Mary Vercillo

“My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words”

– St. Therese of Lisieux

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My Story

I was very fortunate to have grown up in a very Catholic family and community. My faith was always a part of my life, but as a got older I went through a season of intense doubt and fear. It made it difficult for me to see Gods love as a selfless love. I found myself living more out of fear than trust, and I really struggled to grasp the faith as my own. It was not until I went to a Steubenville conference where I truly felt the Lord tell me to surrender those fears to Him. I encountered God in a whole new way, as a loving protecting father. That encounter became a turning point in my faith and taught me how much freedom and peace can come from surrendering my life to the Lord.

When I attended Franciscan University that understanding of God’s love continued to grow. I was surrounded by people whose lives had been deeply transformed by their faith. I witnessed the faith and joy of others in the midst of suffering. Their example of this taught me that I don’t always need to know what God is doing to trust that He is good. Watching people encounter Christ and become more fully alive made me realize just how important the Church’s mission of evangelization is and how deeply I wanted to be a part of it. I began to see firsthand the impact that intentional Catholic community and organizations like FOCUS can have on a person’s life.

Joining FOCUS as a Social Media Specialist, feels like a true answer to prayer and a continuation of the journey the Lord has been leading me on for years. I am grateful to say yes to what God is asking of me right now. I believe that the Father can take my simple “yes” and use it for something far greater than I could ever accomplish on my own.

Your Impact

Your support means so much to me and allows me to use the gifts God has given me in service of the mission of FOCUS. I want the work I do to reflect what I believe; to glorify God, communicate His truth and beauty, and help others encounter His love. Your prayers and financial support make it possible for me to do that work and help FOCUS reach more people with the Gospel.

Thank you for being a part of this mission with me. I am praying for you!

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

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FOCUS Find A Missionary Know Love Serve God Monstrance

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