God has called me to serve at Columbia University in Manhattan, just a subway ride away from my hometown of Park Slope, Brooklyn. My three teammates and I take the 1 train up to 116th Street every morning and spend our week meeting new students, leading bible studies, and growing closer to God through Daily Mass and prayer. Our homebase on campus is Columbia’s brand-new Merton Institute for Catholic Life, located at the former rectory of the Church of Notre Dame on 114th Street.

After developing a deep friendship with a FOCUS missionary named Nick during my freshman fall at Brown University, I experienced an intense, interior encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist at a FOCUS conference for college students in Phoenix called SLS 2020. Since then, I have been following His invitation to lead others into a deeper relationship with God, and that pursuit has led me to become a FOCUS missionary myself! Being a devout Catholic in aggressively secular environments like the Ivy League been a bizarre ride at times, but, as St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

We missionaries could not do what we do without the support of generous Mission Partners like you. By supporting my mission at Columbia University, you become a crucial partner in the fight to win the hearts of young people for God in one of the battlegrounds where it is needed most. It’s an honor to collaborate with you in this important work. Thank you for your courage and generosity!