“What do you seek?” This was the question raised by Pope Leo XIV in a video message to 25 St. Norbert College students, along with more than 16,000 other college-aged students, during the 2026 SEEK Conference in Columbus, Ohio. First asked by Christ in the Gospel of John, the question remains profoundly relevant to today’s young Catholics. Across the country, dioceses are noticing a shift: members of Gen Z are increasingly turning toward the Catholic faith and Christianity in their search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. For students at SEEK, that search was met with a renewed sense of hope for the Church’s future. “It was amazing to see Jesus fully present right in front of us and be able to adore him alongside thousands of others in the same room,” recalled Liam O’Keefe ’26.

St. Norbert College Campus Ministry was excited to see 25 students register for this year’s conference, held Jan. 1-5, 2026. SEEK is an annual five‑day gathering designed to help young adults encounter Jesus through prayer, the sacraments and keynote speakers. Funding can be a challenge, but with support from the Diocese of Green Bay and Old St. Joe’s parishioners, SNC students were able to attend at a significantly reduced cost.

During his SEEK address, Pope Leo encouraged young adults to reflect on their vocation and embrace Christ’s call with intention. That invitation resonated deeply with Savannah Jandrin ’27, who says it had been on her mind from the moment she committed to attending this year’s conference. “I am always inspired by seeing other young Catholics who are on fire for their faith, as it draws me to grow a deeper connection with our Lord for myself,” she said. “I was able to hear about the deep experiences of others in our group, and it made me recognize how Christ is always seeking for us to allow Him deeper and deeper into our hearts.”

While the Pope’s message was a highlight of the week’s events, it wasn’t the only moment that left a lasting impact on SNC attendees. Many students said the evening of Eucharistic Adoration was the most meaningful part of the conference. “It was such a powerful and moving experience to be in a room with 16,000 other people, most of them college students, and all adore Jesus together through song and prayer,” said Mary Weisensel ’28.

And while the large gatherings created especially inspiring memories for some, the quieter moments were just as transformative. For Cati Cory ’29, it was the unexpected, candid encounters where she felt Jesus most clearly. “God revealed Himself to me in little ways: having a conversation with a really kind person, witnessing a small act of kindness from a stranger, or even seeing a religious sister just radiating joy! I was also able to have a really fruitful conversation with someone who I did not expect to meet, and the conversation was an answer to a prayer.”

Students could choose from a wide range of sessions each day, and with nearly a dozen breakout options every afternoon, there was something to match everyone’s interests. Though each person walked away with different insights that resonated with them, one theme rose to the top for all: hope. Hope for the Church, hope for young people within it and hope for those still finding their way to it. “The most inspirational moments for me were the opening processions for Mass; there was a profound image of hope for our Church on the faces of all those gathered; a real joy and love of Jesus Christ was palpable,” said the Rev. Mike Brennan, O. Praem., Pastor of St. Norbert College Parish.

Attendees returned home from SEEK 2026 with a renewed mission: to live out their faith in their daily lives. The group says they are eager to share the inspiration they experienced in Columbus with the wider campus community. One of the conference’s central themes was the phrase “You are now entering mission territory,” a reminder that when you leave SEEK, or even simply leave church on Sunday, you step into opportunities to bring the joy of Christ to others. “Being Catholic brings me so much joy, and I hope to bring that joy into ‘mission territory’ by allowing the joy of Christ to be a part of all my daily activities. In this way, I hope that all people may experience the joy of Christ in their everyday lives!” Cory said.

“SEEK has influenced me to simply be a light on campus and to make that change one person at a time,”  said O’Keefe. “Sometimes the expectation is to dive right in and make a historically radical change on campus within a month or a week. Those are great goals, but they can be very challenging as well and can lead to discouragement when that expectation is not met. So my goal is to let the Lord move through me, to one person at a time.”

“I run track, and I have seen many of my teammates and other athletes at Mass on Sundays, but I would like to invite them to more campus ministry events,” said Weisensel.

“As Catholic Christians, it is our job to spread the good news so that more and more people may encounter Jesus and receive His love, mercy and peace. With being on campus, I have a great opportunity to invite others into growing a relationship with Christ,” said Jandrin.

SNC Campus Ministry is always eager to welcome new members into its community. The group offers many ways to get involved, including the men’s and women’s Catholic fraternity and sorority, retreats, Knightmass on Wednesday nights and more. Visit the Campus Ministry website for more information.