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Encountered, Formed, Sent: SEEK’s Lasting Impact on Campus
Over 500 priests and bishops!
In early January, nearly 132 Catholic Noles students and staff joined thousands of college students in Columbus, Ohio for the SEEK Conference—four days of worship, prayer, teaching, and community that left a lasting mark on the start of 2026.
Founded by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), SEEK was created to help college students encounter Jesus Christ personally, grow in their understanding of the Catholic faith, and be sent back to campus ready to live—and share—that faith with confidence. Now held in three cities, what began as a smaller gathering has grown into the largest Catholic conference in the country, drawing more than 26,000 young adults this year.
For many students, SEEK offers a rare glimpse of the Church in its fullness. While Catholics number more than 1.3 billion worldwide, most experience their faith in quieter settings—parish pews, campus chapels, or weekly Mass. At SEEK, surrounded by tens of thousands of peers worshiping together, students encounter something unforgettable: the power of a global Church united under one faith, journeying toward Jesus together.
That scale made an immediate impression on Bailey, a sophomore studying Communications and Sports Management and attending SEEK for the first time.
“I didn’t realize how huge it was going to be,” Bailey shared. “I would turn around and the room just kept going.”
But SEEK is more than a large gathering—it is an invitation to step away from academic pressure and digital distraction and enter into daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, compelling speakers, and authentic friendship. For many students, it becomes a “mountaintop” moment—one that doesn’t end when the conference does, but continues shaping how faith is lived on campus.
This year, Catholic Noles students returned home carrying that grace in different ways.
Bailey returned with a renewed desire to be intentional—about prayer, about limiting distractions, about learning more about her faith, and about living it more deliberately so she can share it with others.
For Olman, a second-year political science major, this year marked his second SEEK. His first conference came at a time when his faith—though deeply rooted—had begun to feel isolated. Raised in a devout Catholic family and highly involved on campus as a member of the Marching Chiefs, Olman continued attending Mass but increasingly felt alone, making excuses to stay on the margins of Catholic Noles community.
Reluctantly encouraged by his older sister, Olman attended SEEK unsure of what to expect—and worried he would feel even more out of place. Instead, in the midst of exhaustion, travel mishaps, and his first night surrounded by thousands of Catholic students, he encountered a profound sense of being personally seen and desired by God.
“I went from thinking, ‘Why am I here?’ to realizing, ‘This feels like home,’” he said.
That experience changed how he returned to campus. Olman leaned in—joining Bible studies, becoming more involved in Catholic Noles, and walking intentionally with others in their faith journeys.
This year, he returned to SEEK not searching for community, but grateful for how deeply it had already transformed him. Rather than reigniting a spark, the conference became a moment of recognition and thanksgiving—seeing clearly how God had been at work throughout the year.
What surprised him most was realizing the experience wasn’t a repeat—it was a continuation. This time, the joy came not only from his own encounter, but from accompanying others.
Olman shared, “I remember seeing the crucifix coming during Mass, and I just felt this immense grace in my heart—so much gratitude for the Lord,” Olman shared. “It was beautiful to walk with the guys I mentor now, to be with the guys I went with last year, and to watch the fruit unfold. Being even closer this year and seeing how much has grown—it was just beautiful.”
For Kevin, a junior studying Neuroscience, SEEK was also familiar territory. His first SEEK came just months after his conversion, sparking excitement and zeal. But once he returned to campus, the realities of academic pressure and routine set in.
“I didn’t realize how hard it would be,” Kevin admitted. “Faith isn’t just a spiritual high—it’s daily life.”
Before attending SEEK this year, Kevin experienced discouragement—questioning whether life had felt easier before taking his faith seriously. He nearly didn’t go. But once reunited with friends, something shifted.
“I lit up,” he said. “I realized how much I needed this.”
This time, SEEK offered Kevin clarity rather than excitement. A talk challenged him to stop living his faith halfway.
“I realized I couldn’t keep picking and choosing,” he reflected. “I wanted to go all in—not out of fear, but out of love.”
Returning to campus, Kevin embraced the reality that the mountaintop doesn’t last forever—and that faith is lived in the ordinary. One of the most practical fruits of SEEK for him has been learning how to structure his life so faith remains a priority even in the middle of a demanding academic schedule.
“I schedule everything,” Kevin laughed. “Mass, adoration, classes, Bible study—even laundry. It helps me stay grounded when life gets busy.”
Together, these stories reveal something essential about SEEK: it is not a finish line, but a sending point. Whether encountering Christ for the first time, rediscovering belonging, or learning how to live faith faithfully amid daily demands, Catholic Noles students returned to campus changed—and ready to keep walking. As the semester unfolds, the grace of SEEK continues to bear fruit in prayer, community, leadership, and mission. None of this happens in isolation. Experiences like SEEK are made possible through your generosity and prayers. As Kevin, Bailey, Olman, and many others continue discerning how God is calling them, we ask for your continued prayers for them—and know that everyone here at Catholic Noles are praying for you as well.
