Alumni and Friends Making an Impact

By Jacob Mantle ’23

Comfort and joy.

These were the words that resonated with senior health science major Maria Przybyla ’24 as she rang in 2024 at the SEEK Conference held in St. Louis Jan. 1-5.

The conference provided an opportunity to encounter the Gospel anew and leave equipped and encouraged for a life of faith in Christ to over 14,000 students and nearly 20,000 total attendees.

Przybyla, who is a Bible study leader and member of Catholic Life and Flyers for Life, went to the conference with 33 other students registered through Catholic Life and UD’s Campus Ministry. She learned about the conference last year, although she did not attend.

“I was praying when my faith was really low last year, and God told me, ‘Seek Me out,’” Przybyla said.

But this year, a member of her Bible study and other friends and neighbors encouraged her to attend the “life-changing experience,” so she signed up.

“I needed this to grow my faith,” the senior said. “I am leaving college after this, and this was my last chance to experience community together in what everyone’s calling a life-changing experience.”

The weeklong conference included daily Mass, prayer, adoration, keynote speakers, breakout groups, reflection and opportunities to learn about religious vocations through missionary work, further education or seminary life.

“It was such a beautiful thing to be with others who love Christ, and who want to grow deeper in faith, especially at a more mature level,” Przybyla shared.

Przybyla said she was especially inspired by Monsignor James Shea, a keynote speaker at the conference, who preached about living this life with joy. 

“SEEK allowed me to carry this spirit with me now, going back to campus,” she said. “I’m friends with all of the new people I met and my old friendships have skyrocketed just from being with everyone for five days.” 

The trip was made possible because of UD’s Marianist connection to St. Louis, where the United States Marianist Province is headquartered, and additional funding obtained through Flyer Funder, UD’s crowdsourcing fundraiser platform.

“We really value the Marianist connection with our Catholic Life students and ability to provide this conference as a ministry opportunity,” said Jessica Wallace, a UD campus minister. 

It’s the second consecutive year that Catholic Life and Campus Ministry have partnered and used Flyer Funder to send students to the conference.

“We really looked at Flyer Funder as a way to help subsidize the conference fee for students so that they weren't having to pay all of that on their own,” Wallace said.

“There’s not a better way to start a year than with Christ and people who love Christ in that community. It’s priceless,” Przybyla said. “It’s gonna set you up for the rest of the year.”