PORTLAND – The annual Maine Catholic Youth Convention is expected to attract an estimated 1,200 students this weekend at the Holiday Inn By the Bay.

Shannon Townsend, a junior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Dover, N.H., and this year’s youth keynote speaker, will share her experience in having her faith strengthened by a tragedy that almost stopped her from dancing.

Other speakers will include Anna Scally from California, adult keynote speaker on her personal faith. Scally also will be the disc jockey for the Saturday evening dance. She is president of Cornerstone Media and is a youth ministry consultant. Steve Angrisano will present a workshop, “The Great Adventure,” and a concert on Saturday afternoon. He also will provide music for the Sunday liturgy. He ministered to youth in his home parish in Littleton, Colo., after the shootings at Columbine High School.