Do FOCUS Missionaries Need Training?

Yes!  FOCUS Missionaries need training!  For 5 weeks each summer all of the first and second year staff gather together for FOCUS' New Staff Training.  During training, missionaries participate in an intensive course load of classes covering four different leadership areas - human development, spiritual development, intellectual development, and apostolic development.  Not only is New Staff Training a time of learning and personal growth, it is very life-giving to be around the other couple hundred missionaries and share inspiring stories from our year serving on our respective campuses.  This year New Staff Training was held at Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL.

This is the Oratory where we had Mass and prayed everyday.  

Ave Maria, FL is a beautiful place!

During the summer months in southern Florida it storms every afternoon.  

This image perfectly captures what the storm clouds looked like everyday around 3-4pm.

All of the missionaries live in small communities of 7-8 people while at training.  This summer I was the dean of this community.  Our patron saint was Blessed Chiara Badano.

This is Blessed Chiara Luce Badano.  Chiara lived in Italy from 1971-1990.  She is known for expressing pure joy and trust in the Lord while she suffered and ultimately died from a serious and painful form of bone cancer.  She died at the young age of 18.

During our breaks from class, time was spent with friends and religious sisters or priests.  This is a group of us enjoying ice cream with the Sisters of Life, an order from the Bronx.

Say hello to my new team!  This year we have 4 returning missionaries at Benedictine and 6 new missionaries!  I can't wait to work with them and get to know them better.