I am extremely excited to be serving at the University of Pittsburgh this year!

My team from left to right: Gemma and Jules (wife and daughter of my team director), Dan (team director), Kyleigh, Ava Clare, Maddy, and Lilly (not pictured)!

Thanks be to God, I was raised in a Catholic family! I grew up going to Mass every Saturday evening with my mom and siblings and loved helping out around the Church.

During my junior year of high school, COVID temporarily closed my Catholic church, and through an invitation I began going to a non-denominational church. It was there that I came to know that Jesus wanted to become my best friend, and I grew in great friendship with Him. I not only grew in great friendship with the Lord but also started to find authentic friendships.

When I arrived at Drexel, I was still wrestling with my faith. Throughout my freshman year, I attended Sunday Mass at The Newman Center because I knew the Mass obligation had been reinstated. However, I said no to other invitations and events because I hadn’t found the authentic friendship I had found at the non-denominational church yet.

Later that spring, because of my involvement with the Drexel Basketball team, I was invited by one of the FOCUS missionaries at The Newman Center to join their athlete group, a small group for athletes at Penn and Drexel to come together for fellowship and formation. From there, I went on the Drexel spring retreat and was faced with making a decision about how I wanted to live my life during college: a life oriented toward pursuing Heaven through Jesus Christ, or one walking down the wrong pathway and bringing others down with me. Following this retreat, I began pursuing authentic friendships and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, which ultimately led me to living out the fullness of my incredible Catholic faith.

The Newman Center is where I learned that I am God’s beloved son and how great His love is for me and each of His children. That’s why I became a FOCUS missionary, to help others know they are the beloved too and fulfill the great commission.

When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I decided to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to join me on this mission. Your support will allow me to cover my cost of living so that I can freely serve the students (especially the young men) at Pitt. Along with my cost of living, you will support all my bible study and mission efforts such as mission trips, retreats, conferences, meals/coffees with students, events, and anything else that provides for an encounter with Jesus Christ!