XCEED

Father Tim Anastos
Father Tim Anastos is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the assistant chaplain at the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois–Chicago. He serves as a eucharistic preacher for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Fr. Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He previously served as parochial vicar of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish in Park Ridge, Illinois. Fr. Tim releases Reel Homilies, one-minute reflections on the Sunday Mass readings through the lens of Church tradition, pop culture, and self-improvement with Spirit Juice Studios. He has published one book: Jesus, Make Me Fully Alive.

Michael Goldsmith: Mixing Faith and Politics

What is the role of the Catholic Church in today's political world? Active participant or neutral bystander? We will look at this topic by examining the relationship between Church and State in America. Opinions welcome; rationale required.

Mike Goldsmith is in his 33rd year of teaching, beginning at Regis High School in 1992 and then Xavier High School in 1998.  He has taught most classes in the Social Studies Department, including AP Government, where he serves as an adjunct professor with Saint Louis University.  In addition to Social Studies, he also teaches two Senior Theology electives.  Called to be Saints focuses on active prayer and volunteerism through the lens of Catholic social teaching, and Why Am I Catholic is an apologetics course, exploring and explaining key aspects of the Catholic faith.  Mike and his family are active members of St. Matthew Catholic Church.  He and his wife Pam have four children, all graduates of Xavier High School.  In short, Mike is among the most blessed people to ever walk the face of the earth.

 

Jesus' Prayer

Eric Zenisek
Developing a personal prayer life and attending Mass are two of the most important spiritual practices we can do. What does it look like for us to have a Eucharistic personal prayer life? This talk will help students develop spiritual practices that follow Jesus' personal prayer.

Relax! Practicing Spiritual Mindfulness
Katie Hamilton and Adam Winterhof


The Secret Sauce of the Saints
Michele Gelaude
The saints were real people. Really real and the life of the party of their friends and peeps. But, what was really their source? Their secret sauce? Come to hear stories of some of our favorite saints and how they prioritized God as their absolute #1 through anchoring themselves and their lives in Jesus Christ via the Eucharist. (Be jazzed to hear about some of these saints... and more: Blessed Carlo Acutis, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasatti, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Dorothy Day...and more!)

God's Hand at Work
Mary Harken
Have you ever thought of someone and then run into them or they text you out of the blue? Have you or a friend/loved one ever had a “close call” and no one could explain how you came out of the situation without any harm? Have you ever looked at the stars at night and wondered about the universe and what your purpose on earth might be? God’s hand is at work in your life in more ways than you might think. Come to this session and we’ll talk about how nothing in life is a coincidence.

"Life and Life to the Fullest": The Gospel and Mental Health
Fr. Aaron Junge
What does the Church have to say to our struggles with mental health? Fr. Aaron will speak on the Church's teaching that supports us seeking out physical, psychological, and spiritual care that are integrated to help us live "life to the fullest" as Jesus desires for each of us.

God, Science, and Miracles
Darrin Ellsworth
We will discuss the interaction of faith and science and in particular how that applies to the understanding of miracles. Are miracles possible? Does a belief in miracles contradict science?

More than a Game   
Adam McDonnell
In "More than a Game" we will dive into the body, the mind, and the spirit (the 3 Dimensions) of activities and how our faith is part of the mix. We will discuss benefits of being involved and part of a team, program, or activity.

Why do bad things happen to good people?
Stacy Mickelson
Our world is full of bad things: homelessness, poverty, death, depression, etc. and everyone is going to experience hard times in this life. This talk explores potential reasons why these things happen but more importantly WHY we can trust God through it all, and how to trust our Faith when we go through the worst things life can throw at us.

Reframing Social Media
Emily Moses
Social media struggles? Technology troubles? World wide web woes? Why do social interactions and the media we use to engage tend to do just the opposite, making us feel alone? Join me for a presentation, with materials from Jonathan Haidt's "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Caused an Epidemic of Mental Illness" and the Bible, discussing how and why social media and the like are creating an anit-social world, and how you can reframe your thinking about it.

Locker Room Talk (Male Only)
Dan Halter
Open discussion centered on growing from adolescence to a young man in today's climate. Examining how the need to fit in, expectations of success, social media influence and mob mentality can get us away from who we want to be. How do we navigate through issues with self-confidence, dating, relationships and mental health. Both male and female perspectives represented.

Girls Just Wanna Have...
Madeline Ludwig
Catholic + Christian teens have so much pressure today, whether it be with friendships, school, self-confidence, dating, mental health, and so much more. This talk shares perspectives of relationships and how to search for joy.

Eucharistic Miracles? Seriously? 
Dr. Phil Drey
In today's world dominated by science and reason, do Eucharistic miracles still happen? This presentation will explore various Eucharistic miracles from across the world, including the United States.

From Doubt to Devotion: Finding Jesus in the Uncertainty
Meg Hansen
This session will show how sometimes the questions and searching can bring us closer to Jesus. It will remind us that believing in Him with an open heart like a child draws us to a deeper connection, and it will emphasize the importance of reaching for him daily, even through the distractions of life.

The Amazing Rosary    
Gineal Schrunk
This session discusses the Rosary and understanding the power of prayer. Participants will create a Rosary to take with them at the end of the session.

Fitness and Faith
Austin Filer/Ashlee Fandel
Fitness and faith may seem a strange match. But for many people, spiritual motivations bring deeper meaning to their health and fitness pursuits, and prove to be a positive, pivotal factor in supporting them.

Clay or Concrete?
Lynn Holverson
Do you wonder what your life plan is? Do you wonder who to listen to when deciding what to do? Are you influenced by the wrong people? Are you stuck feeling like you will always be who you are right now or do you feel like you could still be molded into something more? Learn how we often miss the signs given to us as we are being molded by God in the most subtle ways.

Meditative Artwork    
Denise Venteicher
The nonverbal medium of art is a powerful tool that we can use to draw deeper into our relationship with God. Learn how you can add art into your prayer life regardless of artistic skill level.

Sacred Stretch   
Adam Laborde
Embrace the power of mindful movement to strengthen your body, renew your mind, and uplift your spirit. Join us in connecting deeper with your faith as we move with intention and grace.

Is Marriage Still Worth It? 
Jon and Annie Berger


What the Worship?    
Zach Gignac
The word Worship is used a lot these days, but what does it really mean? Why does it matter, and what does that look like in our everyday lives? Join in discussion as well as praise and worship music.

Rosary and Scripture (With Adoration!)
Chad Allard
St. Padre Pio described the Rosary as our greatest weapon, come and hear about the great mysteries of our Catholic faith--and pray with our greatest weapon!

Mental Health
Brandon Wall


Bible Study Bash (Female)
FOCUS Female Missionaries
Join us for a small group Bible study where we will dive into the Bible together and practice hearing God's voice in scripture! This will be an interactive session and will be a great opportunity to enter into prayer during the conference.

Bible Study Bash (Male)
FOCUS Male Missionaries
in us for a small group Bible study where we will dive into the Bible together and practice hearing God's voice in scripture! This will be an interactive session and will be a great opportunity to enter into prayer during the conference.

Feminine Genius (Female Only)
Tommi Hutchins
The wisdom of our bodies can help us decide how to live our lives. This session will discuss how we can work within God's design to stay healthy, active, and fulfilled. Topics include; hormones, contraception, NFP, health and wellness. 

Masculine Wisdom (Male Only)    
Dr. Beer
What is God's plan for your masculinity? This session will discuss how we can work within God's design to stay healthy, active and fulfilled physically, mentally, and spiritually. Topics include; self-discipline, testosterone, dopamine, and impulse control. 

The Chosen   
Danielle Lee
Come watch part of the first multi-season series about the life of Christ and the highest crowdfunded TV series or film project of all time. "The Chosen" portrays Jesus through the eyes of those who met him. This session will include viewing part of the series followed up by discussion of what was watched.