The College Beat: Article XIII
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Earlier this year, Catholics from all across the country, especially collegiate Catholics, gathered in Columbus, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; and Denver, Colorado, for a five-day conference to grow and share our faith. Although I went into it with no expectations, SEEK exceeded any that I might have had.
As I continue to grow in my faith, I’ve always wanted to experience just how expansive our Catholic faith community can be. Coming from a university of roughly two thousand students, an active campus ministry of around one hundred students can seem quite small. So, when our campus priest announced that we would be going to SEEK, a conference organized by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) that welcomes thousands of Catholics from across the country, I immediately knew that I would be going.
Our campus cohort went to SEEK in Columbus, Ohio, which welcomed sixteen thousand people, including students, parishioners, religious brothers and sisters, and priests. The Greater Columbus Convention Center radiated the energy and passion proving that the Catholic faith is growing stronger, especially among younger generations.
SEEK opened with Mass, where we saw the beauty of nearly six hundred priests (including about a dozen bishops) process through the large hall, a sight I thought I would never see. Although we are accustomed to the Mass we enjoy day in and day out, there is a certain level of majesty that adorns the liturgy when sixteen thousand people come together to worship.
Following the Welcome Mass, the opening keynote began and introduced another exciting aspect of SEEK—the speakers. Having spent a great deal of time researching the Catholic faith, I have become familiar with numerous notable Catholic groups and individuals. However, when I saw their names on the schedule, it felt like my inner child was about to eagerly jump out. I was excited to see familiar names, such as Joe Heschmeyer (Catholic Answers), Scott Hahn and John Bergsma (St. Paul Center), Matt Fradd (Pints with Aquinas), Arthur Brooks (Harvard), Sr. Mary Grace (Sisters of Life), Sr. Josephine Garrett (Holy Family of Nazareth), Fr. Gregory Pine, OP, and Fr. Joseph-Anthony Kress, OP (Godsplaining), and, of course, Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension Presents), just to name a few.
Words cannot properly describe the energy in that room. It was simply beautiful.
The keynotes each day focused on the theme of the “5 Rs” of our relationship with God: 1) Relationship, 2) Rebellion, 3) Repentance, 4) Recreation, and 5) Response. Each speaker ushered us deeper into this framework, fortifying our understanding of our faith. Outside of daily Mass and keynotes, we enjoyed breakout sessions with topics and themes that ranged across almost every area of the faith.
Throughout the day, the “Mission Way” was a hub housing dozens of organizations, vendors, and religious orders ready to share information, ideas, and souvenirs (especially stickers!). Even more exciting, many of the speakers made time for meet and greets, which quickly became very popular. One of my favorite experiences was praying the daily morning Rosary before Mass with the Family Rosary Across America. Praying for the intentions of fellow college students revealed how deeply our faith can make us care for those around us and how sincere our love for our college communities can be.
Each night, SEEK offered exciting experiences. Comedian Shayne Smith shared his hilarious yet heartwarming conversion story. Singer-songwriter Chris Renzema offered wonderful music. My favorite night, however, involved attending adoration and partaking in confession. Shortly after adoration began, I quietly left the hall to get in line for confession. The sheer number of people hungry for absolution created a line that wrapped a quarter of the way around the conference center. That said, with six hundred priests offering confession, the line moved quickly. It was both refreshing and beautiful to see so many people engaging with the sacrament that draws us ever closer to Christ.
Initially, upon returning to adoration, I was confused as the monstrance holding the body of Christ was no longer on the altar. Instead, I found Christ being processed through the aisles of the conference hall. Words cannot properly describe the energy in that room. It was simply beautiful. Witnessing the reverence of the priests carrying the monstrance and the holiness of the students worshipping our Lord drew me in so deeply that it was almost incomprehensible.
For me, SEEK was a blessing that I did not know I needed. I learned more than I ever thought I would. I met innumerable speakers and fellow attendees who have helped shape and grow my faith in the past couple of years. Most importantly, I witnessed the sheer size of our Catholic faith to a degree that reminded me just how big and diverse the Church really is.
SEEK has something to offer for everyone. Whether you find yourself a regular churchgoer, newly drawn to the Catholic Church, or raised Catholic but wandered away and are now returning, SEEK will draw you closer to the Lord.
SEEK, and ye shall find.