FOCUS Missionaries
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Madeline Fric - Team Director
Hello! My name is Madeline Fric. I claim South Carolina as home; however I have lived all over the country in 8 different states, claiming places as homes left and right. I am always up for an adventure, whether it’s a hike in the mountains, paddle boarding on the water, or chasing the sunset. But you're just as likely to find me at my easel: painting and drawing away. I am currently in classical training as a Renaissance artist: I focus on capturing realism and the beauty in the details of the ordinary. My current saint friends are St. Mary Magdalene and St. Paul as they share with me their witness of a changed heart and story. I am serving my fourth year with FOCUS and I am excited to see what God has in store this year!
E-mail: [email protected] -
MaryRose Nistler
Hello, my name is Mary Rose! As a missionary, my greatest and BIGGEST desire is to lead all students to Christ!I am blessed to have grown up in a devout Catholic family, but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I met the Lord. Through my brother’s example as a FOCUS missionary and the other missionaries I met through him, I noticed something different about them. These people had purpose, zeal, and a radical amount of joy. This intrigued me, and I wanted whatever this was.
The spring of my senior year of high school, a missionary invited me to go to coffee. Though I did not think much of it at the time, this moment changed everything for me. What started off as small talk quickly turned into her asking questions and inquiring what I desired in life. I gave her a basic answer- I wanted to be happy. She continued to challenge me and finally looked in my eyes, saying, “MaryRose, do you believe Jesus Christ wants a personal relationship with you?” I was stunned. All my life I had grown up knowing about God, but did not actually know Him. He desires to talk to each of us amidst everything. Thankfully, this missionary did not stop there but encouraged me to see Him in the Eucharist every day. Throughout these last four years the Lord has relentlessly pursued my heart through relationship with Him and the people He has placed in my life.
I desire to serve all college students, but specifically women. I have observed that all students are searching for the same thing as I once was- happiness. We live in the most comfortable time in history, yet each of us know so much suffering. Both Mother Teresa and JP2 referred to this isolation as the greatest poverty. I want college men and women to be happy. This comes through community and ultimately the man Jesus Christ who has changed my life.
E-mail: [email protected] -
Karl Ocampo
Growing up, my faith journey began at the age of 12 when I joined my local youth ministry. Little did I know that this decision would shape the course of my life. As I grew in my faith, I took on the role of a youth leader during my junior and senior years of high school, guiding and mentoring younger members of our community.My passion for sharing the love of Christ led me to become a Confirmation Catechist during my first two and a half years in college. My inherent goal was to inspire the candidates to form their own faith in Christ. This experience deepened my understanding of the importance of faith formation and ignited a desire to serve others through ministry. Attending UC Berkeley presented me with new challenges and opportunities. As the outreach chair, I worked tirelessly to connect with students, inviting them to explore their faith and find a home within our community. It was during this time that I felt a strong calling to dedicate my life to serving others and be truly devoted to my faith while spreading the message of God’s love.
Through prayer, discernment, and the support of my loved ones, I made the decision to become a FOCUS missionary. I am excited to embark on this journey, sharing my faith and walking alongside others as they discover the transformative power of a relationship with Christ.
E-mail: [email protected] -
Elias Whaley
I was raised Catholic in a town called Brookings, South Dakota. Growing up I didn’t think faith was important and as I got older it faded from my life completely. After high school I moved to Atlanta, Georgia to pursue an acting career. This dream fell apart due to strikes happening within the film Industry and I was forced to come back home.I had built up acting as the be all and end all of my life and when it came crashing down, I felt like my life had no purpose. It was around this time of searching for meaning that I met Jesus and started my journey with him. That was in 2022. Ever since then I have had a growing desire to share Christ with as many people as I could.
I met the FOCUS Missionaries at the college in my hometown. I saw their joy for mission and the impact they were having on the students. I knew this was something I wanted to be a part of, but I didn’t think it was something I was called to do. After a couple months of God continuing to push me in the direction of FOCUS, I realized it was something he wanted me to do as well. Saying yes to that call was the best decision I’ve ever made!
E-mail: [email protected]