Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

A very good news story, for those who might not be aware of the apostolate, is the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). FOCUS was begun by Curtis Martin in 1998 at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. It is an apostolate aimed at evangelizing university students on public and private university campuses. Martin followed the Campus Crusade for Christ model in developing his apostolate, with the difference that he has to his advantage the fullness of Catholic truth and the Sacraments. This is the amazing thing. FOCUS missionaries are college graduates, usually those who were served by missionaries while they were in school, who volunteer to give up at least two years to serving as missionaries. They are responsible for finding their own funding to support them during their time in the apostolate.

In less than a decade he has grown FOCUS to serving almost 20 universities. Martin does not intend to stop there. His goal is to reach every college campus and through reaching college students, to change the culture. A tall order.

I and my wife have personally met at least a dozen different missionaries. The first thing you notice is their maturity and their loving energy. They are also very selfless as a group. I met one young lady who gave up a slot in a very prestigious medical school to serve as a missionary. I have not yet met one of these young people with whom I was not impressed.

They have a very difficult task in trying to make in roads with the students but they do their job very well. I can tell you from first hand experience that this is a very effective apostolate in reaching and converting young students to a vibrant faith life. I can tell very quickly in my classes which students are involved with FOCUS. In fact, more and more Newman Centers and campus ministries across the US are starting to learn that the quickest and most effective way to get their ministries to take off is to invite FOCUS missionaries to come in.

The Diocese of Peoria in one that is sold on FOCUS. They now have four campuses with FOCUS missionaries and want more. Bishop Daniel Jenky is so impressed with them that last night he bestowed the Diocesan Spalding Award on Curtis Martin. At the Mass before the banquet, the Bishop mentioned that he would like four more FOCUS teams. FOCUS is also a very important tool in helping with religious and diocesan vocations.

College years are the time for discernment, and being involved with FOCUS gives students the opportunity that young women and men need. The only possibility of hearing a vocational prompting (I know, it’s redundant) is to understand it is something they need to be discerning and they need help in developing the spiritual maturity to overcome the noise of the secular world. FOCUS is very helpful in both matters.

Besides giving two years of their lives, as I mentioned, FOCUS missionaries have to find their own funds. Can you imagine such a proposition? Hi, what were you thinking of doing after you graduate? How about putting that on hold for a couple of years and trying to get college students out of the bars and into church? Oh yea, you will have to pay your own way for the privilege.

If you are interested in helping to change the culture, you ought to consider supporting FOCUS. You can even choose your own missionary to support. If you are interested (and able) in helping to make a difference, go here!