You Are Worthy: Steubenville of the Rockies Helps Teens Discover Their Identity in Christ

Through prayer, worship and community, hundreds of young Catholics explored what it means to be beloved children of God.

Archbishop James Golka celebrated Mass at the annual Steubenville of the Rockies conference, encouraging teens to rediscover their identity as beloved children of the Father. (Photo by Kim Rivera/Denver Catholic)

Amid the flashin’ lights, rockin’ music and resoundin’ truth came a still, small voice: you are worthy.

Heard throughout this year’s Steubenville of the Rockies youth conference at Gaylord Rockies in Denver, the truth of each attendee’s identity as a beloved child of God echoed in thousands of hearts gathered in faith, praise and community.

Centered on the theme of “Worthy,” the conference invited teens to re-encounter their identity in Jesus Christ as beloved children of the Father.

“None of us is even near capable of being worthy, but when you think about it, God has sent his only Son to die for us, but not only that, but also to inherit our meek and humble state as human beings, to live as we are, to suffer as we do, and even to go to the depths of Hell and experience that,” said Aaron Juge, a parishioner of Spirit of Christ Parish in Arvada. “So he's done all this just so we can make this choice. You have the choice to accept him, allowing you to be worthy.”

That worthy identity is, of course, given in Baptism, when God claims each person as his own — a point that Archbishop James Golka has emphasized from the beginning of his ministry in Denver, and which he re-emphasized while celebrating Sunday Mass for attendees. Conference speakers built on the point, emphasizing the need to re-encounter the relationship, identity and mission given us through that great sacrament.

“God the Father has declared that he loved the world, loved you, that he sent his only Son. Even if you don't deserve grace, he has declared that we're in some ways worthy of it. Not on our own, but because of his love for us,” said Father Mike Schmitz, one of the weekend’s speakers who is known for his Bible in a Year podcast. “So that recognition of the reality of God's grace in claiming every one of these teens and adults and chaperones and everything is important. As well as the fact that we can respond. We get to know his identity. We realize he's worthy of everything, and we couldn't possibly offer him more.”

Groups from around the country came to Denver to grow in faith and community.

Teens had the opportunity to adore Christ in the Eucharist during Saturday Adoration.

Father Mike Schmitz led a Eucharistic procession Saturday evening.

Attendees were able to bring to Jesus their fears, struggles and joys during Adoration.

Noelle Garcia speaks during the Steubenville of the Rockies conference.

Father Mike Schmitz leads a Eucharistic procession during Steubenville of the Rockies.

Oscar Rivera Jr. speaks during Steubenville of the Rockies.

Teens nationwide came together in prayer, praise and community at Steubenville of the Rockies.

(Photos by Annabel Kiley/Denver Catholic)

While that beloved identity can get muddled in a world full of challenges, difficulties and false narratives, the Steubenville of the Rockies conference offered the thousands of attendees a chance to hear who they are from God himself.

“Believing that you're worthy to God and your place is with God can be hard to believe,” said Madison Leyba, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Loveland. “It's not up to the rest of the world to decide who you are, but it's up to God. And you have to let yourself feel that.”

Through the weekend’s talks, prayer opportunities, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and fellowship opportunities, attendees were able to encounter God and each other as they deepened their faith. That sort of faith-filled community is powerful, attendees said.

“It's so moving. I don't want to say it's necessarily isolated as a Catholic, but it feels like that sometimes, just going to school, being the only Catholic that I know of in my school,” said Ben Morgan, a parishioner of Light of the World Parish in Littleton. “Coming here and hearing 3,000 people in a room praying the same prayers as me, singing the same songs, all doing the Sign of the Cross all at once. It's a moving community experience that I've experienced nowhere else so far.”

Conference speakers speak during a panel on Sunday morning.

Father Mike Schmitz concelebrated Sunday Mass with Archbishop Golka.

Archbishop Golka celebrated Sunday Mass during the conference.

While at the conference, Archbishop Golka encouraged attendees to find their identity in God.

Father Mike Schmitz invited attendees to consider their vocations during Sunday Mass.

Archbishop Golka smiles with two deacons during the Steubenville of the Rockies conference.

The conference offered plenty of opportunity for prayer and praise.

Archbishop Golka and Father Mike Schmitz process after Sunday Mass at Steubenville of the Rockies.

Thousands came together in prayer, praise and community during Steubenville of the Rockies.

Attendees even offered prayer for each other during Steubenville of the Rockies.

Archbishop Golka celebrated Sunday Mass for Steubenville of the Rockies attendees.

(Photos by Kim Rivera/Denver Catholic)

“I brought to God my struggles that I came with. I was very scared coming into this — I had gotten some news before that I wasn't too happy about,” Leyba said. “So I was coming into this weekend a little scared to let God touch my heart in that area. But it was so calming to just let God do what he needs to do.”

As they head home from a sort of “mountaintop experience” — a high-point of faith — attendees carry with them the knowledge of who they are and who God is. With that kind of assurance, they look forward to continuing to grow in faith, hope, love and community.

“God is there. You can tag him into the ring. He's always there, he's waiting, he is reaching out to you always. The reason we have battles in life is because we're worth fighting for, and realizing that was powerful. It made me realize that I'm worth fighting for to God, I mean so much to him,” Morgan concluded.