“Most students view their faith as something that's in the minority,” said Father Matthew Gembrowski, chaplain at St. Mary University Parish. “To go to a giant conference like this and see ... thousands of others their age taking their faith seriously—it’s a very good reality check.”

Adriana Fiorino, a recent graduate, agrees. “Going to SEEK is a really great way to experience the Church at its absolute best, because you get to experience it with thousands of other students on varying journeys in their faith.”

The CMU group was guided by Father Matthew and joined by four FOCUS missionaries, including Emily Heupel, who served as an emcee, introducing speakers to the large audience. Two students, sophomore Emma Potochny and senior Luke Bradley, were also selected to read the prayer intentions for the Rosary live on Relevant Radio.

STEPPING INTO COMMUNITY

For students new to Catholicism, the conference offered a profound sense of belonging. Adriana, who will be confirmed in April, said she was initially concerned she might feel out of place.

“Everybody there was just so kind and welcoming, even if they were perfect strangers. I also met plenty of other people who were in the process of becoming Catholic as well,” she said. Adriana added that the sense of community itself was transformative. “The magnitude of it was amazing to witness and be part of.”

"Before college, my experiences with God were pretty personal and often on my own,” said Preston Runyon, a freshman at CMU and Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) candidate. “Seeing all the other students there helped me realize how real God’s work is in other people’s lives, which was really cool.”

Father Matthew emphasized that not every student who goes on this trip is deeply involved in their faith; some are on the fence or just nominal Catholics.

“Many have very powerful experiences, and afterward, they attend Mass more often, get more involved in OCIA and help out at the parish. For those who were lukewarm in their faith, it’s a real wake-up call," he said.

LESSONS FROM THE KEYNOTES

The conference featured inspiring keynote addresses featuring Father Mike Schmitz, Arthur Brooks, Dr. Edward Sri, Lisa Cotter, Matt Fradd, Sister Josephine Garrett and others.

Adriana was deeply impacted by Arthur Brooks’ keynote, which emphasized that leaving SEEK means entering ‘mission territory’: encountering people who may not share the Catholic faith or who have been hurt by the Church. He encouraged approaching those individuals with love and compassion while remaining true to Christ’s mission.

Father Matthew views SEEK as a learning opportunity for ministers as well as students and experienced powerful takeaways of his own. “Any growth in college campus ministry, and all Catholic parishes, comes from personal accompaniment. Belonging precedes behavior. Before someone starts living the Christian life, they have to feel like they have a place, that somebody knows them, that they have a community. They have to feel like they belong before their moral behavior, attendance at Mass or participation in the sacraments follows,” he said.

HOPE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF CATHOLICS

The young adults who attended SEEK are bringing home a renewed devotion and a stronger sense of community. Preston is making daily prayer a priority and preparing to receive the sacraments, while Adriana is embracing her unique gifts and applying her faith with confidence in daily life.

Father Matthew sees the growth in participation as a sign of hope for the next generation. 

“My first year, I took just two students from CMU. Last year it was about 23, and this year around 60,” he said. He noted that many students in OCIA joined the trip, reflecting a growing commitment to faith.

“Just seeing the momentum building, people taking their faith more seriously ... there’s a lot of hope in the younger generation,” he said, emphasizing how encouraging it is to witness students embrace the Catholic faith with dedication and enthusiasm.

For both students and missionaries from CMU, SEEK is more than a single week. It reveals a powerful movement of faith that leaves a lasting impact, inspiring students to carry their devotion, sense of community and commitment to the Christian life long after the conference ends.