Record numbers of young adults flock to Salt Lake City for SEEK25

More than 21,000 people began the new year seeking Jesus at the biggest Catholic young adult conference of the year in the US held in two locations.

Jan 10, 2025

Attendees at SEEK25 in Salt Lake City wander around the “Mission Way,” a large section of booths manned by representatives of Catholic apostolates, colleges, and religious orders. (CNA/Kate Quinones)


By Kate Quiñones
More than 21,000 people began the new year seeking Jesus at the biggest Catholic young adult conference of the year in the US held in two locations. SEEK25, organised by Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), January 1–5 in Salt Lake City and January 2–5 in Washington, D.C.

The four-day programme brought together Catholics from across North America.

A large chunk of attendees came from FOCUS campuses, where FOCUS missionaries help build Catholic communities on campus.

The event also brought 46 bishops, up from the record-setting number of 44 last year.

While SEEK is geared to college students, adults on the “Making Missionary Disciples” track also attended the event as well as families with young children.

At the conference centre, Salt Palace, SEEK attendees were full of life, lining the walls, filling the hallways, cheering and waving flags representing their various universities.

The crowd of mostly young adults grew quiet when the M a s s began, which took place on the Feast of Mary, Mother of God.

During the homily, Salt Lake City’s Bishop Oscar Solis focused on the new year as well as the 2025 Jubilee of Hope.

The first keynote of the conference was Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and author, who spoke about happiness. Brooks highlighted how satisfaction isn’t permanent, and happiness comes from having meaning in life.

“Having meaning is key,” he told SEEK attendees. “The why of your life is paramount.”

Brooks noted that many in our culture have encountered a loss of meaning, which he connected with the mental health crisis. It’s hard to find happiness when you don’t know the “why” of your life, he said.

Sr Mary Grace, SV, an Australian Sister of Life and another keynote speaker, focused on meaning, Christ, and God’s rest. She noted that all of us are “seeking true rest” and that “God can insert glory into every single story, to the exception and the exclusion of no one.

“Resting in peace was never just reserved for the faithful departed, or the retired, or those able to afford it,” Sr Mary Grace told the attendees. “Genesis itself reveals that God spent six days creating, but the culmination does not come to the seventh, when God rests and we take rest in him. God’s rest is the only remedy for heavy hearts.” The conference continued with rosary followed by Mass. Incense still hung in the air as participants went for the breakout sessions.

The rest of the day was filled with breakout sessions from speakers including Tammy Peterson, podcaster and wife of psychologist and author Jordan Peterson, who spoke on gratitude and her recent conversion to Catholicism, and Trent Horn, Catholic Answers apologist and author, who shared his conversion story in a talk called Why We Are Catholic.

In between sessions, attendees wandered around the “Mission Way,” a large section of booths manned by representatives of Catholic apostolates, colleges, and religious orders. Taking the stage in the evening was Fr Mike Schmitz followed by opportunities for prayer and community, including swing dancing and line dancing. --CNA

Total Comments:0

Name
Email
Comments