SEEK26, a conference hosted by FOCUS at the beginning of the new year, left an impact extending beyond its closing Mass on Monday, Jan. 5 in Columbus.
The annual conference is geared toward college students, adults, parish leaders, clergy and missionaries. This year’s conference attracted about 26,000 attendees, more than 16,000 of whom attended in Columbus and the rest at satellite locations in Denver and Fort Worth, Texas.
The Diocese of Columbus, which served as the primary host of the conference held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, gifted scholarships to young adults without financial means to attend.
The diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry extended an invitation to Spanish-speaking parishes with young adult groups in the diocese. The office gifted 51 scholarships to Hispanic young adults, primarily between ages 18 and 30, including college students and individuals working full time, to attend SEEK26.
“When they heard from their parish office that we had this opportunity, they jumped on it, no hesitation. Within like, two days, we filled out all those spots that we had available,” said Lisset Mendoza, director for the Office of Hispanic Ministry.
The young adults represented seven parishes: Columbus Christ the King; St. Thomas the Apostle; St. Agnes; St. James the Less; St. Stephen the Martyr; Our Lady of Guadalupe, Star of the New Evangelization; and Columbus-Powell St. Peter St. Joan of Arc.
During the five-day conference, participants attended daily Mass; keynote, impact and breakout sessions; workshops; Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; reserved time for fellowship and entertainment; and had opportunities to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.
“Walking with them was truly a blessing, to see everything that was poured out into them and that they were able to get, just as simple as Adoration and the concerts, or even the speed dating that some of them participated in, and seeing that the Church is alive with so many young people just like them,” Mendoza said.
“I’m still getting messages from some of them saying that this is a life-altering experience for them and that they now know their path that the Lord has for them in their life. They have no question. And I was just like, wow, that’s all it took: SEEK.”
SEEK26 helped the diocese’s Latino students understand their identity as a child of God. The conference enabled several to identify their mission and purpose, Mendoza explained.
Latino young adults living in the diocese often struggle with issues of identity and belonging. Mendoza noted a pull that many experience between their Spanish-speaking family and English-speaking peers.
SEEK, “to be here in Columbus, our youth, they felt like they are part of the Church, the U.S. Church,” said Father David Arroyo, C.R. (Congregation of Clerics Regular (Theatine Fathers)), vicar for Hispanic Ministry.
“It was special to hear part of the songs in Spanish – the worship songs – and the responsorial psalm, one verse in English, another in Spanish, for the Masses. For the Hispanic community … we belong to the same U.S. Church.”
Individuals attending SEEK26 on diocesan scholarships were also given opportunities to explore their vocation.
A record-breaking-size speed dating event at the conference drew thousands.
The Sisters of the Most Holy Savior of St. Bridget, who reside at the Convent of St. Birgitta, located near Columbus Holy Family Church, also provided a witness at SEEK. Consecrated sisters in the order – some of Hispanic descent – invited young women to their convent for dinner, a few discerning a call to religious life.
“Seeing the opportunity that they have now to be around other Catholics, … for me, that’s fulfilling,” Mendoza reflected. “Giving them those opportunities that we, as young adults, wish we had and we didn’t because of the same reasons.”
Twenty-one diocesan scholarships were also awarded to individuals of various other ethnic backgrounds.
Of the 17 ethnic communities in the diocese, nine communities were represented at SEEK26: Indian Tamil, Indian Syro-Malabar, Korean, Ghanian, Nigerian, East African, Byzantine, Vietnamese and French.
Between one and three individuals from each of the nine communities received scholarships.
“I’m reading the e-mails from the families, those who sent their children, and some of them, they are telling me that it’s a gift for 2026, SEEK,” said Father Tesfaye Petros Botachew, director of the diocesan Office of Multicultural Ministries.
“I received another e-mail from one young boy, even he’s thinking about his vocation because he has seen many things there, and he had time for prayer … during … Adoration.”
While just five days in duration, Father Petros emphasized the great effect he expects SEEK26 to have on the lives of the diocese’s ethnic faithful.
“I can see that (SEEK) has its own impact on the life of each one of them, those who participated. … The seminarians who were there, that also helped the young boys to ask themselves whether they wanted to join formation … whether it’s marriage or priestly life,” Father Petros said.
“Seeing different congregations there, especially women’s congregations that were there, this also helps the young girls to think about their future vocation – not only (young men) to the priesthood.
“I met someone from Ghana, and he was also touched by the situation, because that’s the first time for him to be here and to see. Many … have the mentality, arriving in America … that people (here), they don’t have faith, so when you see these people, it’s very inspiring.”
FOCUS, formerly the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, was founded at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, in 1998. The Catholic organization has since expanded to 250+ college campuses and parish communities.