College students from diocese rave about experience at biggest young adult conference of the year

By ANDREW HANSEN
      Editor

Jacob Morrisey, a student at Eastern Illinois University (EIU) who is from Charleston, spent part of his Christmas break doing what most college students do not do: He tried to grow in his faith. Morrisey was one of several young adults from our diocese, mainly from EIU and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville (SIUE), who joined more than 21,000 people at the beginning of the new year seeking Jesus at the biggest Catholic young adult conference of the year in the country. Organized by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), SEEK25 was in two locations this year as it ran Jan. 1–5 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jan. 2–5 in Washington, D.C.

During the four-day program, Morrisey said it was something that happened on the first night that really made him start thinking. That’s when speaker, Arthur Brooks, posed this question: “Why are you alive?” Morrisey says he continues to reflect on that question daily.  “I will likely continue to search for that answer throughout my life,” Morrisey said. “At this point in my life, one reason I am here is to spread the Good News of the Gospel with others. Had I been asked this question a couple of months ago, this likely wouldn’t have been what I led with. However, after hearing the testimonies and learning about the faith from so many individuals throughout both the Newman Center and at SEEK, I feel it is essential to lead off my answer with this.

“I am also here to help others through the gifts I have been given. Through my majors in finance and accounting, I hope to help others with their finances, as it is something that many people struggle with,” Morrisey said. “Additionally, I am here to spread faith and love to my family. My family introduced me to the Church, so I owe it to them now and in the future to return the love that has been given to me. In conclusion, SEEK and this question presented by Arthur Brooks has profoundly influenced my understanding of my purpose. It has reinforced my commitment to spreading faith, helping others, and cherishing my family.”

Maddy Habing, a student at EIU who is from Teutopolis, enjoyed SEEK so much in the past that she decided to go again. “The week of prayer and talks taught me that not everyone has the same relationship with God,” Habing said. “We are each on a unique and personal journey. Many of the speakers I was able to hear from gave their faith experiences and testimonies. Not one of their stories was the same, except for one thing: They all shared in finding the Lord, no matter how lost they were or how difficult their life got. This shows us that even in the toughest of times, the Lord is always by our side and will welcome us back again.

“I plan to bring this back to campus with me and implement it into my life,” Habing said. “God is always there to help me through the daily stress of school and homework, and friendships. I seek to live as a witness of this steadfast and constant love to students and peers around me. The Lord too is with them in their tough times and faith journey.”

Many of attendees at SEEK came from FOCUS campuses, where FOCUS missionaries help build Catholic communities on campus. In the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, SIUE has a FOCUS team — and 27 young adults from that campus attended. If a campus does not have a FOCUS team, that didn’t stop Newman Centers from organizing a group, such as the Newman Center at EIU, who had eight people who attended, including their chaplain, Father Michael Berndt.

 “Despite the narrative of the culture, God is very much alive — not just in priests and religious but in ‘ordinary people’ like us college students,” said Matthew Gierer, a student at SIUE who is from Glen Carbon.

 “The Lord tugged at my heart in unexpected ways during SEEK, and I left SEEK inspired by talks rooted in truth and enriched by deeper friendships,” said Maggie Waller, a student at SIUE who is from Peoria.

SEEK26 will be in three locations next January: Denver, Colo.; Columbus, Ohio; and Fort Worth, Texas.