Catholic conference held in Utah for the first time
Jan 2, 2025, 8:15 PM | Updated: 8:17 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — One of the largest gatherings of Catholics in the world is being held in Salt Lake City for the first time.
This is a historic event for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City as they welcome attendees to the annual conference.
“It’s such a beautiful place to be together with fellow believers, to see the young people, to see the church alive, to see faith alive,” said Sister Benedicta Duna, who traveled from Indiana.
Organizers said SEEK, as the conference is known, is one of the largest gatherings of Catholics in the world, with more than 17,000 attendees registered this year. Walking down the booths in the “Mission Way” area, visitors have the opportunity to meet and interact with sisters and priests from several orders.
“It’s kind of like a microcosm of the Catholic Church. We have bishops, priests, deacons, brothers and sisters, religious, nuns, families, and single people. We have 250 apostolates from around the world all gathered right here at the Salt Palace,” said Jake Leins, Senior Director of Conference for Focus, the conference’s sponsoring organization.
A Catholic nun taking a photo with another attendee at SEEK. (KSL TV)
Focus is a Catholic organization whose mission is to strengthen the faith of Catholics worldwide.
The conference started on New Year’s Day. It began with a special mass celebrated by The Most Reverend Oscar Solis, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. It included the participation of more than 46 Catholic Bishops.
“It’s so powerful and beautiful to be together and to be rekindled in my own faith when I see so many people who are in love with Jesus,” Sister Duna said.
It’s a feeling echoed by college freshman Luke Hardy from Nebraska. The majority of conferencegoers are college-aged adults.
“I’ve been in crowds before where there’s been a large amount of people but never in a place where it’s been all Catholics to the points where even seeing it it’s hard to believe,” Hardy said.
According to Leins, Salt Lake City was chosen as this year’s location because of its strong relationship with the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City and its enthusiasm for hosting the event.
“The Diocese of Salt Lake has been extremely welcoming,” Leins said.
Maria Villar, a resident of Park City and active member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Park City, said the experience is not one she will soon forget.
“It’s such a blessing. I mean this is my first time in the conference because it’s host right now in Utah where I live,” Villar said.
The Conference will end on Sunday. For more information, you can visit the Focus’s website.
