Faith conference for college students draws 500

February 15, 2022

About 500 college students from around the state gathered in Des Moines on a cold February weekend to step away from the busyness of life and step into a deeper relationship with God. 

They were among 22,000 college students from 20 countries taking part in Seek22, a conference specifically for young adults that was coordinated by Fellowship of Catholic University Students, also known as FOCUS. 

Students who attended enjoyed meeting other like-minded young adults while hearing nationally known speakers such as Father Josh Johnson and Father Mike Schmitz, of the well-known podcast “Bible in a Year.” 

“It was an amazing experience,” said Jessica Vedane, of St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale. “It’s a place where I really got to see Christ’s face, got to experience his love and communicate with people who think the same as me and love Jesus.”

A sense of community also drew Maddie Uhl, a student at Iowa State University who is originally from Nativity Parish in Sioux City.

“I think one of the coolest things is seeing the community of young Catholic students come together,” she said. “Especially in college, it can feel like there’s not too many of us around.”

She brought her boyfriend, Cody Goedken, also an ISU student from the St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. 
Father Johnson’s talk made Goedken think about how he talks to God, how he can be a better friend with God and talk with him more intimately.

As Laurel McGonegle, an Iowa State University student, looks toward graduation and the uncertainties that lie ahead, she wanted to be reminded of God’s plan for the future. The St. Mary of Nazareth parishioner said she was looking forward to hearing Father Schmitz. 

Abigail Barnes, who recently returned to the Catholic Church at Sacred Heart Parish in Maquoketa, said she truly enjoyed Mass.

“It’s just mind-blowing,” she said. “I’ve never seen Mass like that before, all that incense.”

Brendan Weed, a clinical psychology graduate student at the University of Northern Iowa, said he hadn’t been as involved in his faith as he’d like. 

“This was an opportunity to get away and take part in everything Catholic,” he said.

Des Moines Bishop William Joensen celebrated Mass at St. Ambrose Cathedral on Feb. 5 and hosted a breakout Q&A session on Feb. 6 for the students.

It was nice that Seek22 could be experienced in Iowa, said FOCUS missionary Sarah Fowle. 

“I just love the energy and the atmosphere of having all these Catholic young people together,” she said. “It makes it easier to be Catholic. Then you can go back out into the world and you can say ‘I know there are other people like me, who dance like me, who talk like me.’ Then, it makes it so much easier to bring that faith back to the college campus and live it every day.”