Monica Weinkopf

Where I serve

This year I will serve at the University of Nebraska at Kearney! (Go Lopes!) I am so excited to call the Midwest my new home.

My Story

Once I was asked, “What is the one day of your life that you never want to forget?” I knew it would be that warm April evening in high school when I understood in my bones that Jesus wanted a friendship with me.

I was so blessed to grow up with a firm belief in God and a strong formation in the Church, but I like to describe that spring night as the moment that I came to know the merciful face of Jesus. After much time observing women who modeled lives of personal prayer, I understood that night that I could have the same context of relationship with God out of which to live the faith.

The more that I taste the freedom and joy of living life with the Lord through daily prayer and the sacraments, the more I want others to know how happy they can be, too. I think of the description of Moses’ prayer in Scripture: “The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Exodus 33:11). This is the reality that I hope students come to know—that we are made for this friendship, and it alone will satisfy.

I will always be indebted to my parents and other mentors who have taught me a language for prayer and a model for holy friendship. Towards the end of college, I felt that God wanted me to do the same for others; the question was simply where.

But I didn’t have to wonder too long, for the Holy Spirit was persistent. He kept whispering to my heart, in His still small voice, What if you did FOCUS? With FOCUS, I will get to invest in a few students at a time, growing in friendship together, drawing them into Bible studies and regular mentorship so that they may come to know the Lord—and then encouraging and equipping them to go out and do the same for others.

Your Impact

Christ calls each of us, by virtue of our baptism, to “go and make disciples of all nations” (the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:9). Would you go and do this with me?

I am excited to make the college campus my mission because this is where the leaders, parents, teachers of the future are receiving the bulk of their formation, and this is where a sobering 80% of Catholics leave their faith.

But Jesus and His disciples didn’t proclaim the Gospel alone, so I know that we aren’t supposed to, either. When I said yes to the call to FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners. This will allow you and me both to fulfill the Great Commission, and it will enable me to pour myself into the students around me full-time.

If you are interested in coming on my team, please let me know ([email protected]) how best to reach you to schedule an appointment. It would be an honor to share this mission with you!

Give Now

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

Find other missionaries

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

GET STARTED

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.

FOCUS Find A Missionary Teach Others Share Christ Smiling

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