Hi, my name is Olivia, and I am honored to serve as a full-time missionary at Montclair State University in northern New Jersey! Go Red Hawks! 

God has called me here to invite college students at Montclair to know the love of Jesus Christ, to walk alongside them in their journey toward Christ, and to share the reality that He desires a deeper relationship with His beloved children. 

“While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20

I was blessed to grow up in a loving Catholic household, but as life’s inevitable challenges arose, I started to see God as a distant figure who held little to no relevance in my life. Other worldly pursuits started to capture my attention: comfort, success, likeability. For a short while, these things kept me content. But I was never fully satisfied. Something was lacking as my heart was longing for something deeper. I entered my freshman year at the University of Maryland thinking I’d just “get by” and avoid as much suffering as possible. During this year, many questions and doubts consumed my thoughts: What was the point of my life, if not to be well-liked by everyone? If I have all of these material things and I’m comfortable, why am I so unhappy? I was left in a state of despair and mediocrity.

Between freshman and junior year, I wrestled with so many of the Church’s teachings and my purpose in life. In response, my older brother and so many faithful friends encouraged me to go to the Catholic Student Center at UMD to seek time with God. It was there that I first witnessed young people joyfully practicing their faith. I began to make authentic friends who confronted me with love and wanted to will my good. After encountering Jesus on retreats, in Bible studies, during prayer, and most all, in the Eucharist, I heard Him say, “Let go of the despair. I desire for you to be fully alive.” It was through other people’s Christian witness and their invitation to pursue a relationship with Jesus that I said these little YESes, and He did the rest! Today, I deeply desire to share this Good News with every person I encounter!

When I said YES to fulfilling Jesus’ Great Commission, I chose to rely on the generosity of others to fully fund my mission. As I embark on this radical way of living modeled after Jesus’ own ministry, it would be an honor to meet with you to share my mission, vision, and fundraising goals. Through your partnership, I am able to more freely and radically share the Gospel with students. By supporting me and my mission, you are actively building God’s kingdom and investing in the lives of young college students, and most importantly, their souls. It would bring me great joy to get to know you and your story as I invite you to partner with me spiritually and financially! Let’s reach souls for Christ together!