Father Eilers visited the FOCUS headquarters in 2009 and was impressed, so he sought the bishop’s approval to bring the missionaries to Texas State.
“Today we are the only college campus in Texas with FOCUS missionaries,” he said. Because FOCUS is a new ministry, there are not enough missionaries to send to every campus that requests them.
“I felt that Texas State would be a prime location for FOCUS, because of our unique demographics,” Father Eilers explained. “We have a large population of Catholics, but only a small percentage participate.”
He knows they will encourage Catholic college students to continue practicing their faith and they will be shining examples of Catholicism for those who are not Catholic.
“These missionaries can reach out as peers and confidants, and examples of joyful, good Christians,” Father Eilers said.
Since arriving at Texas State, Huelsing and the other five new missionaries: Andrea Huelsing (Mike Huelsing’s wife), Jon Ervin, Reese Harris, Sara Griffith and Brian D’Andrea have been met with “amazing acceptance,” he said.
Mike Huelsing reports a gratifying increase of student traffic through the Catholic center.
“We have enrolled more than 170 new students into our weekly Bible studies, brought in 60 students to our new Power Hour evenings of praise and worship, and recently took 20 students on a tubing excursion,” he said. “We are very encouraged about the response we’re getting.”
Nationwide, FOCUS missionaries have seen positive results. Since its inception in 1998, the numbers of students participating in campus Bible studies, Mass, the sacrament of confession and campus ministry events have grown substantially. And 236 young people have answered the call to the priesthood or religious life in areas where FOCUS missionaries minister.
The movement was started by husband and wife, Curtis and Michaelann Martin, who were inspired by Pope John Paul VI’s call to a “new evangelization” of the Catholic faith. It began with four missionaries serving one college campus and has grown to more than 250 missionaries serving 50 campuses today.
FOCUS missionaries have the double duty of evangelizing and also fundraising for all their living expenses.
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“We have to raise 100 percent of our salary,” Mike Huelsing said. “We will speak at our hometown parishes requesting donations, and send out letters to family and friends. We try to get our finances worked out during the summer, so we can devote the school year to our campus missionary work.”
Father Eilers said the missionaries are great role-models for the college students.
“They challenge our student leaders to take a step up in their faith. Research shows that once students engage in campus ministry, they are far more likely to be with the church, as active participants, for the rest of their lives. And that is ultimately our purpose –– to grow authentic Catholic leaders for the future.”
For more information on the Catholic Student Center at Texas State University, visit www.txstatecatholic.org. For more information on FOCUS, visit www.focusonline.org.
Printed with permission from the Catholic Spirit, newspaper for the Diocese of Austin, Texas.