“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.

Prayer, Fellowship, and Shenanigans: 2025-2026 Back to School Recap

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year and SBI’s eleventh year of ministry to Hope College! Thanks be to God, the year is off to an amazing start.

Student Leader Retreat

About twenty-five students participated in SBI’s third annual student leader retreat, which occurred right before the official start of the semester. The leadership team of the Hope Catholics student group, Genesis and Exodus leaders, as well as FOCUS Bible study leaders were invited to participate. You Have Only One Problem, a new book of short meditations by Connor Gallagher of TAN Books, served as the basis for the group discussions. It focused on the central idea of surrendering to God’s will as the center of Christian life from which all ministry flows. 

Freshmen Meet-and-Greet

Nearly one hundred incoming Catholic freshmen along with their parents joined the Saint Benedict Institute in the A. Paul Schaap Science Center atrium for a meet-and-greet on move-in day. We began with fellowship and greetings from our executive director, Dr. Jared Ortiz, before we introduced our new team of FOCUS missionaries, who whisked the students away for an icebreaker. (Rumor has it that root beer floats were involved.) The parents remained to listen to SBI’s chaplain, Fr. Nick Monco, O.P., who gave an overview of SBI’s spiritual formation offerings. Then Deacon Brian Piecuch, SBI’s development director, spoke on donations, while Anthony Schena, a parent of three Hope College Catholic students, encouraged parents to tithe to SBI so that their children can have a vibrant church experience during their college years. The gathering ended with Q&A. 

First Week of Class Events

Our FOCUS missionaries and Hope Catholics organized a slew of first week activities, including an ice cream sundae party, First Day of School pictures, games, runs to Culvers and Goodtime Donuts, pickup pickleball, and (of course) Mass.

On-Campus Mass

Finally, we are happy to report that Winants Auditorium was packed for our first on-campus Sunday Mass. Deo gratias!

Community members: Please join us for Mass! You can find our schedule of services here. Please note that Mass is cancelled when Hope College is on break. You can find Hope’s academic calendar at https://hope.edu/catalog/info/academic-calendar/.

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2024-2025 Year in Review

Campus Ministry

SBI’s campus ministry continued to flourish. More than 170 students attended FOCUS Bible studies, the number of Exodus and Genesis 90 participants rose to record levels, forty-three students attended the SEEK conference, and five students attended our annual retreat at Saint Meinrad Archabbey. Our public witness also continued: Our students once again built an ice altar in the Pine Grove, and we held our second Eucharistic Procession. Best of all, ten students came into the Church this year.

A Civil Dialogue on Sex and Gender

In October, the Saint Benedict Institute hosted lawyer John Bursch and scholar Dr. Megan DeFranza for an evening of civil dialogue on sex and gender. After a discussion moderated by SBI director Jared Ortiz, our guests answered questions from the audience.

Dominican Low Rite Mass

Dominican Low Rite Mass

This past autumn, Fr. Nicholas Monco, O.P. celebrated three low Masses in the Dominican Rite. This rarely celebrated variation on the Traditional Latin Mass is unique to the Order of Preachers. It contains several unusual gestures and rituals, including a moment when the priest holds his arms in a cruciform position.

SEEK Conference

Over Christmas, forty-three students, Fr. Nick, and our FOCUS missionaries traveled to Denver to attend the SEEK conference, hosted by FOCUS. SEEK draws thousands from across the country who come to learn and experience the love of Jesus Christ in and through His Church.

With Bishop Walkowiak at the SEEK Conference.

Third Annual Ice Altar

For the third year, Hope College students constructed an ice altar in Hope’s Pine Grove behind Graves Hall. Sadly, the first Mass celebrated on this year’s ice altar was a Requiem Mass for Jennifer Kasunick, a Hope student and SBI Genesis 90 participant, who died tragically on January 11. Please continue to pray for Jennifer, her family, and the Hope College community.

Third Annual Ice Altar

Exodus and Genesis 90

A record 264 Hope students participated in Exodus and Genesis 90 programs. Our Exodus 90 outreach included an additional 150 parishioners, alumni, and students from Notre Dame, Ferris State, Michigan State, GVSU, University of Michigan, Michigan Tech, Drake University, South Dakota State University, and Aquinas College.

Genesis 90

Keeping Our Personhood in the Age of AI

In March, the Saint Benedict Institute hosted Hillsdale College professor Dr. Jordan Joseph Wales for a lecture on AI and theology, which took up four questions. First, how does an apparently personal AI work? Second, what might this entity be? Third, what might we become, owning the behavior of apparent persons? Lastly, in a society saturated by such AI tools, how might we live in such a way as to enhance rather than to erode our own humanity?

Keeping Our Personhood in the Age of AI

Palestrina 500

In March, SBI co-sponsored the Hope College Chapel Choir’s performance at Palestrina 500, a year-long choral festival of sung High Masses in honor of the great Church composer Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. Palestrina 500 was organized by Hope and SBI alumus Jonathan Bading and hosted by Sacred Heart Parish in Grand Rapids.

Sacred Music in a Secular Time

In April, Dr. Peter Kadeli, Head of Sacred Music and Director of Choral Activities at The Catholic University of America, spoke on the work of composer Paul Paray and his Mass setting in honor of St. Joan of Arc. Dr. Kadeli’s talk discussed the reasons Paray composed a concert Mass in the twentieth century, the relationship between nationalism and Christian faith, and how we might interpret sacred music composed for the stage. Dr. Kadeli’s talk was co-sponsored by Hope’s Music and Religion departments.