Holy Fire and Hacky Sacks

After a long break caused by the pandemic, twenty-three enthusiastic teens from Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mathis, Texas, embarked on a spiritually uplifting trip to join 4,100 teens in Irving for the 2025 Steubenville Lone Star Conference. This was the group’s first time back at the beloved Catholic youth event since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was truly unforgettable.
 
This year’s theme, “Consumed,” set the tone for a powerful weekend filled with engaging sessions, heartfelt worship, and deep spiritual reflection. Teens were inspired by compelling talks from renowned Catholic speakers, including Sarah Swafford, Noelle Garcia, Katie McGrady, Nic Frank, and Fr. Jonathan McElhone, TOR, each offering their unique perspective and passion. Topics covered included “Consuming the World,” “Consuming the Word,” “Taming Wildfire,” “Consuming Scripture,” “Consumed by Prayer,” “Consumed by Stress,” and “All-Consuming Love.” Each session challenged teens to let go of worldly distractions and embrace the fire of God’s love. The experience was heightened further by Echo Harbor Worship, whose powerful music guided the crowd into moments of joy, reflection, and reverence.
 
Throughout the weekend, attendees had many opportunities to experience the sacraments and deepen their faith. Teens engaged in small group discussions, reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration, and received a powerful call to the Holy Spirit. A highlight of the weekend was Holy Mass, celebrated by Bishop Edward J. Burns of the Diocese of Dallas.
 
The group was especially blessed to be joined by Rev. Francis Medanki, their beloved parish priest. Father Francis not only vested for Mass but also shared in the joy and fellowship of the weekend. He bowled and played arcade games with the teens at Main Event, joined their impromptu hacky sack circles during conference breaks, and even took part in a lively game of hot potato on the bus ride.
 
The energy and connection within the group stayed strong all weekend as they welcomed teens from other parishes to join in games like Uno and Spoons. During the day, they brightened the conference — both literally and figuratively — with glow lights, beach ball tosses, the wave, and playful clips of spiritual clothespins on fellow participants. They happily handed out necklaces, bracelets, and tiny figures of Jesus and Mary, spreading smiles and faith with every interaction. By night, their spirit was just as lively as they filled the hotel lobby with sing-alongs, attracting other youth and creating unforgettable memories.
 
Here are some echoes from the teens:
“I gained the ability to feel the Lord and the knowledge about the Lord. My favorite memory was of adoration, where feeling the presence of the Lord changed my perspective entirely in an amazing way. The Steubenville Lonestar Conference was exciting, refreshing, beautiful, joyful, and uplifting.” – Karina Trejo
 
“Being surrounded by others, laughing, and worshipping the Lord brought me true joy. When I left, I felt a deep sense of peace, relief, and even more happiness. The whole experience helped me realize that all you really need is faith and to stay focused on your journey with God.” – Zaylin Estrada
 
“My favorite part of the conference was when they walked around with the Eucharist because it felt like a life-changing moment, where my relationship with God got closer than it was before.” – Madison Saenz
 
“The conference altered my perspective on how I approach life, and I gained insight into the struggles of being a man and how to overcome them. I left knowing how to praise the Lord and how to do it the right way. My favorite part of the conference was meeting new people by just playing a silly game like hacky sack.” – Brody Bernal
 
“My favorite memory was also when they walked around with the Eucharist because I heard a voice telling me that everything was going to be okay and that I had so many people behind me who loved me. That moment hit me so hard that I cried and cried, but I had people I didn't even know pick up their hands and pray over me. Not only did this experience bring me closer to new people, but it brought me closer to the Lord, and I will forever be grateful for that.” – Arianna Mendoza
 
“When I first got to the conference, I felt like I was really lost and holding a lot of grudges, and I felt like I wasn’t as close to God as I wanted to be. I learned a lot about dealing with life's struggles, and that even though it’s hard, we must persevere through them. I left feeling relieved and feeling happy like I had no worry in the world, and I was closer to God than I ever was before.” - Natilyn Coronado
 
Sacred Heart Youth Group would like to thank all those who prayed for & supported their fundraising events and helped them get to and from this year’s Steubenville Lone Star Conference safely. God bless you always!