2023-2024 FOCUS Team

Josh Schroeder (team leader), Jency Clement, Jordan Pinaroc, Rhianna Thomas

2022-2023 FOCUS Team

Moses Nunez Orellana, (team leader), Natalie Godec, Danae Lally, Jordan Pinaroc

2021-2022 FOCUS Team

Jake Barajas (team leader), Chesna Climaco, Natalie Godec

2020-2021 FOCUS Team

Adrienne Rube team leader), Cameron Schimmoller, Jake Barajas, Sydney Fuller

2019-2020 FOCUS Team

Rachel Michaud (team leader), Adrienne Rube, Cameron Schimmoller, Jake Barajas

2018-2019 FOCUS Team

Rachel Michaud (team leader), Erica Carnohan, Franco Watts, Nick Brown, Sabrina Van Horn

2017-2018 FOCUS Team

Jule Coppa (team leader), Ben Mattern, Erica Carnohan, Franco Watts

2016-2017 FOCUS Team

Lesley-Anne Wharton (team leader), Ben Mattern, Jordan Buzza, Leslie Ogar

2015-2016 FOCUS Team

Carlos Garcia (team leader), Kendra Wurdeman, Jordan Buzza, Summer Swisher, Leslie Ogar (spring)

2014-2015 FOCUS Team

Leanne Tracy (team leader), Caitlin Marmie, Carlos Garcia, John Wojtasek, Maya Neam Moschetti, Alison Jarvis (spring)

2013-2014 FOCUS Team

Cindy O’Boyle Degitis, Darrin Schultz, John Wojtasek, Maya Neam Moschetti

Jordan Pinaroc (2022-present)

Where I serve

God has called me to serve college students at the University of California, Berkeley! Go Bears!

My Story

Coming into my first year at the University of California, Irvine (Go Anteaters!), I knew that I wanted to maintain my Catholic faith. However, I soon realized that despite the intellectual knowledge I had of the faith, and the various involvements I had at my home parish, there was one thing I was lacking: a personal relationship with Jesus. Even with attending Mass every Sunday, going to weekly Bible studies, and weekly prayer meetings, my faith started becoming a checklist in college and I very quickly became tired.

It wasn’t until I attended SLS20 where my faith journey started to change. Myself and thousands of other attendees had the privilege of having Eucharistic adoration right after the New Year countdown into 2020. As I was kneeling, being vulnerable to God and recognizing all of the baggage I was carrying, I felt Jesus looking intently at me in the Blessed Sacrament. It was at this moment where I was overwhelmed and convicted that the Lord knows, sees, and loves me, and desires a relationship with me. Although I don’t have a perfect relationship with Jesus, more and more He has called me closer to His heart, and becoming a FOCUS missionary is another call in this great adventure!

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example to find the best method of reaching the world. I've been constantly amazed by the different souls I've encountered on campus, and can’t wait to encounter the souls I will meet at UC Berkeley.

Moses Nunez Orellana (Team Leader) (2022-2023)

Where I serve

God has called me to serve college students. You'll typically find me hanging out at the university cafe, the Newman Center, or high-fiving people around campus. I have a pretty cool story about how Jesus has changed my life -- I think you should hear it sometime! Come find me and I'd love to share it with you. :)

My Story

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example to find the best method of reaching the world. I've been constantly amazed by the different souls I've encountered on campus.

Natalie Godec (2021-2023)

Where I serve

God has called me to serve college students at the University of California in Berkeley! You'll typically find me hanging out with my team, at the Newman Center, or around campus. I love sports (playing and watching), catching up on podcasts, and reading a good book. But what I enjoy most is sharing Christ's love with those I encounter. I have a pretty cool story about how Jesus has changed my life. Come find me and I'd love to share it with you. :)

My Story

Growing up in a Catholic family and attending Catholic School Pre-K through 12th grade, the Truth of Catholicism was a part of my life. However, I continued to put my identity in athletics and academics until my sophomore year at the University of Colorado. I was challenged to accept my identity as a daughter of God and was invited to cultivate a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that included daily prayer, participation in the Sacraments, a continual desire to grow in knowledge of Church teaching, and fellowship with other students. It was then my heart was softened ever so slowly to accepting my true identity in Christ. In the Fall of 2019, I was invited by a missionary to help lead a pilgrimage to Rome. I jumped at the opportunity and in preparation for this pilgrimage I first heard the Lord's calling for my life to serve with FOCUS. Unfortunately due to COVID we were unable to make the journey, but with some creativity we were able to connect virtually in a time we all needed it most. Through this experience, and countless other encounters with others reflecting Christ's love and mercy towards me, it became clear that the Lord was calling me to mission with FOCUS.  

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example to find the best method of reaching the world. I've been constantly amazed by the different souls I've encountered on campus.

Danae Lally (2022-2023)

Where I serve

God has called me to serve college students at UC Berkeley! You'll typically find me hanging out at the university cafe, the Newman Center, or walking around campus. I have a pretty cool story about how Jesus has changed my life -- I think you should hear it sometime! Come find me and I'd love to share it with you. :)

My Story

When I first entered college, I believed my identity was rooted in my grades, my future job offers, what grad school I went to, and fitting the "model minority" stereotype I thought so many people saw me as. It was in college I truly learned that my identity comes from Christ, and that the only identity that matters is being a daughter of God. I want to help everyone feel God's love and take comfort in the fact that He is our Father; not only has God adopted You as His son or daughter, but we were created out of love to be His children.

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example to find the best method of reaching the world. I've been constantly amazed by the different souls I've encountered on campus.

Jake Barajas (2020-2021, Team Leader 2021-2022)

My Story

In March of 2018, I had an incredibly powerful encounter with Jesus Christ and I made the decision to dedicate 100% of my life to Him. This meant I was not going to think of things in terms of how other people would think of me. Instead, the only concern I would have going forward is how I would be viewed in the eyes of the Lord. This conviction led me to heavily consider applying for FOCUS the following summer. However, after discussing with my family, it seemed it would be best for me to pursue graduate school in hopes of becoming a clinical social worker. Little did I know, God had other plans for me. In August 2018, God vividly called me to serve Him as a FOCUS missionary and there was no way I could deny the call a second time.

After experiencing some highs and lows during my nine semesters in college, there is no denying I was happiest when my life was centered around Jesus.

Contact Jake at jacob.barahas@focus.org

Chesna Climaco (2021-2022)

My Story

Growing up Catholic, I never questioned my faith or religious practices. I went to Church, believed in God, and prayed when I needed to pass a hard exam or when someone close to me needed some extra prayers. My Catholic identity was never challenged until I stepped onto Tulane University's campus where I was exposed to so many diverse people and beliefs. I was up for the challenge, but I knew I needed a community that could strengthen my knowledge and love for Jesus and His Church. 

During my freshman year of college, Jesus gave me space to grow in confidence in Him and in the people He placed in my life. God invited me into a life of divine intimacy with Him through the help of a FOCUS Bible study and discipleship which prompted me to ask the questions that were buried deep in my heart. This spiritual curiosity led me to the adoration chapel every night in search of the Truth. The missionaries and student leaders I encountered guided me through this newfound love for God, and thus invited me into a life of joy that only is possible with Christ at the center of everything! As my relationship with God bloomed, He cultivated my desire to share truth, beauty, and goodness with others around me.

““Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.”” — Gaudium et Spes 24

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ example to find the best method of reaching the world. I've been constantly amazed by the different souls I've encountered on campus.

Pictured here are my best friends (Brooke, Anna, and Sarah) who attended Tulane with me. Through these relationships, I encountered God's love for me as a beloved daughter. Virtuous friendships like these give me the confidence and conviction to share the Good News with students.

My goal for mission can be summed up in this image ! When I answered the call to join FOCUS, I made the decision to rely on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to help me. I've been blessed with the most amazing people who have journeyed with me as I serve on campus. If you are interested in partnering with me, please let me know of the best way to reach you and I will schedule an appointment. I'd be honored to share this mission with you. Let's make Heaven crowded!

Contact Chesna at chesna.climaco@focus.org

Adrienne Rube (2019-2020, Team Leader 2020-2021)

Even though my faith was important to me growing up, I had always kept it tucked neatly in the corner of the life. I had no idea what it meant to really live out and actually pursue my Catholic faith until I went to college, where I was blessed to meet some amazing people at Boston University’s Catholic Center. This incredible group of friends and mentors welcomed me joyfully not only into their own lives, but also into the life of the Church. Through prayer, retreats, the sacraments, and many a meal together (because can there be real friendship without food?), these people loved me deeply and helped me begin to make sense of my longing for greater purpose. Simply put, these people changed my life because they consistently pointed me towards the one person who can truly know, best love, and fully satisfy me - Jesus Christ. 

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to this same Christ, that they might develop a relationship with Him and come to accept the unfathomable love He has for each and every one of us. While I've always been passionate about so many different things - family, music, sports, academics, you name it - I've come to realize that the greatest gift I have been given is above all that of faith, and I want nothing more than to share that with others. It’s clear to me that God has used my post-grad years of working in the publishing industry and attending graduate school not only to continue to show me that my true identity is in being loved by Him, but also to ultimately invite me to more fully be myself by using my gifts in service of this profound truth - namely, to help others see themselves as they truly are, too. 

In His ministry on earth, Jesus did just this: He loved us so much that He humbled Himself to meet us on our level, took on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example as I embark on this mission on the college campus. If I can bring any ounce of the authentic conviction, community, hope, and peace that Christ has given me to the students whom I’ll encounter as a FOCUS missionary, count me in!

Cameron Schimmoller (2019-2021)

Going into college, I invested so much of my identity in my own intellect, as well as relationships that I believed could completely make me completely happy. I struggled to find fulfillment in this, and as I slowly experienced a conversion back into the Catholic faith, I came to know that only Christ can truly fulfill me. My conversion back to faith would not have been possible if God had not worked through some incredible people in my life- including a former FOCUS missionary. The Lord keeps showing me how much deeper He loves me and desires for me to grow in love for Him as well as others. As a missionary, my greatest desire is for God to work through me to lead all students to fulfillment in Him. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In my experience, I know God has made people for close relationship with one another. I want to form close friendships with those I encounter on campus so that they can encounter the Gospel not just through the truth of what it is, but also through me as a model of a fraction of God's love for them. I want the Lord to work through me in bringing them to encounter Him, building them up in faith, and sending them to be models of His love and truth to others.

Email me at cameron.schimmoller@focus.org

Sydney Fuller (2020-2021)

My Story

"Will you lay down your life for me?"  

 This is the ultimate question that Jesus asks of His followers. 

My story is one of gifts from the Lord that have transformed my life! God guides us on our journey to the abundance of life that He has in store for us.

I went to an all-girls Catholic high school and had a strong faith formation and personal relationship with God, but I almost lost my faith in my first year and a half of college, it was not until I received a series of invitations and huge blessings that removed the obstacles between me and the gospel. I arrived face to face with Jesus at a Focus national conference and it changed my life! I came to face His love, mercy, and goodness in the tangible reality of the power of the sacraments in the Eucharist and confession. There I stood with my heart ignited for the Lord, filled with zeal and a profound desire to know Jesus and to imitate Him. I started running back to the Lord. A focus missionary, who is now my dear friend, saw me in this poverty, and guided me in my faith journey on campus for the next year and a half. This is a generation so at risk of losing faith, we have a million pressures pulling us every way. We must respond.

Grace frees us, and allows us to live close to the heart of Jesus, seeking His presence on a daily basis is vital nourishment. As we grow in relationship with Jesus through dedication to our prayer life and the practice of the essential habits of disciples, we cannot help but to grow in imitation of the character of Jesus, who is love and mercy made incarnate. He desires to lead us and transform us into the BEST VERSION of ourselves, and we get to respond to the invitation to open our hearts.

As a FOCUS missionary, my greatest desire is to lead students to Christ and to becoming leaders in their faith. In His ministry, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us where we are at. He took on our humanity and spent most of His time investing deeply in those around Him. I sought Jesus’ own example to find the ministry to pursue.

Your Impact

I said "YES" to serving college students through FOCUS, and I said "yes" to relying on the spiritual and financial support of mission partners to be my teammates, who join me on mission! This is a practice of partnering with a team who choose to support me with their time, talent, and treasure, as I then go to be Christ's hands and feet on campus. 

As Mother Theresa says, "some give my going and others go by giving". God is the ultimate provider and we are the stewards of his gifts for His work.  Let's allow Jesus to transform us and culture through, with, and in Him.

Want to know more? Let's schedule a time to meet either in person or virtually. You can reach me at sydney.fuller@focus.org

Rachel Michaud (Team Leader 2018-2020)

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

I love live music, good coffee and true friendship - and I'm excited to experience all of these things alongside the community here at Cal Newman. One of my heroes is John Paul II who said: "Man only finds himself by making an authentic gift of himself." I hope to find more of myself here in Berkeley!

My Story

Jesus Christ has changed and healed my heart in incredible ways and has called me to dedicate that changed heart to the work of evangelization on college campuses. Ever since I encountered the person of Jesus, I have felt the call to be someone who fosters this encounter of joy and peace for others. 

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead students to Christ. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example as the way that I want to do my part in changing the world through the work that FOCUS is doing on campus. I look forward to influencing one of the most crucial groups of people in the world by engaging with students through small-group Bible studies and through one-on-one mentorship. I'm so excited to see all of the wonderful things that God is going to do through my small "yes" to this ministry!

Email me at rachel.michaud@focus.org, and find me on Facebook!

Franco Watts (2017-2019)

Where I serve

I served my first two years at the University of California, Berkeley, last year I served as Team Director at the University of Missouri, and now I am the first Team Director at California State University, Long Beach! Long Beach State is one of the largest of the 23 California State universities with over 38,000 diverse undergraduate and graduate students. Popular fields of study on this commuter campus include Business Management, Visual & Performing Arts, and Health Professions. The students here will go on to be some of the leaders of the marketplace, the influencers in the arts, and the healers of the communities. I pray that Jesus may enter abundantly into the hearts of the students at Long Beach, that His saving Love may seep into every aspect of our society through the students we serve.

My Story

I grew up in a Catholic family in Murrieta, California. My family helped me to trust God with my life ever since I was a child, but when I was a junior in high school preparing for the sacrament of confirmation at my parish, I realized how real Jesus is and how powerfully He loves me. From then on I felt convicted to live out my identity as His son.

For my undergraduate degree I went to California State University, Fullerton, and received my degree in Cinema and Television Arts. My freshmen year I didn't know exactly what I was going to do with my degree, but when I witnessed my Catholic RA reading the scriptures, loving her peers, giving all to her studies, and living as a disciple of Jesus in the midst of the chaotic college culture, my mind opened to the reality that I could live as a disciple of Jesus too. And I knew that He would lead me in my career and beyond. I started to read and pray with the scriptures on my own every day, and I learned to hear Our Lord speaking to me.

As school went on, the Lord opened up a number of opportunities for me - I was an RA for two years, I joined a fraternity my sophomore year, I studied in Italy for 3 months, and I went on a mission trip to serve the poor in Mexico City. Through these experiences and more, Jesus formed my heart to desire to love all of His diverse people. He helped me to recognize that just as I need to experience His love, forgiveness, and healing in my life in unique ways, every person has a unique story and specific places in their lives and hearts that Jesus desires to renew. Meditating on how St. Teresa of Avila says that Jesus has "no hands, no feet on earth but yours, [...] yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world," I realized that part of my God-given purpose is to actively let Him love His people through me.

One group that struck my heart significantly as an undergrad was the Greek community. Fraternity and sorority students are some of the most driven people on the college campus who strive for success and want to leave a mark on campus and everywhere else they go. At the same time, the Greek system is a community where so many students seek fulfillment and pursue relationships in the wrong places and in the wrong ways.

My junior year, some fellow Greeks and I started a Christian Greek ministry in order to foster a community for Greeks to encounter Jesus. IT WAS AWESOME!Jesus transformed so many lives and brought so much hope to the Greek system on my campus through that ministry, and it was amazing to be a part of that. 

My last semester of my senior year was when I was first exposed to FOCUS.My fraternity brother invited me to a FOCUS Bible study, and a couple weeks later I was invited to go on a mission trip. This mission trip to Mexico City was specifically an all-Greek mission trip with students from four different schools, and I felt the Lord calling my name to go with them. That mission trip was the first time in my life that I encountered Catholics my age who loved and were excited about Jesus, and who just wanted to serve Him. IT BLEW MY MIND THAT PEOPLE LIKE THIS EXISTED! 

A year after I graduated, I felt a strong call from the Lord to discern joining FOCUS where my main focus would be serving Greek students on campus. Soon enough, that discernment turned into a life-changing decision, and now I am so happy and blessed to be serving our Lord with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students!

Ben Mattern (2016-2018)

Where I serve

God has called me to serve college students. You'll typically find me hanging out at the university cafe, the Newman Center, or high-fiving people around campus. I have a pretty cool story about how Jesus has changed my life -- I think you should hear it sometime! Come find me and I'd love to share it with you. :)

My Story

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. In His ministry on earth, Jesus humbled Himself to meet us on our level, taking on our humanity, and spent most of His time investing deeply in a few. I look to Jesus’ own example to find the best method of reaching the world. I've been constantly amazed by the different souls I've encountered on campus.

Maya Moschetti (Neam) (2013-2015)

Where I serve

I am now in my sixth year with FOCUS and my fourth year working for FOCUS as a missionary on a national level in my role as National MPD Specialist after serving two years on campus at the University of California, Berkeley.  After I left Berkeley I married my husband Peter and we now have three wonderful kids, two daughters named Eveyln (June 2016) and Malia (February 2018) and a baby boy named Samuel (October 2019). I get to be part of the behind the scenes team that helps the organization run, grow and prosper. A good way to look at our work at the DSC (Denver Support Center - FOCUS headquarters) is like the work of NASA when working to launch a mission into space. In order to send a team of astronauts into space it takes hundreds on the ground to make it possible and successful. In the same way it takes that kind of work to be able to launch over 600 missionaries onto over 126 campuses that FOCUS is currently serving on. In my role I am part of a team who teaches, coaches, and trains missionaries how to fundraise 100% of their salary to be able to serve on college campuses. We don’t want fundraising to be viewed as a “necessary evil” to serving but as having a vital and impactful part to the work we do and is not at all separate. There are many things that go into this, such as providing training, coaching, curriculum, support, and resources to be available to help missionaries nation wide year-round. To learn more about my role, feel free to contact me!

My Story

During my time as a college student at Colorado State University I was introduced to a relationship with Jesus Christ that not only changed my life but showed me the purpose of why God created me with the help of FOCUS and other campus outreach opportunities. It was after that experience that I was able to hear God's call for me to serve college students. I served my first two years as a FOCUS missionary at the University of California, Berkeley when FOCUS was just introduced to California. I’ve learned so much and I’m even more convicted than ever the importance of being apart of the New Evangelization in world that is so broken and hurting. There are so many souls thirsting for more then what our society promises to attain happiness and this organization is there to support, build, and grow the faith journeys of many. This is what led me to continue being a missionary with FOCUS and to invest more of myself on a national level.