My name is Brandon Pangan and I am an 8th year FOCUS missionary as well as the Team Director of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Parish in Park Ridge, IL. My wife Nicole and I are entering not only into our fifth year of marriage but also our fifth year as the FOCUS missionaries of Mary, Seat of Wisdom. This year we welcomed Lupita Estrada and her husband Andrew to the team!

Nicole and I are passionate about the renewal of the heart of the Church: the parish. Students and even missionaries have “graduated” from thriving campus ministries only to arrive at struggling post-modern parishes. The Church, encompassing people of all ages, has always and will continue to call missionaries to model, encourage and invite souls to true relationship with Jesus Christ amidst the world around them. We get to live out the mission of the laity in a radical way using all the resources and experiences that FOCUS provides. Lifelong Mission is very grassroots and very exciting.

“Entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case what is needed is a ‘new evangelization’ or a ‘re-evangelization.’” ~Pope John Paul II

Brandon: I was a cradle Catholic who grew up never hearing my family talk about God. I see now it’s because they didn’t feel confident nor did they know what to even talk about- and I can’t blame them for that! It wasn’t til I met a FOCUS missionary and later pursued discipleship that I began to truly meet Jesus in both prayer and scripture as well as in the Eucharist. I became a parish missionary to help families encounter God together, that they would confidently and joyfully share the Gospel of Jesus with their children and with their neighbor.

Nicole: Like many others, I grew up in a loving and Catholic home. However, it wasn’t until after grad school that I really began to see Jesus as a person. I was at a parish young adult event when a young woman named Sarah invited me to sit at her table. She continued to personally invite me to dinner, hikes, and coffee and I really began to grow in admiration of her and her character. In the midst of a budding friendship, Sarah quickly and unabashedly revealed her love for God and invited me into that relationship also. To this day, she continues to be a good friend and model of holiness.

I really do love the women that I work with in the parish today and desire to walk with them as Sarah walked with me.

Parishioner Feedback:

“Tell Brandon thank you so much. I don’t know what he did with my dad but I’ve seen a huge change! He has us all pray as a family which we’ve never done before. And he goes to pray at the adoration chapel. Growing up we just went to Sunday Mass and that was it. But now he’s talking about God and moving from tradition to relationship.”

.

“You have been such an amazing friend and have helped me get closer in my faith and building a relationship with God”

.

“I need to tell you how much of a positive impact you have had on my life through Christ. I still gain from the retreats you’ve taken me on and the teachings you’ve shared”

.

“Just wanted to send a personal note of gratitude. You truly are a mastermind in facilitating others to discover and foster a more intimate relationship with our Lord.”

.

“Hey, I just want to thank you for being a role model of the faith. Seeing your example has really helped me with understanding what I should strive for.”

.

“I wanted to say thank you again for inviting and welcoming me into your life and your Bible study you could never even imagine how much you have helped me so thank you”

.

“I’m grateful for you- and the many patient hours you’ve invested in [him]. For pulling him in– and so many other young men- who would be otherwise lost. I’m grateful for you. Your ministry. Thank you, from a praying mother.”

.

“Thank you Brandon I really appreciate it. I have never had an example of this in my life so I am really just taking this day by day with Christ. Please pray for me! Your guidance means a lot!”

.

“I’ve never been friends with someone in this stage of life before- you both are such great models of parents and are inspirations to me.”

.

“Thank you for all that you have done for me. All of the time allotted to God probably wouldn’t be happening if I didn’t meet you. Truly blessed that God made our paths cross. Can’t thank you enough”

.

Every year that we continue to be a part FOCUS, we make the decision for our family to rely on God’s provision and the financial support of our mission partners to help us through this mission. We’ve been blessed with the most amazing people who have journeyed with us. If you are interested in partnering with with our family, please let us know of the best way to reach you and we will schedule an appointment. We’d be honored to share this mission with you.

In Christ,

The Pangan Family