Equipping young people with tools to evangelize

Father Bobby Krueger, pastor at St. Leonard Parish in Berwyn, visits with Michael Pinon, Mauricio Soto, Christopher Tejeda, Daniel Arenas and Joel Delgado during a break in between sessions. More than 8,000 young adults and church ministers from around the country gathered at McCormick Place in Chicago Jan. 2-6 for SLS18, a conference by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students with the goal of equipping participants with the tools to go out and evangelize the world. Speakers included Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron, author Lisa Brenninkmeyer and a surprise appearance by actor Jim Caviezel. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Katie Brown from the University of Toledo and Anna Davis from University of Missouri-Columbia write their prayer intentions on a wall on Jan 3. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Hundreds of prayer intentions are displayed on a wall signed by attendees of the conference.

Jonathan Seier from Colorado State University writes a prayer intention on a wall with hundreds of signatures.

Students from the Diocese of Toledo, Ohio, participates in a group discussion during the Collegiate Track of the afternoon power sessions.

Students from the Diocese of Toledo look up scripture on their cell phones during a group discussion.

Ben Paolelli, a student at Northwestern University, participates in a group discussion during the Collegiate Track of the afternoon power sessions.

Anjelo Rocero from the University of Rhode Island and, Carolos Martinez and Audrey Misquith from Columbia University, visit during a break on Jan 3.

Hundreds of campus ministers gathered for a session on Jan. 3.

Randall Edwards from McNeese State University participates in a group discussion during a Campus Ministry session.

Anjelo Rocero from the University of Rhode Island receives a good bye hug from Jennifer Wade of the University of Idaho following Mass on Jan. 6.

Cardinal Cupich gives the homily during Mass on Jan. 6. (Karen Callaway/Chicago Catholic)

Priests from the Archdiocese of Chicago and beyond listen to the homily during the closing Mass on Jan. 6.

Thousands pray during the closing Mass on Jan. 6.

Thousands pray during Mass.

Kyle Conway from Joliet, Ill., prays during Mass.