Franciscan LEAD

Black shield-shaped emblem with gold text and symbols. The text at the top reads 'FRANCISCAN LEAD', with a gold cross below, intersected by a stylized gold figure with a plus sign in the center.

Franciscan LEAD is a five-day, Christ-centered, prayer fueled immersion in Catholic principles of Leadership, Evangelization, And Discipleship inspired by the life and witness of St. Francis of Assisi. Our leadership philosophy is based on the foundation that youth leadership flows from a personal relationship with Christ. Therefore, we first give teens the tools to grow closer in their relationship with Jesus and then give them the essentials for servant leadership and evangelization.

Apply for Franciscan LEAD

The application for Franciscan LEAD is a two part online process – the youth application and referral form. All youth conference registrants applying for Franciscan LEAD are required to submit the name and email of an adult over 21 (not a family member), who knows them well enough to answer questions about the youth’s faith life (e.g., youth minister, pastor, or parishioner).

Franciscan LEAD applications have closed for the 2026 LEAD week. Please check back for our 2027 Franciscan LEAD week.

Young woman speaking into a microphone on stage, wearing glasses, a black t-shirt with a logo, and a cross necklace.
Three young women standing indoors, each holding a black T-shirt with a white shield design and the words "Franciscan Lead" on it.

What to Expect

  • You and your peers will discover together how humility and service are the heart of leadership. Your core team won’t just teach you this, they will model it.

  • You will develop the skills to 1) share what God has done in your life, and 2) respond to cultural challenges that contradict God’s purpose for our lives.

  • You will be strengthened as a follower of Jesus, as you encounter him in daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, and daily personal prayer.

Franciscan LEAD Takes place the week before Steubenville Atlantic from July 6-10, 2026, after which, the LEAD participant will join their group for the conference weekend.

Youth can apply for Franciscan LEAD for the summer after their Grade 9 (or equivalent) year in high school through the summer after their Grade 12 (or equivalent) year in high school.

We are looking for youth who love Jesus and His Church, are ready to take their Catholic faith to the next level, want to learn how to share their love of Christ with friends and classmates, want to go deeper in prayer, and want to inspire others to answer Christ’s radical call to love and serve.

We recommend sending applications for 3-4 teens from each parish/youth group, with at least one youth from each gender.

A young woman with long hair holding a microphone and speaking on stage, with a cross illuminated in the background.

  • Franciscan LEAD is for high-school aged youth who are passionate about their Catholic faith, active in their youth groups, and ready to step up to the next level of leadership through evangelization and discipleship training.

  • Franciscan LEAD at Steubenville Atlantic application deadline is April 1, 2026. Applications will continue to be reviewed after April 1 on a first-come first-serve basis. We anticipate that Franciscan LEAD will fill up quickly.

  • Youth can apply for Franciscan LEAD for the summer after their freshman year in high school through the summer after their senior year in high school.

  • The Franciscan LEAD program cost is $500.00 per participant. The cost includes training in discipleship and evangelization, a resource book, official program t-shirt, and lodging and meals for the participant during the duration of the program. This cost does not include the registration fee for the conference weekend or transportation to and from the site. Full or partial payment options may be available through sponsorship by the parish youth group. Contact your Group Leader for details.

  • Once the participant is accepted to the program, they are responsible for arranging their own travel to the site on Monday and notifying the Conference Office of their travel plans after acceptance. Please do not make travel arrangements until after the application is accepted. If a participant will be flying into the local airport on Monday, we will arrange pickup for the youth. We will not arrange transportation back to the airport on Sunday following the conference weekend as you will be with your group. For information, please contact steubenville@halifaxyarmouth.org

  • Franciscan LEAD Participants MUST be available for the full week (Monday-Friday) and must be attending Steubenville Atlantic 2026