We started off the New Year in St. Louis, Missouri! We were selected as National delegates for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for SEEK 2024, a Catholic conference for college students hosted by an organization called FOCUS. The event took place at the America’s Center in St. Louis, MO. We were so grateful to have received a full scholarship from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul National Council to represent SVDP St. John’s University Conference.

During the conference, we were able to attend workshops and keynotes, as well as helped at the SVDP booth. We were blessed with this unique experience of sharing our faith with over 20,000 people. During our time there, we connected with the CEO of the SVDP National Council and many other representatives from all over the country. During the conference, we hosted a clothing drive entitled, “Pack for the Poor.”  The clothes we collected help families in need. On Tuesday of the Conference, SVDP hosted a workshop with over 700 participants. We talked about SVDP, incorporated a poverty simulation, and shared about the gift of grace. At the SVDP booth we met many new people, had discussions about SVDP, and encouraged them to enter to win prizes from our sock-toss game. This event was an awesome way for us to raise awareness of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and allowed people to contribute to our cause. Sharing this incredible experience with so many people was indeed a gift.

One of the experiences that changed us at this conference was Adoration. This moment was shared with thousands inside the old football stadium where the St. Louis Rams formerly played. Sarah and I are used to Adoration being an intimate and quiet experience, however, this Adoration was quite the contrary. Even though the stadium was filled with thousands of people, it was utterly silent. A procession of priests walked up and down the entire stadium’s rows, ensuring everyone got a good view of the monstrance. Sharing this once-in-a-lifetime experience with so many people was indeed a gift.

Source: Young Vincentian’s Winter Newsletter