Baltimore students inspired by trip to SEEK conference in Ohio

For Brandon Jacobs, a 20-year-old college student, practicing his faith at his home parish can sometimes feel like a solitary experience.

He certainly didn’t get that feeling when he was part of a group of about 120 from the Archdiocese of Baltimore attending the annual SEEK conference in Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 1-5.

“I try to attend Mass as often as possible, but I often feel old and alone,” said the UMBC student and parishioner of Church of the Resurrection in Burtonsville. “There usually aren’t very many people my age attending church at my home parish regularly.”

The recent Catholic convert had no such worries at the SEEK 2026 gathering in Columbus. He was one of more than 16,000 mostly college students in attendance in Ohio with another 10,000 gathering at similar events in Denver and Fort Worth, Texas. 

The conferences featured worship, talks and workshops on encountering Christ. 

“It was so inspiring to see people my own age, both cradle Catholics and recent converts like me practicing their faith,” said Jacobs, his voice hoarse and barely above a whisper from singing and praying so loudly at the conference. “The other students inspire me. It is a blessing to know that I am not alone in my faith. This is why I became Catholic, knowing people practice their faith with such passion.”

SEEK (Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge) is a collaboration led by Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), a Catholic outreach organization that “shares the hope and joy of the Gospel with the world.” 

The conference schedule included daily Mass, eucharistic adoration and confession.

Campus chaplains, campus ministers and other FOCUS missionaries from UMBC in Catonsville, Towson University and The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore accompanied the students on the more than eight-hour bus ride to the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Father Matthew Himes, UMBC’s campus chaplain, was leading his fourth trip to the event after also attending several as a student. 

“It’s inspiring and powerful to see young people want to encounter God in their lives,” Father Himes said. “To see it at such a big venue shows that we’re not alone. It’s the opposite of what our culture is telling us about the Church.”

Father Himes said evening adoration was the highlight for him each day.

“It’s evidence of a deep faith, and inspires me in my own life,” he said. “It gives me great hope for the future of our Church, and it’s a great witness to see young people filled with that kind of joy and hope.”

Brian Rhude, campus minister at Towson University for the past three years, led a group of 35 to Columbus that included school chaplain Father Michael Misulia.

He said the moments of shared worship and adoration were what struck him about the conference.

“I know the students were moved by the speakers,” Rhude said. “But more than anything, it was the moments of shared worship and adoration with more than 16,000 people that really moved us. I felt like we really built a camaraderie, sharing those moments and deepening our faith and friendship.”

Jimmy Thomas, a junior at Towson and parishioner of St. Paul in Ellicott City, echoed Rhude’s thoughts.

“SEEK 26 was probably the greatest and most influential weekend of my life,” Thomas said. “Giving glory to God with (16,000) other young Catholics was so incredibly powerful. The conference renewed my love of God, others and self. I have believed that the Eucharist is Jesus for a while, but that adoration sparked something in my heart that I haven’t felt in a long time.

Thomas said he was particularly moved by a talk about heaven by Father Mike Schmitz, one of the keynote speakers.

“I feel as though a fire was lit, and I want to live my life to the fullest, not for my own sake but to give glory to God. I want to live like heaven starts today, and I want to give God control so that he can change the world through me. I have so much stirring in my heart.”

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori also attended the conference in Columbus, spending time with the Baltimore delegation. In a Jan. 5 homily at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, he said the conference attendees sought the face of Christ, the fullness of the faith and “how to give their lives in love to the Lord and to others.” 

“At 8:30 in the morning, a vast auditorium was filled with young people,” he said. “They were avidly participating in holy Mass, listening attentively to the Word of God, soaking up the Divine Word as dry ground absorbs water.”

The archbishop said he was especially moved by how reverently the participants entered into the sacrifice of the Mass. 

“Belief in the power of Christ’s cross and resurrection, belief in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist was palpable,” he said. “Later, I met with the many young people from Baltimore who were in attendance. They were from UMBC, Towson, (Johns) Hopkins and various parishes. They packed the room that had been reserved for the meeting and I spoke with as many of these young people as I could. It would do your heart good to meet them – God is at work in our midst!”

Among the other keynote speakers at SEEK 2026 were Matt Fradd, Chris Stefanick, Sister of Life Mary Grace and Sister Josephine Garrett, a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

The conferences were organized by FOCUS, an international Catholic outreach ministering on more than 200 college campuses in the U.S., Mexico and Europe, as well as at some 20 parishes.

The theme this year was “To the Heights,” an exhortation of recently canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, an avid mountaineer and patron of young adults.

Stephanie Okoma, a junior at Towson and parishioner of St. Lawrence Martyr in Hanover, said she wishes every student had a chance to attend the conference.

“This year’s SEEK conference was something I will always remember,” she said. “Witnessing fellow youths survive the harsh Ohio winter and then fill the convention center with fire for the Lord – or curiosity for his Church – was inspiring. My favorite moments were the quiet moments I shared with Jesus in the perpetual adoration chapel alongside many, and the profound conversations with my classmates sparked by speakers like Sister Josephine Garrett and Emily Wilson. 

“My hope is that every young adult in the country would experience SEEK and, more importantly, encounter the love of Jesus Christ radiating through the spirit of ordinary college students,” Okoma said.

Father Himes said that it is no small sacrifice for college students to give up free time during winter break.

“I’m constantly inspired by our students and the sacrifices they make of their time,” he said. 

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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