SEEK25: Transforming college students’ faith across the Archdiocese of Newark
The SEEK25 Conference, an annual event hosted by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), had a lasting impact on over 21,000 attendees across three locations—Salt Lake City, Utah; Washington, D.C.; and Cologne, Germany—during the first week of January. Among the participants were students and Campus Ministers from the Archdiocese of Newark, who returned home with renewed faith and a deeper connection to the global Catholic community.
For many students, SEEK25 was a transformative experience that connected them to the universal Church. Father Jim Chern, Director of Campus Ministry for the Archdiocese of Newark, noted how the event opened students’ eyes to something much larger than their local campus ministries. “The SEEK conference opens students’ eyes to something bigger than themselves,” Father Chern said. “They realize they’re part of something much larger. They’re meeting religious sisters and brothers for the first time, talking with young Catholics from across the globe who are just as passionate about their faith. It’s like watching their world expand right before your eyes.”
This year’s conference was particularly memorable for Archdiocese attendees, as Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, joined them for Mass and fellowship. Father Chern recalled, “You should have seen our students’ faces when they spotted him. There’s something powerful about seeing your spiritual leader there in person, celebrating Mass with thousands of young people.” He added that the experience fostered a sense of pride and unity, reinforcing that Catholicism is not just about individual worship but about belonging to a vast, interconnected family of believers.
For many students, key moments like Eucharistic Adoration stood out as highlights. Lorena Guerini, a student at NJIT, reflected, “For me, the most memorable part was Adoration. It was beautiful and something I’ve never experienced on that level before.” A student from Ramapo College shared how the experience deepened their faith: “Being in the real presence of our Lord was life-changing. Before SEEK, I had been praying about how my relationship with the Lord could improve. During Adoration, I received the profound sense that Jesus was calling me by name to step forward into a deeper relationship with Him.”
Ezekiel Gonzalez, a freshman at Kean University, found SEEK to be a spiritual reset. “SEEK allowed me to escape the busyness of life and slow down to learn and grow in God,” he said. Luke McKenna, a junior at Stevens Institute of Technology, was moved by seeing his friends’ faith grow. “Seeing Jesus transform my friends’ lives and walking with them through that,” he said, “was a highlight.”
(Photo courtesy of Lucia Pasternak)
Campus Ministers who accompanied the students also found SEEK25 deeply enriching.
Lucia Pasternak, Campus Minister at Kean University, described the experience as unforgettable. “Being in the center of a room of over 3,000 college students worshiping the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration is something I am never going to forget,” she said. “For my students to experience it at an earlier stage in their faith journeys is an incredible blessing.” Pasternak also highlighted the personal connection students made with Cardinal Tobin. “After the students had a full and busy day of the conference, they had the chance to talk informally with the Cardinal over dinner. It was a joy to see Cardinal Tobin in community with so many college students—seeing their passion for Christ and spreading the Good News.”
Brooke Pasker, Campus Minister at Stevens Institute of Technology, praised the students’ enthusiasm: “I was impressed by the faithfulness, devotion, and enthusiasm of the college students at SEEK25. Whether participating in Mass, dancing at the concert, or seeking the Lord’s mercy in confession, they gave it their all.”
As the Archdiocese of Newark reflects on the profound impact of SEEK25, they are already looking forward to SEEK26 in Ohio. For Charleze Fernandez, a junior at Kean University, the conference deepened her reverence for God: “I’ve gained so much reverence for God and the Catholic Church, and it’s made me eager to delve deeper into my faith,” she said.
SEEK25 proved to be a pivotal moment for many, deepening participants’ faith and connecting them with a broader community of believers. As Pope St. John Paul II once said, “You are children of the light! You belong to Christ, and He has called you by name.”
To learn more about SEEK26, which will take place in Columbus, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; and Denver, Colorado, from January 1-5, 2026, visit the SEEK website.
Featured image: Attendees of SEEK25 in Washington, D.C., are pictured with Cardinal Joseph Tobin. (Photo courtesy of Newman Catholic Campus Ministry at Kean University)
