My name is Elias and I am a Veteran Staff Campus Missionary. I served my first two years at Western Washington University. I am now serving my third year at The University of Northern Colorado. I am excited to meet the students on this campus and share God’s love and His church with them!

I was born and raised in South Dakota. I received the inheritance of the Catholic faith from the moment I was born, but it was not guarded or cultivated. When I left home for this first time, I left my faith behind. I spent my life in loose living and experienced a deep restlessness. It was during this time that I realized that the things I was pursuing could not give me the peace or purpose I was looking for.

After a long time separated from the faith of my childhood, the Lord met me in a profoundly personal way and completely changed the direction of my life. Through prayer, scripture, the sacraments, and the witness of faithful Catholics, I began seriously returning to the faith. This quickly became a desire to commit my life to Christ. As I continued growing into a disciple; I became increasingly convicted that I was being called not only to know Christ more deeply, but also to help others come to know Him.

That desire eventually led me to serve as a missionary with FOCUS. After receiving a heart for mission, the Lord began to reveal to me more deeply the gift He has given us in the Blessed Virgin Mary. I came to know her not simply as the Mother of Jesus, but as a mother given to me personally, whose sole desire is to form her children into other Christs. Through her Rosary, I discovered not simply a devotional practice, but a powerful weapon in the battle for souls, a means of converting those separated from the church, and the tool for breaking the chains of those in slavery to mortal sin.

I know very well what it is like to search for meaning apart from God. And so, my desire is to walk with students, help them to encounter Jesus Christ, grow in the sacramental life of the Church, and discover God’s will for their life. I entrust this mission to the maternal care of Mary, confident that she will lead us into greater union with her Son.

Being a FOCUS Missionary, I have the privilege of sharing the mission with others through their prayerful and financial support. Some people give by going on mission and others go by giving to mission. Without supporters there is no mission, so I eagerly ask your hand in allowing me to devote my time to leading young people to Christ.