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experience the fullness of the Catholic faith

December 15 – 18, 2022

In our times, a question seems to be resurfacing – What are you looking for?

This was the first question that Jesus asked in His public ministry, and it is echoed in this generation. The first disciples’ response to this question is noteworthy – Where are you staying? They did not have the perfect answer, but they knew that the perfect answer could be found in Jesus. And upon committing to Him, they were empowered to see what they were looking for – identity, authority and mission.

The Empower Conference was inspired by the need to empower 18 – 28 year olds to see that Jesus & the Catholic Church has what they are looking for. It was designed to solidify our identity in the Father, to teach our authority in the Son, and to inspire mission in the Holy Spirit.

The Empower Conference, powered by Damascus

Still have questions? Keep reading!

  • Pricing
  • Location
  • FAQ
  • Contact

Conference Pass + On-Site Lodging  –   $330

Complete Empower Conference pass, including 4 days of life-changing messages from national speakers, power-packed breakout sessions, and growth-driven processing time.

Your pass will include an onsite lodging accommodation that will allow you to connect in an intentional way with others from your school or region! If you have specific lodging requests, those can be made during the registration process.

All meals will be provided with your conference pass, including coffee breaks!

Conference Commuter Pass  –   $280

Complete Empower Conference pass, including 4 days of life-changing messages from national speakers, power-packed breakout sessions, and growth-driven processing time.

All meals will be provided with your conference pass, including coffee breaks!

Financial Assistance  –  Mission Support Raising

Damascus

Damascus is located in Centerburg, the heart of Ohio, on a scenic 471-acre property.  This location provides the perfect opportunity to enter into the beauty of God’s creation.  Get ready to enjoy our 25,000 sq. ft. Lodge, which will be the center of all of the action, and lodging arrangements that include amish built cabins and lakeside retreat centers.  For more details on our facilities click here.

Transportation

If you plan on flying in to Ohio for the Empower Conference, John Glenn International (CMH) in Columbus, OH is a 45 minute drive to Damascus. If you need transportation from the airport to site, reach out to empower@damascus.net, and we can make accommodations for you.

Local Food Options

Centerburg   (7 min drive)  Just a short drive from Damascus, Centerburg has several places to spend some time, including a bar, small café, and several pizza places.

Downtown Mount Vernon   (15 min drive)  Just a short drive from Damascus to the scenic downtown Mount Vernon, hosting over a dozen dining options, including local cafés, restaurants, and bars.

Off-Site Housing Options

The Grand – Mt. Vernon  (17 min drive)   4-Star Hotel located in Mt. Vernon, Ohio

The Mount Vernon Inn   (15 min drive)  Located walking distance from downtown Mt. Vernon.

Hampton Inn – Sunbury   (25 min drive)   Located in right off I-71.

Holiday Inn – Subury   (25 min drive) Located in right off I-71.

How long is the conference?

The Empower Conference starts with check in on Thursday, December 15 from 4:30pm-6:30pm. It will conclude after Mass on Sunday, December 18 around 2:30pm.

Are there group registrations?

All of our registrations are individual, but we’d love for you to get a group from your campus, parish, or circle of friends to attend. Feel free to request to lodge with each other in the registration process.

Can high schoolers attend?

Empower is geared toward college aged students and young adults. We invite high school students to attend Catholic Youth Winter Camp at Damascus. Click here for more information. 

Will there be medical or ADA accomodations?

We want to meet all of your needs while attending Empower. Please make note of how we can best serve you in the registration process. For on-site medical emergencies, we will have an onsite medical team on call. If you have other questions, contact emily@damascus.net.

What’s the cancellation policy?

Please note that each reservation includes a $75 non-refundable deposit due at the time of reservation. Any additional payments are eligible for a refund up to 1 month before the conference (November 15), after which point our costs are committed and we are no longer able to provide refunds.
We are sorry, but this policy also applies to cancellations that may arise as a result of illness, injury or other unforeseen circumstances as our contracted expenses are also binding. If possible, transfers to another session can be made without charge.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing via email to registration@damascus.net.

What if I can’t attend the whole conference due to finals?

Please email empower@damascus.net to inquire about the availability of weekend-only passes.

Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions you might have at registration@damascus.net or 740.480.1288.

Still not convinced?

Check out our highlight video from last year’s Empower Conference.

Want to get involved?

Missionary Opportunities