Experience - Seek ( April 2026 )

Experience

Title: Seeking and Finding

Intro

Having attended the January 1st to 5th conference, Kevin Pullorkunnel shares how it has impacted his life.

Article

Walking into SEEK for the first time was overwhelming in the best way possible. Young Catholics from across the country, all gathered with a shared desire to deepen their faith. At first, what struck me most was the scale of it all: the crowds, the constant movement, the sheer number of people. After a while, the massiveness began to feel almost ordinary.

That sense of familiarity quickly gave way to awe when I witnessed the priestly procession for each of the daily Holy Masses. Seeing priest after priest enter (men from different cultures, backgrounds, and parts of the world) was deeply moving. The procession itself often lasted a good fifteen minutes, which meant that even if we arrived five minutes late, we somehow still managed not to miss the beginning of Mass. Each priest wore vestments reflecting their heritage, yet all were united in the same reverence and mission. In that moment, the universality of the Church stopped being an idea and became something visible and real. It was then that I began to understand that SEEK was not simply a conference, but a living witness to a Church that is alive and still boldly proclaiming Christ. This led me to reflect more deeply on what SEEK truly is and why so many people are drawn to it. 

SEEK is an annual Catholic conference organised by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). While it is primarily centred on campus ministry, SEEK has grown into a gathering that welcomes young Catholics of many backgrounds. SEEK 26, hosted in Columbus, Ohio, welcomed nearly 17,000 attendees from across the United States. I went with a group of around 12 people from the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Chicago.

Traditionally, the conference brings together college students, FOCUS missionaries assigned to campuses, and the priests who serve those communities. Over time, it has also become a space for young professionals and others discerning their vocation to gather and grow together. Despite this growth, the mission of SEEK has remained consistent: forming disciples who are willing to live their faith intentionally and bring Christ into their everyday environments, especially on college campuses. Understanding this purpose helped frame everything I experienced during the conference, particularly the message that surfaced again and again throughout the sessions I attended.

Throughout SEEK, one theme consistently emerged: evangelisation. Whether addressed directly or woven subtly into talks, the call to share Christ was unmistakable. SEEK did not present evangelisation as something reserved for experts or missionaries alone, but as a natural response to encountering Jesus. This call felt especially personal when Pope Leo offered his blessing to the conference on the first evening. He encouraged us not to be afraid to ask God what He is calling us to do. That invitation lingered, and I found myself asking God of what He wanted of me.

As the conference unfolded, this question became more pressing. I began to feel a growing desire to evangelise more intentionally within my own parish and community. SEEK helped me see that evangelisation does not always begin in distant places; it often starts close to home, through presence, courage, and faithfulness in ordinary circumstances. That interior shift opened me up to receiving several moments of grace that shaped the rest of the conference for me. 

One of the most impactful moments came during a session led by Natalie Garza, who spoke about heaven not as an abstract concept, but as a real destination. She made a striking comparison: a Christian who does not reflect on heaven is like an athlete who does not know what they are training for. That image immediately resonated with me. We were invited to reflect on the most beautiful place we had experienced on earth. For me, it was a hiking trail in Kentucky with a quiet lake surrounded by stillness. I remembered reflecting on that image once, experiencing a deep and unexpected peace, free from worry or distraction. I realised that this image had already shaped how I imagined heaven, with peace entering before being fully welcomed into eternal life with Christ. That reflection reignited my desire for heaven and clarified why evangelisation matters. If heaven is real and beautiful, then bringing others closer to Christ is not optional, it is an act of love. 

This renewed desire naturally led me to examine what might be holding me back from fully trusting God with my life, which deepened during the sacrament of confession and a conversation with the priest afterward. After hearing my confession, he spoke to me about detachment, pointing to Christ's death on the cross with His arms open, holding nothing back. He explained that I, too, am called to live with open arms toward God’s will – willing to surrender comfort, control, and certainty, even when change feels uncomfortable or frightening. His words challenged me to reflect on where fear might be limiting my openness to God’s plan. 

The encounter with Christ in the confessional helped me see detachment not as loss, but as freedom. It revealed that holiness often requires surrender, and that true peace comes not from control, but from trust. This realisation prepared my heart for one of the most practical lessons in evangelisation I received during the conference. 

One talk I nearly skipped turned out to be my favourite. Mallory Smyth spoke about accompaniment in a way that was both simple and deeply challenging. I attended only because a friend encouraged me to join, unaware that it would leave such a lasting impression. She spoke about the importance of finding a ‘Philip’ in your life – a mentor who walks with you in faith – and then becoming that person for someone else. She shared how she began evangelising in her parish by simply asking people if they wanted to start a Bible study. Later, she took an even simpler approach: inviting others to accompany her in everyday tasks, like grocery shopping. This approach resonated with me because it removed pressure and replaced it with a relationship. It showed me that evangelisation does not require elaborate plans or perfect words, but availability, intentionality, and a willingness to walk with others – something that is  very attainable. 

As SEEK came to an end, these moments began to form a clear conviction within me. I felt called to evangelise in this next stage of my life – not only to those who have never encountered Christ, but also to those who once knew Him and have since gone another direction. SEEK helped me trust God's plan for my life, without the need to have everything figured out. One of the greatest gifts I came to recognise more clearly was my ability to be present with others. Through Jesus Youth, accompaniment has been central to my formation, and during SEEK, I saw how powerful that gift can be. I feel called to pass it on, even to those who may seem difficult to reach, helping them encounter both Christ and the wider Church through genuine relationships. This conviction also took concrete form. During SEEK, I committed to praying the Rosary every night before bed, starting on January 1st. No matter how tired I was, I made it a priority, offering each decade for a specific person or intention. This simple habit reminded me that holiness is built through daily faithfulness, not perfection.

Looking back, SEEK 26 reshaped how I see the Church. What I encountered was not a disengaged or declining community, but a vibrant body of believers eager to live their faith and share it with others. SEEK renewed my hope that evangelisation is not only possible, but already happening – led by ordinary people willing to say yes. For me, SEEK was more than a conference. It was a reminder that the Church is alive, united, and still being sent out into the world. With open hearts and the courage to ask God what He is calling us to do, we can take part in that mission and help bring others closer to Christ.

Author profile

Kevin Pullorkunnel is a cybersecurity analyst specialising in healthcare IT. An active member of his local Syro-Malabar parish and of the Jesus Youth movement, he supports initiatives that strengthen faith and community. Through both his professional and ministry involvement, he is passionate about using his skills to serve others and build meaningful connections.