Grant Impact Story
Busy Catholic college students, whether they attend a Catholic school or not, rarely have opportunities to completely step away from the world and focus on spiritual growth and their faith. The annual SEEK Conference is one such opportunity, but the financial barrier to attend can deter many from participating. Christian Cappello, Team Director of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students at PennWest Edinboro, worked with Father Mark Hoffman at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Edinboro to apply for a grant from the Catholic Foundation to offset some of the costs so more students would be able to attend.
“We hope to make the trip more accessible for each and every student by using the grant to pay for transportation and housing,” Christian wrote in his grant application. “Costs are a big roadblock for many students in the diocese, and we hope to remove this challenge so that each student can have an opportunity to attend the conference.”
He had seen how the conference impacted students in previous years and wanted as many as possible to have the same experience. “We have seen countless families and campuses impacted by the students who return from this conference ready to set the world on fire. The students will have the opportunity to go to daily Mass and confession throughout the week along with Adoration, truly encountering Christ in a personal way. There are also many opportunities for vocational discernment.”
The Catholic Foundation awarded an Education grant to Our Lady of the Lake Parish to financially assist college students from the diocese who wanted to attend SEEK. 50 students were able to participate in the conference, and personal testimonies and their actions upon returning to school showed how much of a success it was.
“Many students were inspired to return back to adoration for the first time in a long time,” Christian shared in his grant report. “Seven students attended a bible study bootcamp to train them to lead bible studies for their fellow classmates. A handful of students have even been attending daily Mass.”
One of the students, Audrey Mezser, shared, “Going to SEEK for the first time was a wonderful experience for me! I left Washington D.C. feeling grateful that I’m Catholic.” Another student, Gina Cappello, said the conference was a life-changing experience. “Hearing so many incredible testimonies and talks have taught me how I can grow in a closer relationship with God. Being able to experience the Eucharist and adoration in such a wonderful environment has shown me how powerful God can truly be.”
On behalf of all the students, Christian wrote in gratitude, “Thank you so much for your generosity and openness towards investing in the college students of the Diocese of Erie. This experience was extremely impactful for those who attended. By removing the financial barrier for these students, they were able to say yes to attending the conference, and encountered Christ in the talks, sacraments, and fellowship. Doing ministry on college campuses can be tough in our society, and allowing the students to have a transformative experience like this has tremendously helped them grow in their faith. Thank you for this opportunity!”
“Thank you so much for your generosity and openness towards investing in the college students of the Diocese of Erie. By removing the financial barrier for these students, they were able to say yes to attending the conference, and encountered Christ in the talks, sacraments, and fellowship.”