The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), an international Catholic outreach organization, will host its annual SEEK conference in Columbus in January. The conference will be held Jan. 1 to 5 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.
SEEK26 is set to draw thousands of individuals from across the country. The five-day event will offer an encounter with Christ, transformation and community.
The conference is designed to inspire and equip people from various walks of life to grow in faith, deepen their relationship with Christ and be empowered to share the Gospel. The event attracts thousands of attendees annually: students, young adults, families, parishioners and church leaders.
Registration for the conference is currently open. Individuals interested in attending can sign up online at seek.focus.org/registration.
The 2026 conference theme, “To the Heights,” is inspired by recently-canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925). He urged young people to pursue holiness, service and a life fully alive in Christ.
“It will be a tremendous opportunity for our young people to encounter Christ and other young people from around the country,” Bishop Earl Fernandes said of the upcoming SEEK conference.
“It is another sign of the commitment of the Diocese of Columbus to college students, young adults and their families. Together, we will proclaim the joy of the Gospel.”
The conference will create a space for personal and communal transformation through talks, fellowship and entertainment. It provides tools for living the faith and building lasting Christ-centered relationships.
SEEK26 will include keynote talks, faith-filled workshops, daily Mass, worship and opportunities for confession and Adoration.
Additional locations for the 2026 conference include Denver and Fort Worth, Texas.
A lineup of speakers is set for the Columbus conference.
Speakers include Father Mike Schmitz, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota, and host of the “Bible in a Year” podcast; Sister Maris Stella, vicar general of the Sisters of Life religious order in New York; Emily Wilson, a speaker, YouTuber and author; and Dr. Scott Hahn, founder and president of the St. Paul Center apostolate.
FOCUS, founded by Curtis Martin in 1998 at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, serves more than 200 college campuses and 20 parish communities, including Ohio State University in Columbus and Ohio Northern University in Ada. The apostolate offers Bible studies, mentorship, mission trips, conferences and partnerships with priests, bishops and parishes.
FOCUS missionaries journey with students and parishioners in faith. They inspire and equip them for Christ-centered evangelization and discipleship.
More than 1,000 individuals have entered seminary or a religious order after connecting with a missionary on a college campus.