By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
PEMBROKE PINES | About 2,100 eighth-grade students from Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Miami gathered March 11 at the Charles F. Dodge City Center for the Greater Love Conference.
Organized by the Archdiocese of Miami’s Office of Evangelization and Parish Life, the event featured guest speakers Aimee and Colin McIver, Mary Stevens, and Bridget Hanafin, who led sessions on chastity, Theology of the Body, and Christian anthropology.
Developed over several years, the conference has grown into a strong and successful program, offering a clear and engaging way to present Church teachings to young people. The day is designed to share the Catholic vision of life, love, marriage, sexuality, and family — emphasizing the truth, goodness, and beauty of these teachings.
Speakers also addressed the consequences of separating sexuality from its intended purpose, noting that the breakdown of this vision in recent decades has contributed to challenges such as broken families, sexually transmitted diseases, and unplanned pregnancies.
Photographer: COURTESY
More than 2,000 eighth-graders, teachers and chaperones attend the Greater Love Conference March 11, 2026 at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines.
Bridget Hanafin, a curriculum developer at the Augustine Institute in St. Louis, led a session on Imago Dei — what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God.
“Christian anthropology is an incredible exploration of what it means to be human,” Hanafin said. “In a culture marked by confusion, our faith reminds us that every person is created with dignity, goodness, and purpose — called to know, love, and serve God.”
Reflecting on her experience, she added: “Being with the young people of the Archdiocese of Miami was nothing short of amazing. The energy and joy of the students set the tone for the entire day. Our goal was simple: that each person would leave knowing they are loved and have inherent dignity as sons and daughters of God.”
The Church teaches that sexuality is a sacred and noble gift from God, intended for marriage, where a man and a woman unite in total self-giving love while remaining open to the gift of life. Chastity, therefore, is a call for all people, lived according to one’s state in life — through faithful love in marriage or abstinence in the single life.
The Greater Love Conference evolved from the archdiocese’s former middle school “Chastity Days,” previously organized by the Respect Life Ministry. Its goal is to offer students a solid foundation on love and sexuality before entering high school, helping them navigate cultural messages with clarity and confidence.
Photographer: COURTESY
Guest speakers Aimee and Colin Maciver shared their stories and advice on love and trusting in God's plan at the Greater Love Conference for Catholic school eighth-graders March 11, 2026 at the Charles F. Dodge City Center in Pembroke Pines.
Aimee and Colin McIver, who have participated in past conferences, bring decades of experience in Catholic education and ministry and emphasized God’s personal love for each individual.“
God loves you and has a plan for your life,” they told students. “We are all created to love and to be loved.”
Mary Stevens, a clinical social worker and assistant principal at St. Agnes Academy in Key Biscayne, focused on emotional health and self-respect, encouraging students to “choose true love” and “choose life.”
“Our primary vocation is holiness,” she said, reminding students that authentic love flows from a relationship with God.
