Samuel Bennett

“Nothing but You, Lord, nothing but You”. – St. Thomas Aquinas

Where I serve

I am a first year missionary serving at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

My Story

I grew up in Merrill, Wisconsin where I received most of my childhood education at a Protestant school and church. While I am thankful for the seeds of faith and truth I received during this time, I lacked a true relationship with Jesus Christ and was quickly caught up by the many temptations offered by the world during my adolescent years, causing me to drift from my faith almost entirely.

During my later years of high school and early years of college I began to truly notice and feel the hole left in my life that I had dug for myself by rejecting a relationship with God. During my junior year of college at UW-Stevens Point, at the invite of a friend, I began attending some campus ministry events and Bible studies. By diving back into my faith, I began to thirst deeper for the truth and love God wanted to offer me. Through my pursuit of God through prayer and study, I decided to convert to the Catholic faith, as I truly believe this is where He offers us the fullness of the Christian faith. I began to attend events and hang out at my Newman Center, where I was warmly welcomed by the community of students and the FOCUS missionaries there.

Joining the Catholic Church was by far the greatest and most important decision I’ve ever made. The year I became Catholic and the following year I spent being involved at my Newman Center being discipled by a FOCUS missionary and leading others in Bible studies and discipleship were the most transformative years of my life. As a missionary, I can think of no greater gift than to help transform the lives of other students on campus by sharing the truth of the Gospel with them and walking alongside them in their faith.

Your Impact

By answering the call to be a FOCUS missionary, I have placed myself completely in the hands of God’s Providence by relying on the generosity and support of others. If you are interested in supporting me, please reach out and let me know the best way to contact you. I would be thrilled to invite you to share in my mission to win souls for the Kingdom of God!

Give Now

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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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