We encounter God in an intimate relationship through daily prayer, the sacraments and the Scriptures.
Hi! My name is Ben, and I’m a FOCUS missionary at the University of Pittsburgh.
I am beyond blessed that God has called me to serve college students at the University of Pittsburgh. It is such a joy to get to share in this mission with you!
^ my team and I at New Staff Training in Ave Maria, Florida!
Raised as a nominal Christian, I always felt like something was missing from my faith. While at the University of Virginia, I began to be drawn to the Catholic faith after reading about it on my own. The spring of my second-year I decided to go to one of the student Masses in the chapel on campus to see what Catholic worship was like. I saw a friend there who kept inviting me back, and through that friendship I began to see the joy of living a faithful Catholic lifestyle.
The turning point for me was when I watched a FOCUS SEEK 2017 talk on the Eucharist by Father Mike Schmitz during the winter break of my third-year. Soon after that, my friend invited me to UVA’s very own FOCUS SEEK conference, and there I was set on fire by the witnessing the true presence of Jesus Christ in the Mass. I was also deeply inspired by the speakers and by the holiness, the authenticity, and the vulnerability of the men in my small group. In April 2021, I came into full communion with the Church, and the following year, I led a Bible study in my fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, with the help of the FOCUS missionaries.
Jesus has transformed my life, and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus own example to find the best method of reaching the world. I have been constantly amazed by how the Lord is working in the lives of my students.
When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me through this mission. I’ve been blessed with the most amazing people who have journeyed with me as I serve on campus. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know of the best way to reach you, and I will schedule an appointment. I’d be honored to share this mission with you.
We encounter God in an intimate relationship through daily prayer, the sacraments and the Scriptures.
By building genuine friendships, we meet students on a deeper level.
We teach students how to share the gospel, who in turn teach other students how to pass it on.