I was blessed to play four unforgettable years of college football alongside my brother Ben. After that, I served for a year at the University of Idaho – the place that shaped me. Go Vandals!

This year, I will be working with the student athletes at the University of Nebraska, serving alongside eleven other missionaries. Go Big Red!

I was named after Brother Mathias Barrett, an Irish-Catholic brother who started the first homeless shelter in my hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. My family has a history of service. My uncle was born with hydrocephalus, a severe form of autism. He wasn’t supposed to survive his birth, but by the grace of God lived nine wonderful years. As a result, in 1989, my grandma opened up a for-profit business with the mission to employ people with special needs. Today, my mom runs that same business. Service and mission is a part of my legacy.

During college, I was blessed with the opportunity to live out my childhood dream with my brother. We played four years of college football together, two at the University of New Mexico and two at the University of Idaho. My first year at Idaho, I met a FOCUS missionary who changed my life, my faith, and my perspective on life.

As a FOCUS missionary, I depend on the generous donations of others to fund my work. The Catholic Center at the U of I has exploded in the last few years, in large part thanks to the FOCUS missionaries who have been there in the past. Your donation will enable me to do the work that God has called me to do.