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SEEK23: You are Called (Jan 2-6, 2023)

What is SEEK23?

Each year over Christmas break, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) hosts a national conference called SEEK that brings together thousands of college students to hear from top Catholic speakers and spend time in prayer and fellowship, and Notre Dame Campus Ministry coordinates a group to attend!  SEEK23 will take place Jan 2-6, 2023 in St. Louis, MO.  SEEK is targeted at any college student at any level of faith engagement or practice, and encourages all to take the next step in faith.  SEEK Conferences are open to undergraduate and graduate students from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College, and Holy Cross College.

Who will be speaking?

Check out the SEEK23 website for the full roster of speakers.

Dates & Location:

Monday - Friday, Jan 2-6, 2023, in Saint Louis, Missouri.  SEEK23 will take place at the America’s Center Convention Complex.

Lodging:  

Lodging is not included in the cost of registration, but registrants will have the option to book a hotel room within FOCUS’s discounted housing block.  This puts the decision power in your hands to select your preferred hotel based on location, price point, amenities, etc. and also allows you to choose your own roommates.  After completing registration through the SEEK23 website, you will receive a housing portal link in your registration confirmation email where you can reserve a hotel room at the special conference rate.  You can also access this site here.  If you’re open to sharing a room with other students of the same gender from Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, or Holy Cross, join our SEEK23 – ND/SMC/HCC GroupMe to find roommates interested in sharing the cost of a room.  You are also welcome to book housing elsewhere, stay with family or friends in the area, etc., but please keep in mind that this may add additional transportation time / costs to your daily commute to / from the conference.

Transportation:  

Students who register for SEEK23 are responsible for arranging and funding their own transportation to / from St. Louis, which is undertaken at your own risk.

Costs:

For more information regarding registration costs, please visit the SEEK23 website.  Early-bird pricing for the conference is currently $349 for a non-FOCUS campus, which should last through Nov. 15 before prices increase.  Registration includes entrance to all conference breakouts, national speaker sessions, and top-rated entertainment, as well as lunch on the full conference days.  Lodging, transportation to / from St. Louis, and any incidental expenses are not included in the price.

What are the incidental expenses?

Besides lodging and transportation, other incidental expenses associated with the cost of conference attendance would include (but are not limited to) any parking fees, your other meals (outside of three lunches provided with SEEK23 registration), snacks, ground transportation to/from airport, etc.  Various Christian organizations / vendors will also have items for sale at SEEK23.

Fundraising

Attending SEEK comes with a significant price tag, but we are confident that attendance is possible for any student who possesses the will to make it happen. In previous years, conference participants have found it helpful to fundraise to help offset all or part of their costs associated with attending SEEK. Many students start by reaching out to those they know right here in the tri-campus community, including the centers, institutes, academic departments, or clubs with which they are already involved. Beyond those contacts, many then choose to reach out to family and friends back at home, especially people who might otherwise be unable to attend SEEK themselves but would thoroughly enjoy hearing about the experience from you afterwards. In a sense, some give by going, others go by giving. If you’re interested in learning more about fundraising ideas and methodology, please contact Brett Perkins at brett.perkins@nd.edu.

Is financial assistance available from Campus Ministry?

We hope to offer a limited number of financial assistance grants through Campus Ministry to help offset the cost of registration for SEEK23.  In the past, these grants have been in the neighborhood of $100-200, and we hope to have more information about this in early November.  You are welcome to go ahead and apply now by completing this short application form; the grant application deadline is Friday, November 15.  Those receiving a financial assistance grant from Campus Ministry will be notified by Thanksgiving and given a code to use when registering (or to update an existing registration), which will need to be applied by you to your SEEK23 account to obtain the benefit of the grant.  Financial assistance through Notre Dame Campus Ministry is available to Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s, and Holy Cross College students.

How do I register?

  1. Please register for SEEK23 using the SEEK23 website (https://seek.focus.org/).  To take advantage of any upcoming grants or discounts, we encourage you to pay only the required minimum down payment when you register.  Early bird pricing is available through Nov. 15, so consider submitting at least a down payment by then to secure better pricing.  Please be sure to take note of the cancellation policy and other FAQs before registering.
  2. During registration, if prompted to enter an Ambassador Group, please select the “Notre Dame / Saint Mary’s / Holy Cross” Ambassador Group.  This will allow you to take advantage of any group discounts that become available, if we hit a particular threshold of students who have registered.
  3. Follow the other registration prompts via the SEEK23 website (https://seek.focus.org/), including providing payment information.
  4. Follow the link in your SEEK23 registration confirmation email to make a reservation for housing.
  5. Join our SEEK23 – ND/SMC/HCC GroupMe to connect with others, find roommates, connect for carpools, and make plans for SEEK23!
  6. Email Brett Perkins (brett.perkins@nd.edu) to confirm that you are registered so you can be included on our tri-campus roster.

 

Contact

  • Brett Perkins, Assistant Director for Evangelization & Religious Education, brett.perkins@nd.edu +1 574-631-3250