Fellowship of Catholic University Students

Last updated
FOCUS Catholic
AbbreviationFOCUS
FormationJanuary 1998;26 years ago (1998-01)
Founders
  • Curtis Martin
  • Edward Sri
Type Non-governmental organization
PurposeCatholic outreach to American university students
Headquarters Denver, Colorado
Key people
  • Curtis Martin (CEO)
  • Craig Miller (President)
  • John Zimmer
  • John Flynn
  • Rev. Kevin Dyer, SJ
  • Drew Marsh
  • Dr. Edward Sri
  • Eileen Piper
  • David Bauer
Staff
1000+
Website www.focus.org

FOCUS is a Catholic outreach program for American college students founded in 1997 by Curtis Martin and Dr. Edward Sri at Benedictine College. [1]

Contents

Origin and purpose

FOCUS exists to evangelize. The mission statement of FOCUS is to "Know Christ Jesus and fulfill His great commission." How FOCUS does that is by sending missionaries to college campuses to encounter students and invite them into a lifelong relationship with Jesus. Many students experience profound healing as they give their life over to Jesus, and many join the work of evangelization that the entire world might be saved.

FOCUS established its pilot program in January 1998 at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, [2] with two staff members and 24 students. Curtis Martin discussed the mission of the organization with Pope John Paul II that same year. At the invitation of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, former archbishop of Denver, a FOCUS program was established in the fall of 1998 at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. The group is now headquartered outside of Denver.[ citation needed ]

FOCUS currently has over 500 full-time staff members. FOCUS takes recent college graduates, trains them in the teachings of the Catholic Church, Scripture and practical aspects of ministry, and sends them out typically in teams of four to serve on college campuses. FOCUS staff members make an initial two-year commitment to this full-time work on campus. FOCUS works with the approval of the local bishop and the support of the local pastor, as well as existing campus ministries. [3]

Operations

The greater part of FOCUS' work occurs in Bible studies, small groups that meet weekly to discuss a passage of Scripture, typically led by a missionary for the organization. The organization calls this small-group model "the method modeled by the master," [4] that is, it purports to base its modes of evangelization off of Jesus' actions in the gospels. FOCUS Bible studies are either all-male or all-female. Meetings generally follow formats and lesson plans distributed by the organization and available online. A Bible study leader will typically meet one-on-one with a couple of select members once a week outside of study sessions in what are called "discipleship" sessions. [5]

Missionaries are typically recent graduates who have some experience with the organization's Bible studies as undergraduates, who dedicate a year or two of service stationed on a campus with a FOCUS program. Missionaries, who make a living by fundraising salaries, undergo a five-week training program at the organization's Denver Support Center the summer prior to their assignments. [6]

Beginning in 1999, FOCUS began to host a series of alternating conferences. The larger of the two, SEEK, is largely educational and social in nature. The smaller, the Student Leadership Summit (SLS), was more directly aimed at training undergraduates and other young and ministerial professionals in the organization's methods. Both conferences feature high-profile speakers, exhibitors, and social events. The organization has hosted conferences since 1999. [7] In 2019, the last SLS was held, with SEEK becoming an annual conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the in person 2021 and 2022 nationwide conferences were cancelled, prompting some universities to join together at a common location to watch the livestreamed talks. In 2023, SEEK was held in person at The Dome at America's Center, where it will return for 2024 (instead of changing locations like past years).

The organization also hosts service trips and retreats scheduled to coincide with typical undergraduate term breaks.[ citation needed ]

Founder

Curtis Martin is the founder of FOCUS. Martin holds a master's degree in Theology and is the author of the best-selling book Made for More, and co-host of the EWTN show Crossing the Goal. In 2004, Curtis and his wife Michaelann were awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope John Paul II for their outstanding service to the Church. [8] In 2011, Curtis Martin was appointed as Consulter to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization by Pope Benedict XVI. [9] [10]

Current campuses

As of September 2021, FOCUS serves on 205 campuses with about 800 missionaries. [11] FOCUS is on campuses in 41 states, and they also have a presence at the University of Vienna in Austria, University of Southampton in England, Dublin, Ireland, and the University of Passau and the University of Dusseldorf in Germany.

Notable people

Michelle Duppong, a former FOCUS missionary who died of cancer in 2014, is under consideration for sainthood in the Catholic Church. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moody Bible Institute</span> Bible institute in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a private evangelical Christian Bible college in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Historically, MBI has maintained positions that have identified it as non-charismatic, dispensational, and generally Calvinistic. Today, MBI operates undergraduate programs and Moody Theological Seminary at the Chicago campus. The Seminary also operates a satellite campus in Plymouth, Michigan. Moody Aviation operates a flight school in Spokane, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cru (Christian organization)</span> Interdenominational Christian parachurch organization for college and university students

Cru is an interdenominational Christian parachurch organization. It was founded in 1951 at the University of California, Los Angeles by Bill Bright and Vonette Zachary Bright. Since then, Cru has expanded its focus to include adult professionals, athletes, and high school students. In 2020, Cru had 19,000 staff members in 190 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic University of America</span> Private university in Washington, D.C.

The Catholic University of America (CUA) is a private Catholic research university in Washington, D.C. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Established in 1887 as a graduate and research center following approval by Pope Leo XIII, the university began offering undergraduate education in 1904. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedictine College</span> Private liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas, U.S.

Benedictine College is a private Benedictine liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas, United States. It was established in 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women. It is located on bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, northwest of Kansas City, Missouri. Benedictine is one of a number of U.S. Benedictine colleges and is sponsored by St. Benedict's Abbey and Mount St. Scholastica Monastery. The abbey has a current population of 53 monks, while the Mount monastery numbers 147 community members. The college has built its core values around four "pillars" — Catholic, Benedictine, Liberal Arts, Residential — which support the Benedictine College mission to educate men and women in a community of faith and scholarship.

A Christian mission is an organized effort to carry on evangelism or other activities, such as educational or hospital work, in the name of the Christian faith. Missions involve sending individuals and groups across boundaries, most commonly geographical boundaries. Sometimes individuals are sent and are called missionaries, and historically may have been based in mission stations. When groups are sent, they are often called mission teams and they undertake mission trips. There are a few different kinds of mission trips: short-term, long-term, relational and those that simply help people in need. Some people choose to dedicate their whole lives to mission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EWTN</span> Catholic television network

The Eternal Word Television Network, more commonly known by its initials EWTN, is an American basic cable television network which presents around-the-clock Catholic-themed programming. It is not only the largest Catholic television network in America, but reportedly "the world's largest religious media network", reaching 425 million people in 160 countries, with 11 networks. It was founded by Mother Angelica, in 1980 and began broadcasting on August 15, 1981, from a garage studio at the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale, Alabama, which Mother Angelica founded in 1962. She hosted her own show, Mother Angelica Live, until health issues led to her retirement in September 2001. As of 2017, Michael P. Warsaw, who is a consultant to the Vatican's Dicastery for Communications, leads EWTN.

Great Commission Churches (GCC) is a fellowship of independent evangelical Christian churches. The Great Commission church movement began in the United States in 1970. Other associated organizations include Great Commission Ministries (GCM), Great Commission Latin America (GCLA), and Great Commission Europe (GCE). The movement has grown in size and scope through its focus on church planting in the United States and abroad. GCC is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals, and one or more organizations within the movement has continuously been a part of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Christian University</span> Christian university in Lakewood, Colorado

Colorado Christian University (CCU) is a private Christian university in Lakewood, Colorado. CCU was founded by Clifton Fowler in 1914 as the Denver Bible Institute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catholic Christian Outreach</span> Canadian Catholic missionary organization

Catholic Christian Outreach Canada (CCO) is a Catholic missionary organization that is present at several Canadian universities. It seeks to bring students into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, equip them to live in the fullness of the Catholic faith, and build them up as leaders in evangelization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Botswana</span> Christianity history of botswana

More than 70% of the population of Botswana is Christian. Most are members of the Anglican, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, and African independent churches. Anglicans are part of the Church of the Province of Central Africa. The Roman Catholic Church includes about 5% of the nation's population.

Catholic campus ministry is the practice of organizing and coordinating ministry or service of the Catholic Church on the campus of a school, college, or university. The activities of a Catholic campus ministry organization may entail the establishment of clubs, groups, and organizations, as well as the orchestration and execution of liturgies, retreats, or recollections. In addition, a Catholic campus ministry organization may conduct religion classes, workshops, or seminars. Some examples of Catholic campus ministry organizations include Newman Centers and the Catholic Student Association. Many Catholic campus ministry programs exist today because of the efforts of Cardinal Saint John Henry Newman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint John Vianney Seminary (Denver)</span> Catholic seminary in Denver

Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary is a Catholic seminary in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests. It is located at 1300 South Steele Street in the Cory-Merrill neighborhood of Denver, on the campus of the St. John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization. Founded in 1999, St. John Vianney is run by the Archdiocese of Denver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augustine Institute</span> American Catholic theology graduate school

The Augustine Institute (AI), located in Greenwood Village, Colorado, United States, is a private Catholic graduate theology school that offers master's degree programs. In addition, the Institute produces catechetical videos, records audio drama productions, publishes books, and distributes Catholic media materials. It is also the exclusive Catholic publisher of the ESV Catholic Edition Bible (ESV-CE) in North America. The Institute is currently in the process of creating a new Bible translation, the Catholic Standard Version (CSV).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesus Youth</span> Missionary movement at the service of the Church

Jesus Youth(JY) is an International Catholic Movement, approved by the Holy See.

The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas is a Catholic educational institution providing an international community and formation for lay ecclesial ministers and other lay students at the Pontifical Universities, Athenae, and Institutes in Rome, Italy. It is international in character and composition, and welcomes ecumenical students from other Christian churches and ecclesial communities, as well as those from non-Christian religions.

The new evangelization is the particular process by which baptized members of the Catholic Church express the general Christian call to evangelization.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Cavins</span> American biblical scholar

Jeff Cavins is an American Catholic evangelist, author, and biblical scholar.

The Servants of Christ Jesus is a Catholic private association of the faithful in the Ignatian and Franciscan traditions, following the formula of the Institute of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and based in Denver, Colorado.

Michelle Duppong was an American Catholic laywoman who served as the Director of Adult Faith Formation in the Diocese of Bismarck before dying of cancer at the age of 31. Previously, she worked as a campus minister with Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), a Catholic organization for college students, at various universities in the American Midwest. On November 1, 2022, the Diocese of Bismarck began the beatification process, calling her a Servant of God.

References

  1. Denver Post - Catholic group Curtis Martin leads the way on New Evangelization
  2. "FOCUS - Our Story". FOCUS. Retrieved 2017-03-13.
  3. "Fellowship of Catholic University Students Heads Back to Campus, Adding 16 New Schools", National Catholic Register, September 2, 2012.
  4. McKeown, Jonah (September 27, 2018). "Curtis Martin focused on 'Making Missionary Disciples'". Catholic News Agency/EWTN News. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  5. Senour, Jennifer (September 14, 2008). "Ministry keeps students focused on Jesus Christ". Our Sunday Visitor. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  6. "FOCUS Overview" (PDF). Fellowship of Catholic University Students. Fellowship of Catholic University Students. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  7. "Thousands of college students flock to Florida FOCUS conference". Catholic News Agency. January 6, 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  8. "FOCUS - Curtis Martin". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
  9. The Denver Post - Pope calls Denver's Curtis Martin to serve on evangelization council
  10. "Glatz, Carol. "Pope names two US Catholic evangelists to advise Vatican council", Catholic News Service, December 7, 2011". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved August 9, 2012.
  11. "Our Impact". FOCUS. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
  12. "U.S. Bishops Affirm Advancement of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Servant of God Michelle Duppong | USCCB". www.usccb.org. Retrieved 2023-10-25.