Joanna Jarvis

Hi, I’m Joanna! I’m a FOCUS missionary at NYU.

“I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide” – John 15:16

Where I serve

After two years on mission at San Francisco State, I am now serving as the team director at New York University. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to share the Gospel in the heart of Manhattan with my incredible team!

Team NYU 2025-26: Landon, Natalia, Joanna, and Jack

My Story

I was blessed to be raised faithfully Catholic and to have encountered Jesus in the Eucharist from a young age. When I began college at Brown, I knew that I was called to follow Jesus, but I didn’t live as though He was the King of my heart. My life was oriented around achievement and success, and I believed that my identity and worth came from what I could accomplish. When the pandemic stripped away many of my distractions, I experienced deep loneliness, isolation, and hopelessness. But through the friendship of FOCUS missionaries, who invited me to a life of deeper prayer and the sacraments, God transformed my life. He freed me from the burdens of perfectionism and self-reliance, and showed me my true identity as His daughter: inherently good and beloved for who I am, not for what I do.

I want every soul to experience the freedom and joy of life in Christ! I desire nothing more than to pour out the love that God has lavished upon me, invite students into His abundant life, and teach them how to be missionary disciples, so that we might reach the entire world for Jesus Christ.

Your Impact

When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I chose to trust in God’s providence and rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me carry out this mission. Your partnership allows me to reach college students with the hope and joy of Christ. If you are interested in joining the mission, please let me know the best way to reach you, and I will set up an appointment to share more. It would be a great gift to labor in the vineyard of the Lord with you!

[email protected]

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If you have any questions or need help setting up your gift, please contact us at [email protected].

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Know, Love and Serve God

We encounter God in an intimate relationship through daily prayer, the sacraments and the Scriptures.

Build Virtuous Friendships

By building genuine friendships, we meet students on a deeper level.

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Teach Others to Share Christ

We teach students how to share the gospel, who in turn teach other students how to pass it on.

Host	Retreat Type	Start Date	End Date
Tulane University	Way of the Disciple	09/05/24	09/07/24
University of Nebraska Lincoln	The Sanctifier	09/13/24	09/15/24
Parish Outreach	The Father’s House	09/16/24	09/18/24
Kansas State University	The Father’s House	09/20/24	09/22/24
University of Delaware	Rec	09/20/24	09/22/24
University of South Carolina – Columbia	Rec	09/27/24	09/29/24
St. Francis University	The Father’s House	10/04/24	10/06/24
Nicholls State University	The Father’s House	10/04/24	10/06/24
Northwestern State University	The Father’s House	10/11/24	10/13/24
University of Memphis	The Father’s House	10/11/24	10/13/24
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville	The Father’s House	10/18/24	10/20/24
Ohio State University	The Father’s House	10/18/24	10/20/24
University of Dallas	The Sanctifier	10/24/24	10/26/24
Central Connecticut State University	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
Universidad de Monterrey	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
California State University – Fullerton	The Father’s House	10/25/24	10/27/24
Sts. Anne and Joaquim, Fargo, ND	Way of the Disciple	11/01/24	11/03/24
University of Krems	Men’s	11/01/24	11/03/24
University of Mary	The Father’s House	11/08/24	11/10/24
DePauw University	Rec	11/08/24	11/10/24
Philanthropy Engagement	Way of the Disciple	11/15/24	11/17/24
University of Passau	Rec	11/21/24	11/23/24
Texas A&M University	The Sanctifier	02/07/25	02/09/25
FOCUS Greek Southeast	The Father’s House	02/14/25	02/16/25
FOCUS Greek Midwest	The Father’s House	02/14/25	02/16/25
Worcester Polytechnic Institute	The Sanctifier	02/14/25	02/16/25
FOCUS Greek Southwest	The Father’s House	02/21/25	02/23/25
Wayne State University	The Father’s House	02/21/25	02/23/25
University of Illinois-Chicago	The Sanctifier	02/21/25	02/23/25
Queens College of the City University of New York	The Father’s House	03/07/25	03/09/25
Nicholls State University	Way of the Disciple	03/07/25	03/09/25
Grand Valley State University	The Father’s House	03/28/25	03/30/25
University of Northern Iowa	Way of the Disciple	04/03/25	04/05/25
University of Nebraska Lincoln	The Father’s House	04/04/25	04/06/25
Arizona State University	Men’s	02/07/25	02/09/25
University of Nebraska at Kearney	Rec	09/27/24	09/29/24