Yahir Ramirez

And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.” – Matthew 21:21

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Where I serve

I will be serving my first year at John Hopkins in Baltimore, MD!

My Story

Growing up as a Catholic, I never fully understood the “why” behind why we believe in the Catholic doctrine. Catholicism was a part of my identity that felt like a label and a “task” to complete instead of a loving devotion towards the Lord. My reversion journey back to God didn’t start when I went to a rural public school in Vermont, but began when I was accepted to Harvard. I thought I had it all figured out when I got accepted to my dream school. During college, I struggled immensely with the academic rigor and lacked the motivation to delve into my academic interests. This was attributed in part to my naivety but also because I was taught to be “self-sufficient” by my immigrant parents. Additionally, I walked with a weak spirit, being too prideful to lean into and trust God with my life goals.

Navigating college was a lonely period of my life because there was a clear disconnect between myself and my fellow peers. Firstly, the social environment conditions you to crave success, fame, and wealth. Secondly, the environment is hyper-competitive, leading to constant comparison with peers, a hyperfixation on internships, opportunities, etc., thus causing me to isolate myself from the entire Harvard community. Additionally, I was scarred by an empty lifestyle that has persisted throughout my life with no end goal, weakening my spiritual life and distancing me from God’s grace. I felt like I didn’t belong, especially as a first-generation student who comes from a humble background. I was prioritizing worldly achievements over the kingdom of God.

It wasn’t until I finally dismantled my fortress that I found peace and hope at my college’s local Newman center. There, I connected with fellow students who faithfully followed Christ’s teachings and displayed deep, reverent faith towards the sacraments. Additionally, it was the persistence of the FOCUS missionaries and friends that allowed me to experience the communal aspect of fellowship. This was the crescendo that led me to delve deeper into my Catholic faith.

For this reason, I want to provide my wisdom and experiences to students who are walking down a similar path. It is more important than ever to spread this message to students who are weak in spirit!

Your Impact

As a newly appointed Catholic missionary with FOCUS, I invite you to join me on my journey to help lost students find their path back to God. With the intense societal norms my generation must face alongside a challenging and ever-changing job market, it is important in these moments to remind students that they matter more than their achievements.

With the help of God, anything is possible!

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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.

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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