Fellowship of Catholic University Students

The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) is a Catholic outreach program for American college students founded in 1997 by Curtis Martin and Dr. Edward Sri at Benedictine College.

Catholic outreach to American Students

FOCUS established its pilot program in January 1998 at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, with two staff members and 24 students. Curtis Martin met with Pope John Paul II in 1998, and shared the vision of FOCUS with him. The Pope's words to Curtis were, “Be soldiers.” At the invitation of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, former Archbishop of Denver, a FOCUS program was established in the fall of 1998 at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley. Archbishop Chaput has said, "No one does a more dynamic job of reaching college students for Christ than FOCUS."

FOCUS' purpose, what the organization calls "The Main Thing" is: "Inviting college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.

FOCUS currently has over 400 full-time staff members. FOCUS takes recent college graduates, trains them in the teachings of the Catholic Church, Scripture and practical aspects of ministry, and sends them out typically in teams of four to serve on college campuses. FOCUS staff members make an initial two-year commitment to this full-time work on campus. FOCUS works with the approval of the local bishop and the support of the local pastor, as well as existing campus ministries.

Curtis Martin

Curtis Martin is the president and founder of FOCUS. In 2011, Curtis Martin was appointed as Consulter to the Pontifical Council of the New Evangelization by Pope Benedict XVI. Martin is one of just 25 consultors and one of two Americans named to this Pontifical Council.

Martin holds a Masters degree in Theology and is the author of the best-selling book Made for More, and co-host the EWTN show Crossing the Goal. In 2004, Curtis and his wife Michaelann were awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope John Paul II for their outstanding service to the Church.

Current campuses

In fourteen years, FOCUS now extends to 74 campuses in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

Alabama

• Auburn University

Arizona

• Arizona State University
• Northern Arizona University

Colorado

• Colorado State University
• Colorado School of Mines
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• University of Northern Colorado

FOCUS Digital Campus

Connecticut

• University of Connecticut
• United States Coast Guard Academy

Florida

• Ave Maria University
• Florida Gulf Coast University
• University of Florida

Georgia

• Georgia Southern University

Illinois

• Bradley University
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (St. John's Catholic Newman Center)
• University of Illinois at Chicago (John Paul II Newman Center)
• Northwestern University

Indiana

• Ball State University
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

Iowa

• Drake University
• Loras College

Kansas

• Benedictine College
• University of Kansas

Kentucky

• University of Kentucky

Louisiana

• University of Louisiana at Lafayette
• Tulane University

Maryland

• Mount St. Mary's University
• United States Naval Academy
• University of Maryland at College Park

Massachusetts

• Boston University
• University of Massachusetts-Amherst
• Harvard

Minnesota

• University of Minnesota, Duluth
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Winona State University

Missouri

• Missouri State University
• Southeast Missouri State University
• University of Missouri, Kansas City

Nebraska

• College of St. Mary's
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• University of Nebraska at Omaha

New Jersey

• Montclair State University
• Seton Hall University
• Ramapo College of New Jersey
• Fairleigh Dickinson University

New York

• New York University
• Columbia University

North Carolina

• Belmont Abbey College

North Dakota

• North Dakota State University
• University of North Dakota
• University of Mary

Ohio

• Franciscan University of Steubenville

Oklahoma

• University of Tulsa
• University of Oklahoma

Pennsylvania

• University of Pittsburgh
• Carnegie Mellon University

South Dakota

• South Dakota State University
• University of South Dakota

Tennessee

• Vanderbilt University
• University of Tennessee

Texas

• Texas State University
• University of St. Thomas (Houston)
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of North Texas
• Baylor University

Vermont

• University of Vermont

Virginia

• George Mason University
• James Madison University
• University of Mary Washington
• University of Virginia

Washington D.C.

• George Washington University

Wisconsin

• University of Wisconsin–Madison
• University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse

District of Columbia

• George Washington University

External links

• Official FOCUS website
• FOCUS - Curtis Martin
• Article on FOCUS