Chicago Conference Spotlights Spiritual Progress on College Campuses

FOCUS spreading “new evangelization” to growing mission territory: the university

Chicago, January 20, 2006 – With news reports detailing deteriorating moral life on America’s college campuses, there’s some “good news” to report from Chicago. Hundreds of students from campuses throughout the Midwest will gather in Chicago from January 20-22 for the FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) Student Leadership Conference. The event, at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, seeks to strengthen university students and young missionaries fresh out of college who desire to change the prevailing campus culture.

Founded in 1998 by Curtis Martin, FOCUS is now present on 27 Catholic and secular campuses in 15 states, making it the single largest provider of Catholic campus ministry in the nation.

The campus outreach program helps college students face increasing challenges to living responsible lives. A new government report released in December finds one in 10 teens experiences major depression. According to some estimates, nearly 50 percent of Catholic students will lost their faith by the end of their freshman year of college, and 90 percent will lose it by the end of their senior year.

To combat these problems, FOCUS trains recent college graduates in the teachings of the Church, Scripture and practical aspects of ministry, and sends them to serve on college campuses as missionaries.

Neethu Muppadhyll was grateful to find FOCUS missionaries present at the University of Colorado in Boulder when she was a student there. Not expecting to find a vibrant Catholic presence on the secular campus, she soon found herself participating in a FOCUS Bible study. Later, she then formed her own group and directed the growth of several more.

Muppadhyll is now a FOCUS missionary herself, having deciding to postpone medical school despite the fact that she was accepted by the New York Medical College. Muppadhyll sees missionary work as unique training she would not receive through formal education.

“There are not many jobs that allow you to see such remarkable young people, striving for holiness and allowing you to be a part of their journey,” she explains. “Next year, hopefully while in medical school, I will look back at my two years in FOCUS and know that the experience was the best preparation I could have ever had not only for my career as a doctor, but hopefully as wife and mother as well.”

During the Student Leadership Conference, students and missionaries like Muppadhyll will take part in education and training workshops, including sessions on prayer, the sacraments, the Eucharist, Mary and the saints, leading a Bible Study, discipleship, vocations and the relationship between career development and virtue.

Speakers at the Chicago conference include:

• Jeff Cavins: “Who's Life Are You Living: A Look at the Way You Live!”
• Edward P. Sri, S.T.D.: “Called to Greatness” and “The Da Vinci Code and the Bible: Separating Fact from Fiction”
• Joshua and Elisabeth Gideon: “Raising the Bar: What it Takes to Date Great”
• Curtis Martin: “Maximum Impact: Shaping a Worldview for Christ” and “This is Eternal Life”
• Sarah Keller: “Heroic Generosity”

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About FOCUS
FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, is one of the most engaging and fastest growing movements in the Catholic Church. FOCUS is a national outreach program designed to help college students incorporate their faith into their daily lives. FOCUS brings the fullness of life and truth in the Catholic Church to college students and gives the tools to help them share this good news with their friends. Founded in 1998 on one campus, FOCUS now extends to 27 campuses in 15 states with over 100 staff members.

For more information about FOCUS, visit our website at www.focusonline.org or call the FOCUS headquarters office at (970) 336-9881.