New year begins with SEEK 2026 conference opening
Pope John Paul II campus ministry college students from UNT pray as Bishop Michael Olson celebrates Mass on Jan. 2, 2026 at the SEEK 2026 Conference held at Grapevine's Gaylord Texan. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
GRAPEVINE — Catalina Coronado had a remarkable first day on the job.
On Jan. 1, she jumped into her new role as a campus missionary with St. John Paul II University Parish, which serves University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University, by attending SEEK 2026 with more than 4,500 other young Catholics at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Conference Center in Grapevine.
Last year, when Coronado attended SEEK 2025 as a TWU student, she felt God speaking to her personally through the talks. This year as a campus missionary, she’s prepared to “hear what the Lord is trying to say to me” as well as provide fellowship to the 30 students present from the two universities that she serves.
Coronado, who graduated three weeks ago, said, “It’s beautiful to see [the students] on fire for the Lord. Starting the new year this way keeps God in the center of our lives, and carries Him with us throughout the year.”
SEEK 2026 kicked off on Jan. 1 in three locations: Fort Worth, Denver (with almost 6,000 registrants), and the main site of Columbus, Ohio, with more than 16,000 in attendance. The combined total represents record participation, an increase of 24 percent over the previous year.
Young adults from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and half of Mississippi traveled to the Fort Worth conference, representing 106 colleges and 219 parishes. Across all three sites, 644 campuses were represented.
The conference is organized by FOCUS, an international Catholic outreach organization which serves more than 200 college campuses and more than 20 parish communities to inspire and equip young people for evangelization and discipleship through Bible studies, mentorship, mission trips, conferences, and retreats.
In Fort Worth, Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo celebrated the opening Mass in the conference center’s ballroom, followed by keynote speakers Father David Michael Moses of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT.
SEEK conference participants were surprised on opening night by a video message from Pope Leo XIV, who asked, “Dear young people, what do you seek? Why are you here at this conference?
“Perhaps your hearts are also restless, searching for meaning and fulfillment and for direction in your lives. The answer is found in a person. The Lord Jesus alone brings us true peace and joy and fulfills every one of our deepest desires.”
The following morning, Bishop Michael Olson celebrated Mass to begin the first full day of the conference.
Deacon Rodney Asebedo, director of diaconal formation for the Diocese of Fort Worth, invoked the Holy Spirit as he prepared to proclaim the Gospel at the Mass. Four bishops, approximately 200 priests, and 4,500 participants listened expectantly.
Dcn. Asebedo said, “Looking at those young faces was really amazing. I prayed that somehow, through the Gospel message and Bishop’s homily, that someone's heart is going to be touched; that they're going to give themselves to God in a more intimate way; and that they will bear amazing fruit.”
Angelina Roa, a 2024 graduate of Tarleton State University in Stephenville, attended SEEK for the fourth time. “Going to SEEK starts off the year with Jesus. It’s inspirational to be in the room with so many Catholics,” she said.
Roa currently teaches math and science to fourth and fifth grade students at St. Rita Catholic School in Fort Worth, and she plans to share the experience with them. The opening Mass was “beautiful,” she said, especially singing Veni Creator Spiritus to invite the Holy Spirit to open the hearts of SEEK participants.
About 70 young people from Tarleton, including recent graduates like Roa, registered for the conference.
Although college students compose the majority of SEEK attendees, young adults from parishes also attend, including RJ Delgadillo, the middle school youth minister from St. John Neumann Parish in Austin.
Delgadillo attended as a college student in 2017 and 2019, and he was pleased to return in 2026 with his wife and two small children.
The experience was different, he admitted, as this year he listened to the sessions from the back row with an eye on his youngster toddling about. He looks forward to hearing some of his favorite Catholic speakers, including apologist Trent Horn and Father Gregory Pine, OP.
“In college, it was about our formation. Now, our primary vocation is as parents. We will try to make the most of it, but it’s not about us,” he said.
Considering one’s vocation is a primary benefit to attending SEEK, said Sister Catherine Rotterman of the Felician Sisters of North America. The conference helps young adults see they are part of a “much bigger Church,” she said, a Church that has many ways to be active in ministry as consecrated and lay people.
Sister Catherine added, “SEEK helps them dream of where God might be leading them.”
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