Dates: July 30th-August 7th

Amount to Fundraise: $2550*

Land Only Price for Citizens of the European Union and Rest of the World:

 £490 GBP or €575 EUR*

Application Deadline for the International Conference: March 17th, 2012

Last year, the experience of FOCUS’ first ever International Conference at the ancient monastery of Samos was so successful, transformed so many lives, and created such an unbelievable international community of young, Catholic college students that we decided that we couldn’t let 2012 go by without doing it again!

This year for the 2012 FOCUS International Conference we will converge at the Benedictine monastery castle of Glenstal Abbey in the Irish countryside – this place has all of the charm of Samos and more!  Located in County Limerick, this castle has extensive forested grounds, walled gardens, lakes, rugby and soccer (football) fields, and a beautiful church right in the middle of it all.

The conference itself will include dynamic speakers, time for prayer and Mass, time for small groups and plenty of free time to soak in the glory of Glenstal Abbey.  Of course no International Conference would be complete without international sports tournaments so be sure to bring your game and plan on having a blast with multitudes of new friends from around the world.

Add to the conference, a hiking pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick – the mountain that St. Patrick himself frequently climbed to go on retreat- a visit to the Marian apparition site of Knock, and a visit to the towering cliffs of Moher that look over the Atlantic Ocean… and you have yourself an epic event that could change your life forever.

Check out the monastery here: www.glenstal.org

Also, you can check out a video of last year’s conference here:

The castle can only hold so many so apply early!

Photos of Glenstal Abbey:

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*Prices and dates subject to change

The FOCUS missions trip has been a huge step forward in my walk with Christ. You dont know how much you need God until he is all you have. Being so much out of you element forces you to lean on him, and now I have an idea of what that is like in everyday life.
-Aaron Pribanic, University of Nebraska

Dates: March 10th-18th AND March 17th-25th

Trip Director: March 10th – 18th, Gabriel and Sarah Hahn; March 17th – 25th, Angela Amore

Mission Co-Leaders: March 10th, Jonathan Ervin, Amy Brammer; March 17th, Bryan Wilburn, Molly Falke, Theresa Niehaus

Amount to Fundraise: $400* + Transportation to Albuquerque, NM

The Indian Reservation in Gallup, New Mexico claims one of the highest rates of poverty in the United States. Come work with the Missionaries of Charity in the heart of the reservation, bringing the light of Christ and a heart of cheerful service to a people who have lost their way. Experience a spiritual rebirth as you pray and share your life with the Native Americans of this reservation.

*Price Subject to Change

 My FOCUS Mission Trip taught me how to be vulnerable to people whom I barely know and what it means to love selflessly and wholeheartedly. The Lord showed me that He is present in every given moment, if one only makes the effort to open their eyes to the beauty of those surrounding them in the here and now and stop dwelling on the past/future. Every moment is an opportunity to love and grow closer to Christ. The mission trip helped me to see that I am capable of utilizing every moment to bring greater glory to God!

-Sabrina Harris, Appalachian State University

Dates:  March 3rd-11th

Trip Director: Jake Mach

Mission Co-Leaders: Chris Rothschild, Josh Santo, Beth Santo, Ruby Behringer

Amount to Fundraise: $350* + Transportation to Washington D.C.

Experience the Nation’s Capitol as never before! Behind the glamour of our state buildings and beauty of our national parks and gardens lies a city where nearly 1 in 5 people live below the poverty line. As a volunteer on this mission trip you will work with local religious orders and organizations to bring hope to the homeless of Washington D.C.

As a part of this experience, we will also dive into the Church’s teachings on the dignity of the human person as we visit the United States Holocaust Memoria Museum and speak with a congressman about the Pro-Life debate on Capitol Hill.

*Price Subject to Change

My FOCUS Mission Trip taught me how to be vulnerable to people whom I barely know and what it means to love selflessly and wholeheartedly. The Lord showed me that He is present in every given moment, if one only makes the effort to open their eyes to the beauty of those surrounding them in the here and now and stop dwelling on the past/future. Every moment is an opportunity to love and grow closer to Christ. The mission trip helped me to see that I am capable of utilizing every moment to bring greater glory to God!
-Sabrina Harris, Appalachian State University

Dates: May 17th-May 26th*

Mission Director: Kay Stewart

Mission Co-Leaders: Tyler Rosser, Samantha Kelley

Amount to Fundraise: $1500-$2000*

In this Varsity Catholic Mission Camp you will bring the love of Christ to children and young adults of St. Lucia while sharing a mutual love of sport. This soccer camp will teach the youth of St. Lucia to use their God-given talents to glorify Him. As you catechize the youth you will also get the chance to work among the poor and enjoy the beautiful sand beaches and ocean sunsets!

*Dates and Amount to Fundraise subject to change

Spending time with my brothers and sisters from other parts of the world really opened my eyes to the universality of the Church.  We are all awesome sons and daughters of God!
-Jordan Opperman, University of Pittsburg 

Dates: June 1st-June 16th*
Trip Director: Michelle Dupong
Trip Co-Leaders: TBD
Amount to Fundraise:  $3000-$3500*

*Dates and Prices subject to change

Ireland is filled with wonder and allurement as many are drawn to the story of this land. A key part of its heritage is its strong Catholic roots initiated by the missionary efforts of St. Patrick. The Catholic identity of its people was world renowned. Today, the attack against the Church here has been brutal leaving the Faithful staggering on, but holding fast to hope. The opportunity awaits to reawaken the hearts our brothers and sisters in Faith to reclaim their identity in Christ and His Church. It is realistic to believe if this nation turns back to its Catholic roots, it could lead to a change within the whole of Europe.

The layout of this trip will begin with following in the footsteps of the saints before us as we pilgrimage to Knock, where our Lady appeared, and from there, traveling to other Sacred sites, including Croagh Patrick, monasteries, and other holy sites in Ireland. Following this, we will seek to share our Faith by engaging in evangelization. There is a possibility of joining efforts with St. Patrick’s Evangelization School located in Soho, the red-light district of London. The trip would be concluded by us joining the American delegation participating in the 50th International Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin as we experience the universality of the Church. The purpose of the Congress is two-fold: promoting the centrality of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Church and showing us as Catholics the duty we have of reflecting the Eucharist through the way we live our lives.

Before going on this mission trip I considered myself a Catholic who wasn’t sure what it really meant to be a Catholic. Through my experiences I witnessed Catholicism in a whole new way. This allowed me to become much more comfortable with being spiritual and gave me a better sense of what being Catholic really means. It was truly a life changing experience that has helped me in countless ways and for that I am very thankful. 
-Zach Johnston

Dates: March 10th-18th
Trip Director: Patrick Caskey
Trip Co-Leaders: Andrew Meister, Theresa Duerr, Holly Lancaster
Amount to Fundraise: $250 plus cost of travel to Appalachia

Looking for an opportunity to work with the poor and homeless? Come make a difference in the lives of families in Appalachia, one of the poorest counties in the entire United States! The Father Beiting Appalachian Mission Center, through whom the mission trip will be run, has been working to provide a variety of services since 1991. The kind of work that the group will participate in would be the collection and distribution of material goods, helping with supportive housing for at-risk families, and home repairs for families living in substandard housing (depending on the needs of the Mission Center). This is an amazing, cost effective, and exciting opportunity to see the poverty that still exists in the United States, and to make a tangible impact on families who need your help!

*Price Subject to change

We are not made for comfort, we are made for greatness.” Ghana physically, emotionally, and socially stripped me of any comfort I could possibly think of! Yet, there was immense beauty in this suffering, because in the poverty of comfort, I realized the necessity for Jesus Christ in each and every moment of each and every day! Dependence on the Eucharist, prayer, and Mass made this necessity so much so that upon returning to comforts, the challenge presented is to still have the same dependence on Christ amidst living in comfort. Poverty now has a profound and applicable meaning in my life.
-Kelsey Bosworth, South Dakota State University

This Mission will include working with an American missionary priest who has absolutely transformed a village in the West African country of Togo (Ghana’s neighbor to the East).  From building a new church to replace the current church which is made from mud, to teaching catechesis to adults and children, this experience is certainly one that will transform your life and the lives of those you serve.

Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the lives of people in Togo!

You can find more information about this mission at www.togomissionparish.org

*Amount to Fundraise and Dates subject to change

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New Summer Mission Trip for 2011

 Dates: July 7th-August 27th

Trip Director: James Van Hoven

Trip Leaders: Melissa Weeder, Matt Johnson, Mary Grode

Amount to Fundraise: $3200

Live, dine, and learn with Chinese students and university staff as part of a lingua-cultural exchange, an opportunity for people of both cultures to encounter one another in new and challenging ways.

In this collaboration with Intervarsity’s Intercollegiate Global Project, receive basic Chinese language instruction followed by formal presentations on both Chinese and American culture, history, and values. Afternoons and evenings will include free time to experience Chinese culture in inner Mongolia and mingle with the Chinese students in sporting and cultural activities. Students will also have the opportunity to take weekend field trips to the famous grasslands and the desert.

The project is all about being relational; you will be living with a Chinese college student! Friendships formed during these weeks might be the most challenging and the most blessed relationships ever developed. Much of the bonding will happen through conversations and shared experiences during field trips and other informal, off-campus settings in addition to classroom discussions and maybe a few impromptu “all-nighters ” with your roomate! Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and listen, as well as share. Prepare to be challenged to go deeper in your willingness to relate, adjust and love.

You will also enjoy a 4-7 day orientation where you will meet the rest of your team and learn to work with them in such a foreign environment, as well as a short debriefing session to recap the amazing things you learned on the trip!

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              Going on a FOCUS Mission Trip taught me that it is not enough to know Christ, but you have to love him on a deep and intimate level. Without this love of Christ, all other forms of love are tainted, or incomplete. You cannot truly love another person, without first loving Christ.
-Sam Volkmer University of Nebraska Lincoln

Dates: Spring Break: March 10th-18th*
Summer: May 5th – May 16th*

Trip Director: Spring Break: Leah Sedlacek
Summer: Danielle McKenna

Mission Co-Leaders: Spring Break: Laura Scharmer, Michael Preszler, Justin Petrisek
                                  Summer: Rob Johnson,

Amount to Fundraise: Spring Break: $1600*
                                    Summer: $2000*

*Prices and Dates subject to change.

January 12, 2010 marked a cataclysmic and devastating earthquake which would change the history of Haiti forever. With 230,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 made homeless by the earthquake, the people of Haiti are in desperate need of your help.

Even before the earthquake, Haiti held the title of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. On this mission, you will have the opportunity to work with the Missionaries of Charity at in Delmas, a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Volunteer opportunities include staffing a nutrition center serving 200 small children, working in an orphanage, teaching at a school for 400+ or feeding the hungry at a food distribution center.

Other projects could include working in a tiny mountain village with the homeless and poor.  Water and basic services are scarce and we would find ourselves serving in their small school, building homes, or even working in their medical facilities.

There is little doubt that Haiti needs your help! Please consider joining this Mission and making a difference in Haiti today!

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