08/06/2026
Steubenville Teen Testimony #2 comes from Maizie Pelc, a recent parish graduate!
Mark Twain famously said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why”. Before Steubenville, I knew I would get the most out of it if I went to confession first. I knew that I could only hear God's voice clearly if I allowed Him to remove the dirt from my heart. I made it a point to let my friends know that I desired to go, this way I would be both encouraged and held accountable by the people I was with. By standing in a line in the hot sun for an hour with hundreds of other youth waiting for the sacrament of healing, I was able to complete a vulnerable examination of conscience. Following this, I was blessed to share my confession with a priest who was able to guide my thinking and uplift my confidence in my identity as a daughter of the Lord. For my penance, he asked me to pray in front of a crucifix for three minutes, thanking the Lord for his sacrifice on the cross. Instead of a small, private crucifix, the Lord told me to pray in front of the bigger-then-life size crucifix that sat in the same area as the line for confession. Receiving the sacrament of healing allowed me to experience God's great love in a way I have never before. As I sat in front of the cross, the Lord continually reminded me of how good he created me. He calmed my shame and anxieties, overcoming them with peace. He had prepared my heart for what was to come. I was looking forward to the evening for Steubenville's main event of Adoration and Eucharistic procession.
Sitting in the fieldhouse for the procession, the lights were dim, the altar was lit with candles, the aroma of incense comforted me, and you could feel the anticipation like a buzz from all of the youth awaiting Jesus’ entry. With a spotlight right on Him, Jesus entered the room from the back doors, walking down the center aisle. The priest held Him high, and placed him on the altar. At this moment, I had been communicating with God, telling him that I did not need the Holy Spirit to overwhelm me. I was already so content with the Lord and had felt so much peace. At big events like Steubenville, it is common to be touched by the Holy Spirit in a really unique way. This is where your body may be overcome with tears, laughter, warmth, shaking, or other similar physical responses. Experiencing this type of connection to God is delightfully overwhelming. I told God that I did not need this from Him, I already knew He was present. God, in his beauty, decided to overwhelm me with a fruit of the spirit I had never fully experienced until this moment. As I gazed on Jesus I could do nothing but smile, a smile that had never felt so genuine before. Internally, I was completed. As I kept my eyes fixed on Jesus, I felt like my soul was bursting with joy. I felt so spiritually close to Jesus. I had zero doubts of His love for me, and He asked me to watch Him, so I did. I watched as other people my age reached out to touch Him, collapsing the moment they made contact. I watched different individuals make eye contact with Him, followed by weeps that could have only meant the savior was near. Seeing so many people joyful for Jesus, did nothing other than the same for me. This day became the most important day of my life.
This day marks the day I knew why I was born. I was born to be joyfully in love with Jesus and share this joy with everyone. Steubenville changed my life because I allowed it to. I would not have realized this “Jesus Joy” if I had not opened my heart fully to Him. My heart was like a door, bolted shut with sin and shame. The sacrament of Confession pulled each of the bolts out of the frame and Adoration opened the door completely.
Steubenville gave me the opportunity to experience Christ completely. Hard things such as vulnerability and openness become much easier when you know you are not alone and when you have a support system. Steubenville provides both of these. Being able to go with so many youth in my own community proved to me that I am not alone in my walk with Christ. Stepping into a confession line with hundreds of youth from all over the country gave me the confidence I needed. Finally, the Lord was able to prove His love through the thousands of individuals my age falling in love with Christ shamelessly, proudly, and joyfully.
