Coloradans invited deeper into missionary discipleship at SEEK26, coming to Denver next year
By Dorian Arellano Senior Director of Parish Operations, FOCUS
I made my way to the front of the convention hall. The scent of incense filled the air, Gregorian chant stilled the atmosphere, and thousands of college students knelt in prayer on either side of me, preparing for the opening Mass.
I had attended Catholic conferences before, each benefiting my faith journey in some way. But as I stood before the altar on that stage, I thought to myself, “There is something different about this.”
This was my experience at SEEK 2013 in Orlando, Florida — and that initial sense proved true. During my junior year at SEEK, the Lord Jesus called me to dedicate my life to serving him and his Church. Had I not chosen to attend, I would have missed the invitation that he had in store for me. I found myself inspired, challenged, equipped and transformed by the speakers' talks. I encountered Jesus anew in Eucharistic Adoration. Though I had resisted encouragement to consider becoming a missionary, the Lord broke down my walls. Less than a year later, I accepted an offer to join FOCUS.
Twelve years later, SEEK has retained everything that made it great while continuing to evolve. Demand has grown so much that SEEK has expanded to multiple locations — including here in Denver, Colorado, home to FOCUS’ headquarters and some of our earliest campus programs.
SEEK has also extended its reach beyond college students to include post-collegiate adults of all ages. Year after year, the laity of the Church are renewed by witnessing young people encounter Jesus at SEEK. Seeing men and women in their most formative years come to faith reminds the rest of the Church that God’s grace and mercy are as active today as they were in the early Church.
Additionally, the Making Missionary Disciples track has become a cornerstone of the post-collegiate adult experience. This track offers diocesan and parish leaders a vision for evangelization rooted in the heart of the Church. Attendees receive ongoing formation to integrate faith into family life and deepen their participation in parish life. They also gain practical training in making disciples in everyday life — all at no additional cost and seamlessly integrated into the SEEK schedule.
During the final keynote of SEEK 2025 in Salt Lake City, Curtis Martin declared, “SEEK is not a conference; it is an iconic moment along a journey [of discipleship].” Those words resonated deeply within me. I committed to becoming a missionary disciple at SEEK 2013, and by God’s grace, I have remained one. Every year that I attend SEEK, the Lord renews my call to missionary discipleship — propelling me even further into his mission.
