Nelly Hadlaw

Hey there! My name is Nelly Hadlaw and I’m a FOCUS missionary at Columbia University!!

“…young people are always searching for beauty in love. They want their love to be beautiful… As a result, they are willing to follow Christ, without caring about the sacrifices this may entail.”

– St. John Paul II

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Where I serve

This past year, I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University where I studied Computer Science. The Lord has now called me to serve as a FOCUS missionary at Columbia University in New York City! Go Lions!! I’m excited to encounter so many amazing students and to serve alongside my wonderful team pictured below.

Screenshot 2025 06 07 at 10.46.16 AM

Team Columbia 2025-2026: Jared, George, Anne, Me!!

My Story

The first person I encountered upon moving into my freshman-year dorm was a FOCUS missionary. From the moment I set foot on this campus, I was relentlessly pursued by the Lord through the gifts of love, charity, and virtue embodied by these missionaries. Their unwavering invitations and profound, sacrificial love drew me into a community of individuals who placed Christ at the very heart of their lives.

Through the missionaries and the faith-filled community they introduced me to, I learned to embrace life with Christ on Earth—immersing myself in the sacraments, cultivating a life of prayer, and fostering virtuous relationships. This journey ultimately led me to a transformative pilgrimage to Rome, Italy with our Newman club in the spring semester of my junior year. Each day of this pilgrimage, I became more in awe at how people laid down their lives for Jesus Christ. From the soaring cathedrals to experiencing the lives of the Saints like St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi who lived a life of ultimate poverty to bring the Lord higher, and finally daily prayer which healed me in ways I’ve never experienced, I was convicted what true life with Christ is and my heart was forever changed.

CMU Newman Club Roman Pilgrimage 2024

As I continued on my journey of formation, the past four years of being accompanied by FOCUS and the community it provided, have revealed the Lord’s calling for me: to become a FOCUS missionary myself. The joy I have encountered, the love I have received, and the profound connections I have formed are gifts I long for every person to experience. I am eager to share the Lord’s love and light to the souls I encounter at Columbia University and I would love for you to join me in mission!!

Your Impact

One of the many gifts of being a FOCUS missionary is that I get to invite so many more people, apart from the students at Columbia and other FOCUS missionaries, into my mission through their spiritual and material support. I would love for you to join me in this adventure of bringing souls to Christ by supporting me in my mission! If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know what is the best way to reach you and I would love to schedule an appointment 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)!

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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.

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