By Kate Quiñones
Salt Lake City, Utah, Jan 2, 2025 / 20:45 pm
Embarking on a spiritual journey, more than 21,000 individuals have welcomed the new year by seeking Jesus at the grandest Catholic young adult conference in the U.S. The event, known as SEEK25, is organized by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) and is being held simultaneously in Salt Lake City from Jan. 1–5 and in Washington, D.C. from Jan. 2–5.
This four-day program serves as a meeting ground for Catholics from all corners of North America. This year, the event has set a new attendance record with 17,274 participants in Salt Lake City. Additionally, the Washington, D.C. location has also seen a full house with 3,355 attendees. SEEK is also hosting a smaller conference in Cologne, Germany, with 486 registered participants this year.
A significant portion of the attendees in Salt Lake City are students from FOCUS campuses. FOCUS missionaries play a crucial role in nurturing Catholic communities on these campuses. This year, 11,084 students from FOCUS campuses have registered for SEEK, marking a 16% increase from last year. Another 1,672 students from non-FOCUS campuses have also joined in, showing a 36% increase in participation.
The event has drawn the presence of 46 bishops, surpassing last year’s record of 44 bishops in attendance.
Seeking to make a difference in the lives of college students, adults, and families, the annual SEEK conference brings together a diverse group of individuals at the Salt Palace conference center. The atmosphere is electric, with attendees representing various universities, cheering, and waving flags in excitement.
The highlight of the event is the opening Mass on New Year’s Day, commemorating the feast of Mary, Mother of God. As over 100 priests processed through the main hall, including Bishop Oscar Solis, the crowd fell silent, immersed in the sacred moment. Bishop Solis reflected on the significance of the new year and the upcoming 2025 Jubilee of Hope in his homily.
One of the key features of SEEK is its thought-provoking keynote talks, which are being livestreamed by EWTN this year. The opening keynote speaker, Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and author, delved into the topic of happiness. He emphasized that true happiness stems from finding meaning in life, rather than seeking fleeting satisfaction.
Brooks encouraged attendees to reflect on the purpose and meaning behind their actions, highlighting the importance of living a purpose-driven life. He also addressed the prevalent issue of a loss of meaning in society, linking it to the mental health crisis that many individuals face.
