About FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students)
The Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) is a Catholic lay apostolate founded in 1998 to share the Gospel with college students. Headquartered in Golden, Colorado (just outside Denver), it places teams of recent-graduate missionaries on university campuses — and increasingly in parishes — where they build relationships, lead Bible studies, disciple students, and run retreats, mission trips and the massive annual SEEK conference. The ministry's simple framework is Win, Build, Send: invite people to Christ, accompany them in faith, and equip them to evangelize others. Today FOCUS is one of the largest Catholic outreach movements in the United States, with more than 1,000 missionaries serving on over 250 mission locations.
Mission
To know Christ Jesus and fulfill His Great Commission — and, as the organization states it, "to know, love, and serve God, in this life and the next, and to make disciples of all nations."
- Founded
- 1998
- Founder
- Curtis Martin (with co-founder Edward Sri)
- Leader
- Curtis Martin (Founder & CEO); Craig Miller (CEO of the FOCUS Mission Foundation; previously long-time President of FOCUS)
- Reach
- As of 2025, FOCUS reported more than 250 mission locations — including 211 domestic campuses, 10 international campuses, and 28 parishes — served by over 1,000 missionaries. The annual SEEK25 conference drew a record 21,115 attendees across Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., and Cologne, Germany, including 11,000+ students from FOCUS campuses.
- Serves
- Primarily U.S. college and university students, with expanding outreach to parishioners, student-athletes, fraternity/sorority members, and Catholic young adults of every stage of life.
Our Story: How FOCUS Began
FOCUS was born in January 1998 when Curtis Martin, then working with Dr. Scott Hahn, launched the Fellowship of Catholic University Students during an appearance on EWTN's 'Mother Angelica Live.' The pilot program that same month placed two missionaries and 24 students at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, with Edward (Ted) Sri leading the very first FOCUS Bible study. Within months Martin met Pope St. John Paul II, who heard the vision and offered two words that became the movement's motto: 'Be soldiers.' Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver then invited FOCUS to expand to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, and the work of forming missionary disciples on U.S. campuses began in earnest.
- Founded: January 1998, Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas
- Co-founders: Curtis Martin and Edward Sri
- First expansion: University of Northern Colorado, Greeley (1998, at Archbishop Chaput's invitation)
- Motto from Pope St. John Paul II: 'Be soldiers.'
Mission, Method & Win-Build-Send
FOCUS's stated mission is 'To Know Christ Jesus and Fulfill His Great Commission.' Their entire methodology distills down to a simple three-step rhythm they call Win, Build, Send, modeled on how Jesus formed His first disciples. Missionaries meet people where they are (Win), walk with them in community through Bible studies, mentorship and the sacraments (Build), and then commission them to share the Gospel with others (Send). Missionaries are anchored in Church teaching, daily prayer, the Sacraments, Scripture and evangelization.
- Win — relational outreach and invitation
- Build — small groups, discipleship, prayer, sacraments
- Send — equip disciples to evangelize others
- Anchored in Church teaching, daily prayer, the Sacraments, Scripture, evangelization
Where the Mission Happens: Campus, Parish & Community
Although FOCUS is best known for its campus presence, its work now extends well beyond the university quad. As of 2025, missionaries serve on 211 domestic college campuses, 10 international campuses and in 28 parish communities — and they stress that they serve alongside, not in competition with, existing Newman Centers and diocesan campus ministries. Summer mission projects send students around the world to serve the poor and encounter Christ, while parish-based teams bring the same Win-Build-Send approach to local Catholic communities.
- Campus Life — primary on-campus outreach
- At the Parish — parish-based missionary teams
- Summer Projects — full-time summer formation and service
- Alumni ministry — lifelong accompaniment after graduation
SEEK Conference
SEEK is FOCUS's annual national conference and one of the largest Catholic young-adult gatherings in the world. SEEK25 (theme: 'Follow Me', from John 8:13) was held January 1–5, 2025 in Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace Convention Center and January 2–5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Hilton, with a third location in Cologne, Germany. SEEK25 drew a record 21,115 attendees — including 11,084 students from FOCUS campuses (+16% year over year) and 1,672 students from non-FOCUS campuses (+36%) — along with 46 bishops, 489 priests in Salt Lake City, and 128 priests in Washington, D.C. Featured speakers have included Fr. Mike Schmitz (Bible in a Year), Fr. Mark Mary Ames, CFR (Rosary in a Year), Arthur Brooks, Jason Evert, Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, Monsignor James Shea, Curtis Martin and others; performers have included Forrest Frank, Shayne Smith and Jervis Campbell. SEEK26 is announced for Columbus, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; and Fort Worth, Texas.
- Annual FOCUS conference since the early 2000s
- Multi-city format since SEEK25 (Salt Lake City, Washington D.C., Cologne)
- Daily Mass, Confession, Eucharistic Adoration, keynotes, breakout sessions, entertainment
- SEEK26 announced for Columbus OH, Denver CO, and Fort Worth TX
FOCUS Greek: Outreach to Fraternities & Sororities
FOCUS Greek, founded in 2009, is FOCUS's intentional outreach to fraternity and sorority members on college campuses. FOCUS believes Greek life is 'fertile soil' for relationship with God, with others and for evangelization, because of the values and camaraderie the system claims. More than 180 FOCUS Greek missionaries served on 121 campuses during the 2022–2023 academic year, including the University of Arkansas, the University of Miami, and the University of Georgia. Programs include the 'Fully Alive' Bible study (written by Greeks for Greeks), Greek retreats, Greek Summer Projects, and Greek mission trips to places like the Dominican Republic and Rome.
- Founded 2009
- Fully Alive Bible study for Greek members
- Greek retreats, summer projects and mission trips
- Most FOCUS Greek missionaries are themselves Greek-life alumni
Varsity Catholic: Outreach to Student-Athletes
Varsity Catholic, founded in 2007, accompanies college athletes through the unique pressures of competitive sport. Most Varsity Catholic missionaries are former student-athletes, which lets them understand the rigorous schedules and high-performance culture. The 2022–2023 academic year saw 160+ trained Varsity Catholic missionaries on nearly 90 campuses — including Texas A&M and the University of Kansas — running Bible studies, discipleship, mentorship, and Varsity Catholic Mission Camps in Costa Rica, Honduras, St. Lucia, Panama, Belize and Pittsburgh, where athletes run youth sports camps while sharing the Gospel. The Varsity Catholic Coalition of Coaches is a parallel network of Catholic coaches at the collegiate level.
- Founded 2007
- Bible studies, discipleship and identity-in-Christ mentoring for athletes
- Mission Camps combining sports coaching with evangelization
- Varsity Catholic Coalition of Coaches and the Varsity Catholic Podcast
Leadership & Governance
FOCUS is led by its founder and CEO Curtis Martin, who holds a master's degree in Theology, authored the bestselling book 'Made for More,' and co-hosted the EWTN show 'Crossing the Goal.' Craig Miller serves as CEO of the FOCUS Mission Foundation (the fundraising/financial arm) and was previously President of FOCUS for more than a decade, overseeing operations, administration, development and finance as the ministry grew past 200 mission locations; Miller holds an M.S. in Finance from the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business and an M.A. in Pastoral Theology from the Augustine Institute. Other named leaders include John Zimmer, John Flynn, Rev. Kevin Dyer, SJ, Drew Marsh, Dr. Edward Sri, Eileen Piper and David Bauer. A Board of Directors chaired by Curtis Martin provides governance.
- Curtis Martin — Founder & CEO
- Craig Miller — CEO, FOCUS Mission Foundation; former President
- William Mumma — Interim CEO (per FOCUS leadership page; verify)
- Chairman of the Board: Curtis Martin
How to Get Involved: Becoming a Missionary, Donating & Serving
The main pathway into FOCUS is through missionary recruitment at join.focus.org. Prospective missionaries submit an online application; within about two weeks a recruiter follows up, and if the application moves forward, candidates are invited to a Recruitment Weekend held in cities across the country (recent and upcoming locations include Denver, Alexandria VA, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Columbus, and Maynooth, Ireland, plus virtual interview options). Recruitment Weekends are discernment-focused, include chaplain-led spiritual direction, prayer and interviews, and do not themselves commit a candidate to serving — a job offer follows 2–3 weeks after the weekend. Other ways to get involved include donating online, supporting a specific missionary or campus, partnering as a parish or diocese, attending SEEK, or hosting a FOCUS missionary at your parish.
- Apply online at join.focus.org
- Recruitment Weekends in Denver, Alexandria, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Columbus, Maynooth, and online
- Donate at focus.org/give or call 303.962.5750 / [email protected]
- Attend a SEEK conference, Bible study, or retreat on a FOCUS campus
- Invite FOCUS missionaries into your parish
Headquarters & Contact
FOCUS's national headquarters sits at 603 Park Point Drive, Suite 200, Golden, Colorado 80401, in the foothills just west of Denver. The office is staffed Monday–Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time, and pauses daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. for Rosary, Mass and lunch. General inquiries go to [email protected]; phone 303.962.5750. The FOCUS Mission Foundation (the separately incorporated fundraising arm, headed by Craig Miller) handles gift-related questions at the same phone number and at [email protected].
- Address: 603 Park Point Dr., Suite 200, Golden, CO 80401
- Phone: 303.962.5750
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. MT (closed 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m. for Rosary, Mass, lunch)