We encounter God in an intimate relationship through daily prayer, the sacraments and the Scriptures.
SEE MORESEE LESS 
Maria Saporito
Hey! My name’s Maria and I’m a FOCUS missionary at Arizona State University. FORKS UP!
“ Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars, and they pass by themselves without wondering.”
-St. Augustine
Where I serve
I am still in awe that the Lord has called me to serve college students in this way. As a FOCUS missionary, I get to witness firsthand the deep and profound effects of Christ’s transformation in lives in real-time. It is so humbling.
My Story
The only sort of true prayer that I remember from my childhood went something like this,
“You see me. And you give me so many gifts even when you don’t have to. Gosh, thank you. Also, I know that you know that I hit my sister and I don’t deserve a gift. Thank you so much for giving it to me anyway”.
I had a deep sense of gratitude and need for forgiveness, however, these prayers were directed at Santa Claus and not our sweet Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
It wasn’t until age 13 at Sacred Heart Girls Camp that I realized the love of Jesus for the first time. I came to understand that the most Sacred Heart of Jesus lived, loved, beat, bled, died, and rose again for me and for you. Quite simply, I fell in love. And my life was never the same. This experience was the catalyst of a deep ache and search for the person of truth and all that He loves. I know that if His love for me can touch such depths, certainly His love for others transcends far beyond my wildest dreams and it is of the utmost urgency that they are told the truth about themselves and the truth about the one who is Truth.
That is why I am so grateful to FOCUS for teaching me how to pass on the invitation to the life of joy and freedom that has been given to me! Jesus wants so badly to share His life with us, so what better way to emulate Him than to live in His love and share life with others? In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. In FOCUS, we look to Jesus and his own example to find the best method of reaching the world, one student at a time.
The truth will set you free. – John 8: 32
Your Impact
When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on 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 on campus. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know the best way to reach you and I will schedule a time to meet with you. I’d be honored to share this mission with you.
With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.– 1 Thessalonians 2:8
We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. – 1 John 3:2
They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. – John 17:16-21
Find other missionaries
FOCUS brings the joy of the Gospel to colleges and parishes across the United States (and beyond)!
Know, Love and Serve God
Build Virtuous Friendships
By building genuine friendships, we meet students on a deeper level.
Teach Others to Share Christ
We teach students how to share the gospel, who in turn teach other students how to pass it on.
Give
