“We were made for a relationship with Him”: Student Stories with Brianna Krampe

This year’s Student Stories speak to the impact of our FOCUS missionaries, who work alongside Fr. Nick to reach all Catholics at Hope College. The mission of FOCUS is “to know Christ Jesus and fulfill his Great Commission.” Through Bible studies, conferences, and community building events, FOCUS invites college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.

Brianna Krampe
Hope College sophomore and FOCUS Bible study participant

Hi! My name is Brianna Krampe and I am a sophomore at Hope College. In the midst of the whirlwind that was freshman year, I knew I wanted to grow in my relationship with God, but I didn’t know how. When I was asked to join a Bible study, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to make a step in my relationship with Him. Over the course of freshman year, Bible study was a source of peace and discovery for me in the midst of one of the biggest periods of change in my life. Bible study gave me peace in the community it built and an opportunity to discover who I am and where I can grow.

The community that Bible study has given me, and continues to give me, is something I am so grateful for. Every Wednesday, I looked forward to leaving the stress behind and taking the time out of my busy schedule to just sit in fellowship with other women of God and dive into God’s word. I was able to build some amazing relationships with my Bible study leader and the other girls in my group. Having a safe place where I could go to explore who God is and who I am in Him was something that gave me the foundation I needed to grow in my faith; it led me down the path of faith I am on today.

One of the first things we learned about in Bible study was the idea that we are God’s children and we were made for a relationship with Him. While I grew up learning this truth, this was the moment when I applied it to my life and realized that God loves me more than I know and that he desires a relationship with me. Through this study, I was able to see myself through God’s eyes and it changed my view of myself and my relationship with Him. We also went through the feminine genius Bible study, which was my favorite one that we did. This study helped build my confidence in who I am as a daughter of God. It showed me what it means to be a woman of faith and how we are called to serve in the church.

Through Bible study, I was covered in the armor of God and given the skills needed to be a good soldier of Christ. I was also blessed with the fellowship of other good soldiers to stand next to me on this journey through life. When I was asked if I wanted to make God the center of my life, I knew there wasn’t anything else I wanted. So, when asked to join discipleship, I said yes! Discipleship was a great opportunity to take the knowledge learned in Bible study and see how it can play out in our lives. I grew better habits and became more disciplined in my journey of pursuing Christ.

When asked to pursue the higher call to mission, I hesitated because I didn’t feel worthy to lead others when I was just starting to figure everything out, but through humility I realized it wasn’t I who would, but the Holy Spirit. Being called to be used by God as a vessel of his message is something so special and it has been a huge growth experience to share God’s truth with those whom I lead.

In conclusion, the opportunities for discovery and the peace received from Bible study are things that both challenged me and supported me in my faith journey. It gave me a strong foundation to lean on through the ups and downs that college presented. I am beyond grateful that God put that yes on my heart to join my Bible study because, without Bible study, I would definitely not be where I am today.

“Who do you say that I am?” Student Stories with Gavin Livingston

This year’s Student Stories speak to the impact of our FOCUS missionaries, who work alongside Fr. Nick to reach all Catholics at Hope College. The mission of FOCUS is “to know Christ Jesus and fulfill his Great Commission.” Through Bible studies, conferences, and community building events, FOCUS invites college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.

Gavin Livingston
Hope College student and FOCUS Bible study participant

Up until five months ago, I did not know that FOCUS existed. That is because I did not know much about anything affiliated with Catholicism. When I went to my first Bible study, I did not know what to expect. I was taken aback by how much community there was between a group of guys who likely did not know one another. Over time, I came to realize that this Bible study was heavily influenced by encountering Jesus through deep diving into the Word and reflecting on it, being impacted by the community through getting to know others, and taking away lessons from this Bible study that I will remember for the rest of my life.

Encountering our Lord Jesus Christ in a Bible study can take many forms. For me, one way I encountered Jesus was getting the topic question on my first day. The question was, “Who do you say that I am?” Growing up, I always heard about Jesus dying for our sins, but I never knew why. I was allowed to study Jesus a couple of years ago, and haven’t looked back since, but I guess I never gave this question any thought. However, once we finished our Bible study and talked about this question, it hit me. Jesus is Lord. I knew that before, but after seeing Jesus work through the lives of the people involved in my Bible study, something about the word “Lord” really resonated with me. It allowed me to encounter Jesus personally and seek growth in his love.

Community in a Bible study was essential for me because it showed me that I’m not alone in my journey to knowing and loving our Lord. When we, as a group, went over specific questions and topics relating to Jesus, I would love to hear everyone pitch their answers or ideas, because it allowed me to learn more about Jesus and be with a group of people who share the same ideas and answers to questions.

Finally, one lesson that was formative for me was seeing a visualization of man and God separated by sin, and realizing that the ultimate bridge from man to God was the work done on the cross. I learn really well when I’m given a visual representation of something, and this study did just that. Since I was allowed to see this image, I have gained a clearer understanding of the work done on the cross.  

Overall, a Bible study can teach someone many things that will help them go through life. For me, it was discovering who Jesus said he was, being surrounded by community, and finally visualizing a bridge between us and God.

“He loves me as His own”: Student Stories with Sophie Hardy

This year’s Student Stories speak to the impact of our FOCUS missionaries, who work alongside Fr. Nick to reach all Catholics at Hope College. The mission of FOCUS is “to know Christ Jesus and fulfill his Great Commission.” Through Bible studies, conferences, and community building events, FOCUS invites college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.

Sophie Hardy
Hope College sophomore and FOCUS Bible study participant

Hello! My name is Sophie Hardy, and I am a sophomore here at Hope. I first got asked about joining a Bible study in the fall semester of freshman year. I knew right away that I wanted to join because I wanted to grow more intellectually in my faith, and I wanted to be able to explain our faith in an appropriate manner. I also wanted to read more of the Bible because I did not have much experience in that area of faith.

In the first study, the topic was on our identity and the question of what we are made for. We talked about Genesis and how we are made for this unique, Father-Son/Daughter relationship with God. This was the first time that it hit me that I am truly a daughter and child of God. He loves me as His own.

As soon as our first study ended, I knew I wanted to make this a priority. I wanted to make sure that I could make it to every study because I was so intrigued, and I desperately wanted to keep learning.

Over time, I became more invested, and I was given the Gospel presentation where I was asked if I wanted to make Jesus the center of my life through discipleship. When I was first asked this question, I wanted to say yes, but there was a small part of me that was unsure, unsure about what I would have to give up, what things I would have to add on to my schedule, or what life would even look like. But the Holy Spirit was working within me, and I said yes. Praise God.

The Holy Spirit continued to work in my life through discipleship by showing me practical ways of how to truly make the Lord my priority and center of my life. It started with prayer, how to pray, and how to schedule it into my routine. This slowly grew into a set prayer routine that I stick to and rely on amidst life’s joys and trials. I learned the importance of intercessory prayer and investing in others. I rediscovered the importance of the sacraments and the grace that God pours out for us in those forms of immense love and mercy.

One final thing that really hit me through Bible study and discipleship was the power and influence that other people of faith can have on your life. My Bible study leader and discipler was amazing. I always felt welcomed, seen, and heard by her. I knew I could always go to her with whatever I needed, whether it was simply a walk to catch up on each other’s lives or a chat about life’s struggles. Through this experience, God revealed to me that He was asking me to join this higher call of mission to bring other people closer to Him just as He had my leader bring me closer to Him. I wanted to be that person for other women. I want women to know they aren’t on this journey alone.

Bible study and discipleship were the first steps I took in really starting my relationship with the Lord. Without those stepping stones, I don’t think I would be where I am today. They gave me a strong foundation that has kept me grounded in faith and rooted in the unimaginable love of our Heavenly Father. I will forever be grateful to God for putting this yes in my heart that has brought me closer to Him.

“Do I desire to share this with others?” Student Stories with Zachary Chambers

This year’s Student Stories speak to the impact of our FOCUS missionaries, who work alongside Fr. Nick to reach all Catholics at Hope College. The mission of FOCUS is “to know Christ Jesus and fulfill his Great Commission.” Through Bible studies, conferences, and community building events, FOCUS invites college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.

Zachary Chambers
Hope College junior and FOCUS Bible study participant

Bible study, something that has been a staple of my junior year of college, was at one point something I never imagined would become a staple of my life. Coming from a background that did not involve the faith, or much exposure to Jesus at all, I had not a clue what I was doing. Freshman year, I participated in a Bible study with my RA, which gave me basic understandings of different Christian beliefs, along with some of my closest friends to this day.

However, the impact of Bible study truly came during my sophomore year in the spring. I had come across Nathan, one of the FOCUS missionaries that year. We briefly knew each other outside of my attendance at Mass (which began that fall), but we got to know each other more through our semi-frequent meals. He invited me to join his Wednesday night Bible study, and from then on I was hooked. I was learning how to pray and how to do so with more intention, and learned so much about the Catholic faith. His Bible study was what I looked forward to every Wednesday, and was what led me to joining another FOCUS Bible study this year.

This year, I have had the privilege of being in a FOCUS Bible study that has been truly challenging me with the depth of our readings and topics, along with questions that push me to pray and think more deeply about the faith and about my relationship with Jesus. Just this week, the question, “Do I desire to share this with others?” was what challenged us. The challenge is to share the Gospel to those around us, even if it is uncomfortable. The Gospel wasn’t spread because the disciples were comfortable, it was because it needed to be spread. So, with questions like these happening during each Bible study, it is very easy to be challenged theologically and also spiritually. Bible study has also led me to greater opportunities than I have ever had before, between discipleship with our leader Nick, to the countless conversations with the other members and missionaries, and to the potential of me leading my own Bible study next spring.

I believe that a Bible study is something that all college students should think and pray about joining, regardless of their knowledge of the Bible and about Jesus. Bible study is one of the safest places to learn about Jesus alongside others who are there to learn about Him. The scariest part is the first step of going. Once you go for the first time, it gets easier and easier to continue. Eventually for some like me, it will become a staple of their week and be something that they look forward to attending each week. It is the basis for why my faith has grown so much since the start of 2025, leading me to the best decision I have made: converting to Catholicism. The Bible Studies, Exodus 365, prayer, and countless conversations with Fr. Nick, my girlfriend Kate, and good friends Stephen and Mark, I found that the Catholic Faith was true and what I needed in life. So, now I am going through the process of becoming an official Catholic, which has been the scariest but most exciting thing I have ever done, and it all started with reluctantly saying yes to an invite to a FOCUS Bible study.

Meet the 2025-2026 FOCUS Missionaries

2025-2026 FOCUS Missionaries to Hope College: Nicholas Fornarotto (Team Director), Katie Pattee, Katy Genna, and Patrick McCoy. Not pictured: Lily-Kate Prichard.

In the fall of 2023, the Saint Benedict Institute began a partnership with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), bringing FOCUS campus missionaries to Hope College.

The mission of FOCUS is “to know Christ Jesus and fulfill his Great Commission.” FOCUS does this by inviting college students into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church, inspiring and equipping them for a lifetime of Christ-centered evangelization, discipleship, and friendship in which they lead others to do the same.

In the short time FOCUS has been on campus, hundreds of Hope students have attended their Bible studies as well as the annual FOCUS SEEK conference. We are grateful for their ministry!

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Our 2025-2026 Focus Missionaries:

Nicholas Fornarotto
FOCUS Team Director

Nicholas Fornarotto grew up in Pocatello, Idaho. He graduated from Hope College in 2022 with a degree in mechanical engineering. During his time at Hope, Nicholas encountered Christ in the Eucharist through a friend. He went on to join the Catholic Church his senior year. After experiencing the love of God in the Church, he had a desire to share this love with others. With some prompting from friends, Nicholas looked into FOCUS and went on to become a missionary. He served his first year at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and is now in his second year at Hope College. He can be reached at nicholas.fornarotto@focus.org.

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Patrick McCoy
Focus Missionary

Patrick McCoy grew up in Gonzales, Louisiana. He graduated from Louisiana Tech University in 2025 with a degree in computer science and a minor in secondary education. Patrick grew up in a Catholic household, but did not take the faith seriously until his sophomore year at Louisiana Tech, when his best friend invited him to a Thursday night Bible Study. During his junior year he got involved in a FOCUS Bible Study and discipleship, which taught him the importance of prayer and the sacraments. After really understanding the love of God in the church, he had a desire to share this love with others. After a few mission trips, retreats, and having FOCUS on campus, he looked into FOCUS and became a missionary to share the love that Christ has in him to the students at Hope College. Patrick can be reached at patrick.mccoy@focus.org.

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Katie Pattee
Focus Missionary

Katie Pattee is from Lakeville, MN and graduated from South Dakota State University, where she earned a degree in mechanical engineering and competed on the swim team. During her time at SDSU, she came to recognize the love God has for His children and the need to share that with others. After graduating, she made the decision to become a missionary and is in her first year at Hope College. Katie can be reached at kathleen.pattee@focus.org.

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Katy Genna
Focus Missionary

Katy Genna grew up in Boise, Idaho. She graduated from Benedictine College in the spring of 2023 with a degree in Theology and Evangelization. While in college, she had a powerful encounter with Jesus on a mission trip her junior year which made her fall in love with Jesus and mission. After that mission trip, she then pursued FOCUS and became a missionary. She served her first two years with FOCUS at Dickinson State University in North Dakota and is now in her third year at Hope College. She can be reached at katelyn.genna@focus.org.

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Lily-Kate Pritchard
Focus Missionary

Lily-Kate Pritchard is originally from Orlando, Florida and Madison, Wisconsin. She is a December Grad at Hope College studying History Secondary Education and will complete her student teaching at Grand Rapids Catholic Central high school this fall. Lily-Kate grew up Catholic, but never practiced more than the “bare minimum.” Thanks to two Hope Catholic students–and later, a FOCUS missionary–Lily-Kate came to realize the depth of the Catholic faith and what it means to have a relationship with the Lord in prayer. Now, she hopes to share the life-changing truth of the love of God with other college students as a FOCUS missionary! She can be reached at lily.pritchard@focus.org