How FOCUS is shaping lives
November 15, 2024
by Ryan Johnson, contributing writer
As a new student, Matt Prendergast was in a hurry to leave Mass one day during his freshman year of college when a FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary approached him. The encounter initiated his journey to a reversion to the Catholic faith.
As an athlete at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Prendergast was like a lot of other college students today. He was away from home for the first time. He was making more decisions about how to spend his time. And he was on a path to losing his Catholic faith.
The simple invitation by a FOCUS missionary to attend a Bible study had a significant impact on Prendergast. Not only did he attend after some reluctance, but he also enjoyed meeting other Catholic athletes from campus. He built a relationship with the FOCUS missionary after what he calls being “pretty far from my faith.”
Prendergast eventually met the other FOCUS missionaries on campus. He built new relationships. He went back to Mass and received the sacraments on a regular basis. He began living a life of prayer and, in 2020, Prendergast attended his first SEEK Conference. He was among more than 10,000 college students who attended the Catholic conference. He also participated in two FOCUS mission trips to Lima, Peru. Afterward, he expanded his role in FOCUS on campus and entered small group discipleship with his missionary growing in deeper relationship with the Lord, eventually starting his own bible study.
Discernment Process
As Prendergast was finishing his undergraduate degree program, he had ideas about going to graduate school and pursuing a career as a physical therapist. That is when he was invited to discern if he was being called to serve as a FOCUS missionary on the campus of a college or university. He did not take the invitation lightly, knowing it is a two-year commitment and missionaries are required to raise money to support themselves.
After continued discernment and graduation, Prendergast applied to be a missionary and attended FOCUS summer training. He was placed at Drake University in Des Moines. For two years, Prendergast lived out the mission of FOCUS, walking with many college students in their faith.
In the spring of 2024, he accepted the responsibility of team director, overseeing the three other FOCUS missionaries at Drake. He is responsible for the formation of his team and leading his team and the students in mission.
Campus Ministry
FOCUS has been a valuable resource for outreach on campus, said Megan Schultz, campus minister at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center.
“While within campus ministry, we’re often limited to liturgical events, or structured activities on campus, our FOCUS missionaries fill the space between campus ministry and daily life,” she said. “From opening their homes to host birthday celebrations or Super Bowl watching parties, to leading Bible studies that might not even start until 9 p.m. or later, our missionaries work constantly by giving of themselves and walking with students.”
FOCUS missionaries help students live an integrated life, full of friendship and faith, amid the challenges students face, Schultz said.
Success at Drake
In his time at Drake, Prendergast met with students on campus, noting that many struggle with loneliness and mental health. He says this is common across college campuses today.
“Being a FOCUS missionary is about meeting students where they are at, building relationships and eventually inviting them into deeper relationship with Christ,” he said. “We help them build up their faith, live it out with them, and teach them to do the same with others.”
Currently, 120 Drake University students (and counting) are participating in Bible studies. Fifty students are in discipleship, like Prendergast was in college, and will help continue to grow the FOCUS program at Drake.
“We’re seeing spiritual multiplication taking root,” he said.
The FOCUS missionaries work in tandem with the pastor and campus ministry staff at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center on the campus.
“We are united in one mission to reach the students at Drake University,” Prendergast said.
If you would like to learn more about FOCUS and how you can support missionaries, visit focus.org.