Catholic conference SEEK 2026 draws record 26,000 attendees nationwide
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
At least 26,000 people from multiple regions attended the annual Catholic conference for young people, and church leaders said the large turnout demonstrated the continuing vitality of the Catholic Church.
“SEEK 2026 set an attendance record this year, drawing more than 26,000 attendees in three U.S. cities, a 24% increase over last year,” said author, theologian, and Catholic convert Scott Hahn. sunday mail on Facebook.
theme The main theme of the 2026 conference will be St. Paul, a recently canonized saint who was an avid mountain climber and patron of young adults and athletes. It was “To the Hills”, a favorite phrase of Pier Giorgio Frassati.
EXPERT, CHARLIE KIRK, COLLEGE ASSOCIATION PROMOTES RENEWAL OF FAITH, INSPIRES GENERATION Z PRAYER PARTIES
At least 26,000 people from multiple regions attended the annual Catholic conference for young people, and church leaders said the large turnout demonstrated the continuing vitality of the Catholic Church. (Getty Images)
SEEK is a project of FOCUS, an international Catholic outreach organization with a presence on more than 200 university campuses and more than 20 church communities.
A total of 11,744 students from FOCUS-affiliated campuses enrolled this year, a 9% increase over last year, and an additional 2,752 students came from non-FOCUS-affiliated campuses, a 64% increase over last year, Hahn said in his post.
Hahn said Columbus, Ohio, drew the largest crowds with more than 16,100 registered attendees, followed by Fort Worth with 5,907 and Denver with 4,503.
58 Catholic bishops participated in SEEK, the largest number in the event’s history; In 2025 there were 46 bishops.
FAITH REVIVAL IS GROWING AFTER CHARLIE KIRK’S DEATH AS MORE PEOPLE ATTEND SERVICES AND READ SCRIPTURES
SEEK is a project of FOCUS, an international Catholic outreach organization with a presence on more than 200 university campuses and more than 20 church communities. (boonchai wedmakawad via Getty Images)
Hahn credited Bishop Earl Fernandes of the Diocese of Columbus with saying he “played a key role in bringing SEEK to Ohio,” and quoted the bishop as saying the size and energy of the conference indicated renewed vitality in the Church.
“Sometimes the story is that the church is old and the pews are empty,” Fernandes said. “The Catholic population in our diocese has doubled in the last three and a half years and is getting younger. We have a lot of young adults who are burning with the faith, and there’s a lot going on.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to FOCUS and Fernandes for comment.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Author, theologian, and Catholic convert Scott Hahn said in his post that a total of 11,744 students from FOCUS-affiliated campuses enrolled this year, a 9% increase over last year, and an additional 2,752 students came from non-FOCUS-affiliated campuses, a 64% increase over last year. (on iStock)
