FOCUS Summer Projects

The strongest Leaders are formed in the off-season.

Summer Projects doesn’t just prepare you for next semester—it sets the trajectory for the next chapter of your life in Christ.

WHY SETTLE FOR A GOOD SUMMER WHEN YOU COULD HAVE A DEFINING ONE?

Summer Projects is unforgettable—not because of the location, but because it shapes who you are, how you lead, and what you believe God is calling you to.

Intensive Formation for Lifelong Catholic Mission

This 10-week formation and mentorship experience is designed to take your faith to a greater depth.

Partnering mainly with the hospitality industry, Summer Projects aims to give its participants the lifelong mission experience of working a nine-to-five while striving to live as a disciple of Christ.

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“Professional work is also an apostolate, an opportunity to give ourselves to others, to reveal Christ to them and lead them to God the Father.”

St. Josemaria Escriva

What to expect

Summer Projects is an opportunity to earn money, live in a vacation destination, make lifelong friends, and grow in your faith … all at the same time!

Growing in Faith

Encounter God through the sacraments, spiritual direction, and prayer.

Leadership

Strengthen your foundations as a Christian leader through a weekly speaker series, bible studies, retreats, and mentorship.

Community

Build authentic friendships to last for years to come!

Work Experience

Engage a full-time, 40 hours a week job while learn to live your faith in a real-world context.

“The formation I received this summer opened my eyes to the depth and beauty of the Church’s teaching, but it also led me to desire God with my heart after first being drawn to him with my mind.”

Sam Fulbright

Student, University of Idaho

Read Sam’s Story

“It was the most extraordinary, ordinary summer of my life. These months have contributed profoundly to the awakening of my soul and have truly hurled me into God’s own divine life.”

Brennan Garriques

Co-Founder, More Than Entertained

Here comes Summer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Any tips for the application?

We are looking for college students who desire to take the next steps in their personal relationship with God. The best thing you can do to increase your chances of acceptance is to apply early! Summer Projects is a competitive program, so the earlier you apply, the better! Outside of this, we are looking for students who are (1) excited about the faith and (2) humble enough to allow themselves to be formed by the program.

How much does the program cost?

The cost of the program varies between locations. The cost covers all formative and community elements of the program. Each participant will be offered a fundraising coach to assist in their efforts. This coach will help students through a time-tested fundraising strategy.

Dating Fast?

Summer Projects is a time for prayer and mission. We ask that you do not begin any new romantic relationships during the time you are serving at Summer Projects; if you are currently in a relationship, we ask that you make conscious efforts to be present to your brothers and sisters at Summer Projects. Practically speaking, we ask that you simply respect the boundaries of opposite-gender participants. Spending too much time with another participant will distract both of you from Summer Projects. If you find yourself spending an inordinate amount of time (in person, via phone, by text, etc.) with a single person of the opposite gender, you may consider giving each other a little more space and time with other students.

NOTE: None of these actions are, in themselves, bad or sinful! They can lead to confusion, attachment and heartbreak, which could make it difficult for you to give your summer entirely to God. While it may seem silly, avoiding these types of behaviors can help you guard your heart and those of your brothers and sisters. By the end of the summer, we would hope you could say, “I gave my entire summer to following the Lord and growing in intimacy solely with Him.”

Should I take a car this summer?

Personal transportation is highly encouraged. FOCUS will provide transportation to all official Summer Projects activities or stipends for those driving the group. You will have a fair amount of free time this summer, during which you may choose to drive to any of the local points of interest. So, though it isn’t required, having a car may include some perks.

Do I need to bring any money?

All Summer Projects programming is covered via fundraising efforts. You will not be required to spend any money for any Summer Projects programmed events. You may wish to bring some funds for extra-curricular fun and incidental costs, but these expenses should be minimal.

Days off/vacation?

A lot of people wonder about taking time off and vacation during the summer. Is this possible? Yes, but we encourage you to do it sparingly, and we discourage you from leaving for more than a week at any point in the summer. Further, every time you are gone you run the risk of missing important talks, events and general programming. You are responsible for arranging your own travel.

Host	Retreat Type	Start Date	End Date
Tulane University	Way of the Disciple	09/05/24	09/07/24
University of Nebraska Lincoln	The Sanctifier	09/13/24	09/15/24
Parish Outreach	The Father’s House	09/16/24	09/18/24
Kansas State University	The Father’s House	09/20/24	09/22/24
University of Delaware	Rec	09/20/24	09/22/24
University of South Carolina – Columbia	Rec	09/27/24	09/29/24
St. Francis University	The Father’s House	10/04/24	10/06/24
Nicholls State University	The Father’s House	10/04/24	10/06/24
Northwestern State University	The Father’s House	10/11/24	10/13/24
University of Memphis	The Father’s House	10/11/24	10/13/24
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville	The Father’s House	10/18/24	10/20/24
Ohio State University	The Father’s House	10/18/24	10/20/24
University of Dallas	The Sanctifier	10/24/24	10/26/24
Central Connecticut State University	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
Universidad de Monterrey	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
California State University – Fullerton	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
Sts. Anne and Joaquim, Fargo, ND	Way of the Disciple	11/01/24	11/03/24
University of Krems	Men’s	11/01/24	11/03/24
University of Mary	The Father’s House	11/08/24	11/10/24
DePauw University	Rec	11/08/24	11/10/24
Philanthropy Engagement	Way of the Disciple	11/15/24	11/17/24
University of Passau	Rec	11/21/24	11/23/24
Texas A&M University	The Sanctifier	02/07/25	02/09/25
FOCUS Greek Southeast	The Father’s House	02/14/25	02/16/25
FOCUS Greek Midwest	The Father’s House	02/14/25	02/16/25
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	The Sanctifier	02/14/25	02/16/25
FOCUS Greek Southwest	The Father’s House	02/21/25	02/23/25
Wayne State University	The Father’s House	02/21/25	02/23/25
University of Illinois-Chicago	The Sanctifier	02/21/25	02/23/25
Queens College of the City University of New York	The Father’s House	03/07/25	03/09/25
Nicholls State University	Way of the Disciple	03/07/25	03/09/25
Grand Valley State University	The Father’s House	03/28/25	03/30/25
University of Northern Iowa	Way of the Disciple	04/03/25	04/05/25
University of Nebraska Lincoln	The Father’s House	04/04/25	04/06/25
Arizona State University	Men’s	02/07/25	02/09/25
University of Nebraska at Kearney	Rec	09/27/24	09/29/24