Maria Pratt

“Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society”

-Saint Francis of Assisi

Where I serve

I am excited to be serving at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Go Jags!!! I will be on a team with four other missionaries (Teagan, Joy, Matthew, and Reiley). I would love for you to join me on mission in this exciting adventure!

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My Story

Throughout my childhood I was always drawn by the heroism and beauty of the lives of the saints. As I grew, I realized that this was something I wanted, too, and something that I wanted to share with others: the joy of life with Christ!

During my time at Notre Dame (Go Irish!!!), I was incredibly blest to be surrounded by witnesses to the faith in friends, professors, and religious who helped me along the way to seek after Christ. College is an intense time of desire, of searching for meaning, and of looking for happiness. I saw this in myself, and I saw it in friends, peers, and even professors. But during this time, over and over again I was reminded that the world does not satisfy us: “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness… He is the beauty to which you are so attracted” (Pope Saint John Paul II).

Young people are looking for a mission, they are looking for meaning, and it is Christ who is the fulfillment of all these desires. During my last year studying Theology and Music at the University of Notre Dame, the call became clear, and that was the call to radical discipleship: “Follow Me!” I realized that after college, I wanted to live a life of following Christ and to do what I can to draw others to Christ. Like Saint Thérèse, I desire “To love God greatly and to make Him greatly loved”. In joining FOCUS staff, I am so excited to have the chance to go to campus and share the joy, hope, and love of Christ with others.

Your Impact

One of the beautiful things about mission is that no one can do it alone. God does not need our help, but He desires to draw us to Himself and so delights to share with us His task of bringing souls to Himself.

In going on mission to IUPUI, I am partnering with generous supporters who will be joining me on mission, truly making the work possible, and joining in prayer for the students on campus. This past year of mission at IUPUI was a beautiful time to walk intentionally with students, invite them into deeper prayer and deeper friendship, and to see how the heart of every human person longs for intimacy with the good Lord. I met so many beautiful people and am in awe of the good things the Lord does in our lives everyday.

I am so excited to share this mission with you! Please prayerfully consider supporting me, and in this way, to go out with me as we seek to make Christ known, loved, and served in new and beautiful ways.

Please feel free to reach out: [email protected]

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FOCUS brings the joy of the Gospel to colleges and parishes across the United States (and beyond)!

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Know, Love and Serve God

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

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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