On campus to share the faith

By Christina Galeone | CFP Correspondent 

Last year, when Bishop McManus appointed Father Donato Infante III director of the diocesan Office for Vocations, he encouraged him to reach out to the area’s colleges, where he believes there are students being called to religious vocations. But when Father Infante approached the bishop and asked him to consider bringing Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionaries to Worcester Polytechnic Institute, he realized that the missionaries would not only be able to support students in their callings, but they’ll also be able to help them grow in faith.   

“A friend in a nearby diocese said it was the best thing his diocese has ever done for vocations, as people who are intentionally living the faith are open to consider priestly and religious vocations,” Father Infante said. “It also will help students to live their faith post-college, when many students feel lost as the only young adult in a parish, and I hope it will also lead to many holy and happy marriages.”     

Bishop McManus agreed. He invited four FOCUS missionaries to work with the campus ministry at WPI. When classes resume there on Aug. 31, Alexia Maliakal, Luke Helbling, Mariana Pimiento-Rincon and Michael Selton will embark on the nonprofit’s mission to bring students into an evolving relationship with Jesus and his Church. 

Like other FOCUS missionaries, who now serve on more than 170 college campuses across the United States and Europe, the missionaries at WPI will reach out to students about their faith. They’ll lead socially distanced Bible studies and encourage students to attend Mass and participate in eucharistic adoration. And they’ll inspire students at faith-based social events.  

Father Alfredo Porras, the Catholic chaplain at WPI, is excited about the missionaries’ arrival.  

“I know the FOCUS team will help strengthen the community of faith and virtue on the WPI campus,” Father Porras said. “My hope is that they will form genuine friendships with the students in order to encourage each other in the pursuit of holiness and closeness to the Lord, and so help the community become a stronger witness of the unity of faith and reason.” 

Luke Helbling, one of WPI’s new missionaries, found that unity when he was at George Mason University in Virginia. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information technology earlier this year.  But while he said that his faith grew and he felt called to serve others because of  “retreats, conversations and a deeper prayer life” encouraged by FOCUS missionaries, he recognizes that many students are afraid to live their faith due to fear of their peers’ disapproval. 

“I desire to help students work through this fear …,” he shared. “When we are rooted in our identity as sons and daughters of a loving God, we can trust that he will work through us, especially in uncomfortable and challenging situations that we surrender to him. This shift in thought will radically change the way students live their lives on campus, as witnesses to the love and glory of God.” 

Michael Selton, another member of the team – who, like Luke, is grateful to FOCUS missionaries for nurturing his faith – agrees that the negative influence of peers can prevent students’ faith from flourishing. The 2020 graduate of Mount St. Mary’s University believes that “party culture, academia that conflicts with Catholicism and lack of encouragement … to attend Mass” interfere with students’ faith. But he believes that having a campus community that affirms students’ faith can turn things around. He’s also a strong advocate for the rosary, which he turned to while the public celebration of Mass was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.   

“It got me much more connected with the Gospel, the holy sacraments, and understanding the love that the Triune God has for humanity,” Mr. Selton shared. He added, “I decided that I wanted to help students … live out their faith, while also educating them on the beauty of the sacraments and the Gospel. Especially, in the sacrament of the Eucharist when our mind, body, and soul are literally connected with Jesus Christ. Throughout college, I witnessed the positive impact that FOCUS missionaries had on college students. I want to have this same positive impact.” 

Because of the pandemic, reaching out to students and having that positive impact will be challenging. But the missionaries are maintaining a positive attitude.  

Mariana Pimiento-Rincon, who’s originally from Bucaramanga, Colombia, and graduated from The King’s College in New York in May, believes that their faith will help them to share the Gospel with the students.   

“There are always risks in sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others, but God is always providing opportunities in every time and every place … to draw men and women to himself,” she said. “For these reasons, our team is striving to be creative with our mission through various virtual events as well as socially distanced methods to continue evangelization and discipleship efforts on campus this coming fall. Though the challenges are great, we are thrilled to step into this mission knowing Christ walks ahead in every step.”  

And Alexia Maliakal, the team’s director, would certainly agree. She has seen stunning transformations. The Texas native who graduated from Boston University became a FOCUS missionary in 2017. That year, she befriended a Protestant student whom she eventually convinced to attend a FOCUS conference and join her Bible study group. The student encountered Christ in the Eucharist and decided to become Catholic. 

“In her newfound zeal and love for the faith, she shared her conversion experience with another student heavily involved in the occult,” she recalled. “This witness and friendship had a profound effect on the other student, who also eventually joined RCIA and embraced the teachings of the Church. The two of them entered the Church this past year and have been radically running after Christ – and bringing as many people with them as possible – ever since.” 

Father Infante believes that vibrant campus ministry programs are the key.  

“FOCUS can be a part of that, if the fit is right for the campus,” he said. “My hope is that, over the next several years, our diocese might discern that FOCUS is right for more campuses.”