Local parishes hosting SEEK25 events on Jan. 2

Friday, Dec. 27, 2024

SALT LAKE CITY — From Logan to St. George, Tooele to Vernal, parishes throughout Utah will be gathering on Jan. 2 for fellowship and faith formation, courtesy of SEEK25.

The annual SEEK conference is presented by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). In 2025, the event will be Jan. 1-5 in Salt Lake City. Among the activities at the event will be nationally known speakers, workshops and breakout sessions. About 16,000 Catholics from across the United States are expected to attend.

For local Catholics who are not attending the event at the Salt Palace, many parishes are planning to host a gathering on Jan. 2. These gatherings will include a live online message from Bishop Oscar A. Solis and a livestream of the conference speaker that night, Father Mike Schmitz. Individual parishes may have other events such as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the rosary or the Sacrament of Confession.

“These gatherings will be a wonderful way to kick off the Jubilee Year in a faith-filled way,” said Father Christopher Gray, pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in Park City, who helped organize the parish gatherings. “Parishioners will be able to meet together, hear from our bishop and a popular Catholic speaker, and then have a chance to talk about what they heard. I hope all our parishioners take advantage of this opportunity.”

At press time, 17 parishes had confirmed that they are hosting a Jan. 2 event. A list follows. Other parishes may be planning an event; contact your parish for information. 

Local Catholics whose parish is not planning an event are welcome to attend the Cathedral of the Madeleine’s gathering, said Father Martin Diaz, the cathedral rector. “Our Thursday morning coffee group is excited to start our new year by hearing a great speaker, Fr. Mike Schmitz. I am sure there will be a lively discussion. We at the cathedral are the mother church of the diocese, and we welcome everyone to join us.”

To RSVP to the cathedral event, email Valerie Quintana, the cathedral’s administrative assistant, at vquintana@utcotm.org.

  The parishes that at press time had confirmed they are hosting a Jan. 2 event in conjunction with SEEK25 are

· Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake City

· Christ the King, Cedar City

· Notre Dame de Lourdes, Price

· Our Lady of Guadalupe, Salt Lake City

· St. Andrew, Riverton

· St. Christopher, Kanab

· St. George, St. George

· St. Henry, Brigham City

· St. James the Greater, Vernal

· St. John the Baptist, Draper

· St. Joseph, Ogden

· St. Marguerite, Tooele 

· St. Martin de Porres, Taylorsville

· St. Mary of the Assumption, Park City 

· St. Pius X, Moab

· St. Thomas Aquinas, Hyde Park

· St. Vincent de Paul, Cottonwood Heights

RSVP to the parish.