Fr. Kevin – Page 14 – Saint Anne Catholic Church

SEEK Young Adult Conference Reflection

Last week we wrote about the four young adults who attended the SEEK Young Adult Conference
in Salt Lake City earlier this month. Here is a reflection by Cristina Leon on her experience.
When I arrived at the SEEK conference, I felt nervous and unsure. My relationship with God wasn’t where I
wanted it to be, and being surrounded by so many devoted Catholics left me feeling intimidated and
overwhelmed. It wasn’t that people weren’t welcoming, but deep down, I carried a sense of not belonging. I
had unconsciously distanced myself from God for so long, and the shame of that separation weighed heavily
on me. Fr. Mike Schmitz’s words that evening stuck with me “shame often pushes us further from God.”
My schedule was filled with impactful sessions, but I couldn’t shake the
nagging doubt: were these the sessions God wanted me to attend? That
uncertainty lingered until I accidentally walked into the wrong session.
Too embarrassed to leave, I stayed and that’s when Sister Josephine
walked out to speak. She spoke about allowing Jesus to restore our
hearts, and in that moment, I knew I was exactly where God wanted me
to be. Sr. Josephine is a mental health counselor, which immediately
caught my attention because I’m studying to become one too. She prayed for us to hear God’s voice amidst all
the options, sessions, and opportunities SEEK offered, and to find His path for us. Her words resonated deeply,
and I felt a sense of peace and clarity. This was my moment of encounter.
Seek Conference
Several of Sr. Josephine’s insights stayed with me. She spoke about the importance of understanding our
hearts, how we were made, and what we were made for, before taking Jesus’ hand into the wilderness of our
hearts. Her words prompted me to reflect on my own heart, how it shapes my relationships with others and
with God. She reminded us that we were created out of the love shared between the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Spirit. Which led me to ask myself “am I living like I was created with love, for love, and to be loved?” It’s
easy to get lost in what society tells us we need, chasing material things in search of belonging. Sr. Josephine
captured this struggle perfectly: “Sometimes we live like orphans. We run around the world and culture
looking for a place to belong, to fit in, and to feel connected. But Jesus has already accomplished this for us.
Through the sacramental life of the Church, we are literally minted into His flesh in baptism and sink deeper
into that reality through the other sacraments in the life of the church.”
Later, I attended another impactful session about the saints and their suffering. What touched me most was
the reminder that we all betray Jesus, yet He still chose to die for us. That profound love left me feeling deeply
cherished. “Pick up your cross. Your testimony may be the answer to someone else’s prayer.” This was a
powerful call to reflect on my own vocation and the unique story God has written for me. Like the saints who
carried their crosses, we are invited to follow Him in faith and love. My experience at SEEK, guided by
Sr. Josephine and the inspiring words of Fr. Mike Schmitz, brought me closer to God. It reminded me of His
unwavering love and helped me reflect on my heart, my vocation, and the beauty of my Catholic faith. SEEK
rekindled my desire to live as someone created with love, for love, and to be loved, and it set my heart on fire
to pursue the path God is calling me to.

Seeking Joy

The best word to describe our journey to the SEEK Conference would be stress.

We had four young adults who attended the SEEK Young Adult Conference in Salt Lake City earlier this month. This is the first of several reflections Jose wrote that will allow us to share in their experiences at the gathering.

The best word to describe our journey to the SEEK Conference would be stress. Running on very little sleep, feeling air sick,
tired, hungry, getting checked into our rooms and hurrying to get to the welcome Mass on time all contributed. It didn’t take long, however, for that stress to be replaced by joy.
Arriving at the main area where the keynote talks and Mass would take place, we encountered 17,000 joyful attendees participating in a time of praise and
worship before the first talk. After the stress of our trip, the sight of thousands of people jumping, singing, and crowd surfing was overwhelming.
Seek Conference I realized in that moment that this is what we all are searching for. This is what every human heart seeks. Every person is seeking joy in their life, a joy that makes us dance and sing, a joy that comes from knowing you are loved. This is a joy that only comes from Jesus.
The first keynote speakers reminded us that God loves and desires to be in a relationship with each one of us. We are not created to be alone, nor do we have to go through life alone. God is always with us and is constantly seeking our hearts. The only problem is that we must allow him to enter our hearts. God is a gentleman. He will never force us to be in a relationship with him. He respects our freedom so much that he allows us to freely choose Him.
The reality is we often don’t choose God. We try to fill the void of our hearts with temporary pleasures and joy that the world offers. This will never satisfy our restless hearts. It is a hole that only God can fill and satisfy.

This is what the SEEK Conference is – seeking the heart of Jesus because we all recognize that God is the only person who can satisfy our restless hearts. It is knowing the joy of the Gospel, that we are loved and desired by God the Father.
So, now I ask you…Do you know that God loves you? That He desires to be in a relationship with you?
Jose Zamora, parishioner and Young Adult group facilitator