Every two years, the Young Life Catholic Relations office hosts the Young Life Catholic Summit. It draws together hundreds of Catholics and Protestants from around the country who love Jesus and love kids. We met on the campus of Franciscan University at Steubenville, given our partnership with this premier Catholic university. And for three days, we reflected on, celebrated, and dreamed about how the Holy Spirit is working to bring Young Life and the Catholic Church together to minister to the next generation.

Here are the top five things we loved about this year's summit:

We threw a party in the glass-walled JC Pavilion. It was a party with a purpose. What better way to immerse the Franciscan campus in the culture of Young Life – a club with sing-along music, mixers, skits, games, and a powerful gospel proclamation. And then we finished with a silent disco and dessert. Throughout the summit, our program team brought us together in laughter with games such as "Liturgical Plinko” and “Family Feud: Clergy vs. Laity.” 

Worship united Catholics and Protestants as we joined the Franciscan community at morning Mass, as our ecumenical team of musicians led us in song, and as we experienced the university’s Festival of Praise, the monthly gathering that draws 2,000+ for Adoration and vibrant Catholic worship. 

Led by Dr. Tanita Maddox, Dr. Chap Clark, and Dr. Dcn. Bob Rice, we learned what it takes to reach teenagers today, specifically how to translate the gospel into the cultural context of Generation Z. Kids are not looking for an organization or an institution to see them and hear them; they need caring, trusted adults to step into their world and accompany them. God’s answer to how to reach the world was The Incarnation; our response, our calling, is to be incarnational.

A courageous high school student from Pittsburgh named Thomas shared his hidden struggle in a spiral of failure until some Protestant Young Life leaders at his school befriended him, supported him, and inspired him to become more active in his Catholic faith. His story was later followed by a dozen real-life examples from across the country of how friendships between Catholics and Protestants have launched dozens of new Young Life ministries that serve hundreds of teenagers in each community. 

Again and again, we were reminded of how good it feels to be with each other, during table discussions and over meals, praying and worshiping as one. Catholic college students, Protestant Young Life staff, Catholic Young Life staff, parish youth ministers, diocesan directors, priests, and religious sisters and brothers, we came from 28 different states. And we were unified in wanting the unique gifts of Young Life to serve as a tool for evangelization in every community and for every kid.

Why would Catholics choose Young Life as the best way to minister to teenagers today? This 3-minute video shares how life-changing conversations happen when trusted adults intentionally enter the world of kids.