It is truly a blessing to say that the Lord has called me to serve at the University of Illinois Chicago! I am thrilled for the opportunity to walk alongside the students at UIC, investing in authentic, virtuous relationships and being part of their faith journeys. I am eager to see how God will move in this community — in the lives of the students and in my team, pictured below!

I used to say that growing up, I was Catholic in name only. I received all my sacraments of initiation, but I was just checking boxes. I only went to my religious classes because my parents made me, and I had to be dragged to Mass on Sundays. I didn’t really understand why I had to do these things. That lack of knowledge and practice in my faith carried into my early twenties. During those years, I didn’t have a prayer life, I wasn’t attending Mass, and I didn’t have much of a relationship with Jesus.

When I arrived at the University of Iowa, I had reached a low point both emotionally and spiritually. I felt lost, unsure of what I was doing in college or with my life as a whole. After years of trying to find purpose and happiness through worldly things, nothing else I found satisfied me. Finally, I realized that I had no choice but to turn to God. I realized I had strayed too far for too long, and I knew I wanted a relationship with Him.

Some time later, I attended Sunday Mass for the first time in years at the Newman Center in Iowa City. After Mass, I met another student who invited me to his Bible study. I went later that week and loved it. Over the next few months, I consistently went to Bible study and Sunday Mass. I began practicing my Catholic faith in a way I never had before. It didn’t take long for the FOCUS Missionaries at the Newman Center to begin investing in me and showing me how to live out the faith in a meaningful way.

Through all of this, I developed a deeper prayer life and a more fruitful relationship with the Lord. My faith became more than just a set of rules or obligations — it became a relationship with a living God who loves me. This is why I became a FOCUS Missionary — to share this love with others who might feel as lost and restless as I once did.

When I answered the call to join FOCUS as a full-time missionary, I also made the decision to receive 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 with FOCUS. 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. It would be an honor to share this mission with you.