FOCUS a source for vocations?

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rien

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I somehow got on the mailing list for the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. FOCUS for short.

Founded in 2002 or so it is an evangelistic outreach to Catholic college students on secular universities.

Their latest newsletter for summer 2007 focuses on vocations spawned by FOCUS among their “missionarry” students/team members.

To date the newsletter reports 108 men have entered the seminary and 33 women religious life after being involved with FOCUS.

Small numbers given the overall lack of male and female vocations in the US, but impressive given FOCUS’s small size and brief time in existence.
 
I’ve never heard of FOCUS until you mentioned it, and I’ve been involved in Catholic campus ministries for the past four or five years at least. Sounds very interesting.
 
Madaglan said:
I’ve never heard of FOCUS until you mentioned it, and I’ve been involved in Catholic campus ministries for the past four or five years at least. Sounds very interesting.
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Here is a link:

www.focusonline.org

They started on 3 or 4 campuses in 2002. They are in 35 or so now. Still a small presence but they seem to be growing rapidly.
 
rien said:
Small numbers given the overall lack of male and female vocations in the US, but impressive given FOCUS’s small size and brief time in existence.
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FOCUS missionaries are not allowed to have dating relationships, so they have time to devote their time totally to their mission work. They are campus ministers, so they are exposed to a great deal of apostolic work, and their job is to bring Christ to college/university campuses. They see firsthand how much the 18-25 age group needs God and the Church- and doesn’t really get what they need. They see students turning away from the Church, and to New Age, Atheism, Secularism, Agnosticism, Fundamentalism, and other religions to meet their needs- and they feel the call to bring them back home. The whole atmosphere is a great breeding ground for vocations. I have known several FOCUS missionaries (either while they were current ones, or afterwards), and they are a great group of people who are in love with God and the Church. They are a much needed help to the college campuses of this country.
 
m134e5,

Whereabouts in age are the missionaries? Are they college-age, a few years older? I’m a little surprised by the restriction on dating relationships.
 
Madaglan said:
m134e5,

Whereabouts in age are the missionaries? Are they college-age, a few years older? I’m a little surprised by the restriction on dating relationships.
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I believe most work for FOCUS for two years immediately following college graduation. I’m not sure if they allow married people to join, but when you’re dating someone, your time is divided. FOCUS missionaries cannot divide their time between a girlfriend/boyfriend and their work. They have to immerse themselves in their ministry.
 
Interesting. I looked at their directory. Right now they have missions mostly in only larger universities (from what I can gather). Hopefully, as the grow, they find their way to smaller campuses as well, as students would love to have them. I know I would have benefitted greatly spiritually from them were they at my college campus when I was a student.
 
Interesting. I looked at their directory. Right now they have missions mostly in only larger universities (from what I can gather). Hopefully, as the grow, they find their way to smaller campuses as well, as students would love to have them. I know I would have benefitted greatly spiritually from them were they at my college campus when I was a student.
 
Madaglan said:
Interesting. I looked at their directory. Right now they have missions mostly in only larger universities (from what I can gather). Hopefully, as the grow, they find their way to smaller campuses as well, as students would love to have them. I know I would have benefitted greatly spiritually from them were they at my college campus when I was a student.
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I did not know about the dating restriction. I have qualms about that. In any case they are fairly new and just in a few campuses. If the dating thing or other restrictions are wrong they won’t last I guess. I cannot endorse FOCUS. My post only was to mention this group seemed to have fairly good responses to vocations. Some of the repsonses make me want to take a second look now. Hope I did not lead anyone astray. My apologies if I did.
 
This is an old thread, but now with new life - I hope. FOCUS has been around since 1998. It does ask its missionaries to dedicate the first year to God and Campus, so no dating. However, after that - dating is allowed so long as it is in the best interests of everyone involved (like they would do it any other way.) FOCUS is not going anywhere but up! This past year there was a national conference that held over 3000 screaming, on fire for their faith students. Not bad since it’s first conference with 25 members! No there are married missionaries, priests, religious, and a whole lot of great Catholic families because of Christ working through FOCUS! Check out their website again at focusonline.org
 
Just an update - 140 seminarians/priests and 40 religious as of this week! One more male joining the Franciscans in August!

Your (Married) FOCUS Missionary!
 
Dismas2004 said:
Just an update - 140 seminarians/priests and 40 religious as of this week! One more male joining the Franciscans in August!

Your (Married) FOCUS Missionary!
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It’s of greater value to know how many of these persevere until final profession.
 
My parish has welcomed a young woman missionary (from Colorado, newly married and adopting a child – any relation, Dismas2004? 😃 ) each summer for several years to speak one weekend at Masses and seek support, and she was back again today.

As this old thread just reappeared, and so did she; and I don’t believe in coincidences – I think I shall have to delve a little deeper into the good work of FOCUS and perhaps offer my support as well. 👍
 
IrishAm said:
My parish has welcomed a young woman missionary (from Colorado, newly married and adopting a child – any relation, Dismas2004? 😃 ) each summer for several years to speak one weekend at Masses and seek support, and she was back again today.

As this old thread just reappeared, and so did she; and I don’t believe in coincidences – I think I shall have to delve a little deeper into the good work of FOCUS and perhaps offer my support as well. 👍
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Thank you so much for your support. No, no relation but I too have a family. FOCUS is really changing lives as is evident by the numbers going into seminary, becoming priests, joining the consecrated life etc… Not to mention the fact that thousands of lives have been changed as a direct result of their involvement with FOCUS. Anyone interested in learning more about FOCUS should go to their website www.focusonline.org or you can email me and I’ll share more information with you.

God bless.
 
1234 said:
It’s of greater value to know how many of these persevere until final profession.
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While I certainly agree with you I also disagree with you. Even if they do not “persevere until final profession” FOCUS has changed their life for the better. More pointedly, Christ Jesus has given them the grace and a calling to enter the seminary to further their discernment. entering the seminary is not the same as becoming a priest. There’s a reason why it takes so many years. Its about discerning the will of God and furthering one’s knowledge and understanding of Christ crucified. It’s not all about the numbers, but the numbers do show the fruit of the harvesters.

The point is, Christ is bringing these young men, and young women to a greater relationship with Christ Jesus. If it is not His will that they stay in the seminary or convent - then why would we want them to persevere to the end - where Christ does not want them?

I think what you are trying to say however is that it matters not how many go to seminary if none of them are becoming priest. I can appreciate that. Considering that FOCUS is barely 10 years old and most of the students who have gone to seminary are still there it is hard to tell you how many persevere to the end. It’s a long process. I can tell you however that most are still in seminary to date.
 
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