Bishop Earl Fernandes | Diocese of Columbus website

The annual SEEK conference, organized by FOCUS, has successfully brought together over 20,000 participants this week across three global locations. This year's events were held in Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and Cologne, Germany under the theme "Follow Me," inspired by John 8:13.

SEEK 2025 recorded a significant turnout with 21,115 attendees. Among them were more than 11,000 students from campuses served by FOCUS—a 36% increase from previous years. The event also saw the participation of 46 bishops and hundreds of priests—489 in Salt Lake City and 128 in Washington D.C.—who provided sacraments and ministered to attendees.

The conference featured numerous speakers such as Fr. Mike Schmitz and Fr. Mark Mary Ames, both hosts of popular podcasts; New York Times bestselling author Arthur Brooks; Sister Mary Grace SV; Sister Josephine Garrett CSFN; Curtis Martin, founder of FOCUS; Jason Evert; among others. Activities included breakout sessions, keynote addresses each night, daily Masses, Confession services, entertainment acts like Forest Frank and Shayne Smith, culminating in Eucharistic Adoration at all three locations.

Curtis Martin expressed enthusiasm about the conference's impact: “Our Lord is ever-present at SEEK this year and it’s incredible that we have three simultaneously,” he said. “The personal transformations happening are palpable...we have hope in the future of Catholicism.”

FOCUS announced that SEEK will be hosted in Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; and Fort Worth, Texas for its next iteration in 2026. Bishop Earl Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus commented on hosting the event: “We are pleased and excited to be able to host SEEK26! It will be a boost for our Diocese and our city,” he said.

FOCUS continues its mission through outreach efforts across more than 200 college campuses globally since its founding in 1998.

For further information or interviews with FOCUS leaders please contact Kate Milligan at [email protected].