Paulist Fathers at SEEK24
The thousands of college-age pilgrims who made their way through SEEK24’s Mission Way had similar enthusiastic reactions while visiting the Paulist Fathers booth.
“Is that a comic book? That is so cool!”
“Are you playing Mario Kart? I want to give it a shot!”
The Paulist Fathers Office of Vocations, with copies of the popular Isaac Hecker comic book, and Busted Halo, with Fr. Evan Cummings, CSP, hosting video game challenges, greeted a constant crowd of visitors to the booth during the conference. It was held in St. Louis, Missouri, from January 1 to 5, 2024, at the America's Center Convention Complex.
Attendance at SEEK24 was estimated at over 20,000 young adults, in addition to priests, seminarians and a great variety of religious orders for both men and women.
“The annual SEEK conference sponsored by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) is always an enthusiastic boost to being Catholic on a college campus,” said Paulist Fathers Vocations Director Fr. Ed Nowak, CSP.
“Through the variety of speakers on various topics pertaining to faith on campus, daily Mass with over 20,000 participants, Eucharistic Adoration, and ongoing opportunities for celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, the participants witness to each other the dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit in our Catholic Faith,” he said.
Fr. Ed described the importance of having a Paulist presence at SEEK24 and sharing with visitors the charism, mission, and vision of the Paulist Fathers.
“Having our Paulist booth in the midst of over a hundred other booths in Mission Way provided a wonderful opportunity to share our Paulist mission with the enthusiastic college students,” Fr. Ed said. “The students were often amazed at the variety of religious communities that many had not previously heard of before.”
Servant of God Fr. Isaac Hecker’s vision to evangelize using the tools of the modern age was in clear display – and very well received – at SEEK24.
The Mario Kart challenge with Fr. Evan was a huge success to draw in many visitors for some fun and fellowship.
Fr. Evan, associate director of Busted Halo, has a video game ministry called, “Let Us Play.” He streams every week on Twitch at twitch.tv/frevancsp, where he explores the spiritual elements of video games.
The Isaac Hecker comic book was so popular that all copies ran out by the third day.
“Our Isaac Hecker comic book, ‘Origin story of the Paulist Fathers’ banner, attracted people's attention as did the comic book itself,” Fr. Ed said.
“Fr. Evan's online gaming with Mario Brothers racing on the video screen was a big attraction, as well. Students and others challenged Fr. Evan to win the race and receive a coveted prize from our booth of either Busted Halo sunglasses, frisbees, or Isaac Hecker socks. The Paulist Fathers chip clips and bags were also a big hit.”
Fr. Rich Whitney, CSP, Associate Pastor at St. John XXIII University Parish in Knoxville, Tennessee, also attended the conference with a group of students.
“SEEK brings into my life the Spirit with the economy of scale. We had 20,000 college students all around us for a week. Everyone is moving in an unfamiliar milieu, all sleep deprived, and all looking to connect spiritually to the same thing,” he said.
“What could be a complete mess turns into an uplifting experience, as we have a whole week where we can practice seeing God in each and every person that we meet,” Fr. Rich said. “This reinvigoration of faith, like what the Paulists do with parish missions, is important because it's too easy to get used to spiritual healthiness and forget how wonderful the moment is when our spirit is lifted.”
Paulist seminarian Zach Turner was also on hand to greet visitors.
“Meeting with people at our booth, seeing so many stop by to play video games with Fr. Evan and to inquire about our community was great and a very joyful and inspiring experience,” he said. “I was also deeply moved by how many people went in line to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Watching the massive procession of people, peacefully and silently making their way to the priests gave me a sense of comfort and hope.”
Zach was also moved by the many special spiritual moments that happened throughout SEEK24.
“Joining 20,000 young people in Adoration, watching as the priest carried Jesus through the crowd, was profoundly moving. One person, only a few feet away from me, broke down and started making a profession of faith in Jesus. It was clear to me that hearts had been touched that night. Just as Jesus made his way through the crowds 2,000 years ago, healing them all of their afflictions and diseases, so now in that arena, Jesus made his way through that crowd of college students, once again extending his compassionate healing to them all.”
Fr. Ed was encouraged by the many conservations he had with visitors to the Paulist booth.
“Hopefully, students took away from their SEEK experience a greater appreciation of the many ways they could share their faith with others,” he said. “Personally, it is always a boost to see the faith alive and well on campuses across the country.”
If you are interested in discerning a Paulist Fathers vocation or know someone who would make a great Paulist priest, please contact Fr. Ed at vocations@paulist.org or at (917) 763-7899.
You can learn more about Fr. Isaac Hecker and the many ministries of the Paulist Fathers at www.paulist.org.
