinois, featuring Father Mike Schmitz, and the return of Steubenville Youth Conferences to San Diego, California.

For more information on the Steubenville Conferences, visit www.steubenvilleconferences.com.