Spiritual Formation
Encountering Christ’s Love in Prayer, Sacrament, and Each Other
Between on-campus Mass and confession, spiritual direction, catechism, Bible studies, Exodus and Genesis 90, conferences, retreats, and regular fellowship, the Saint Benedict Institute offers Hope College students numerous opportunities for faith instruction and formation.
In addition to attending our public events, community members are welcome to join Hope Catholics for on-campus Mass. See our schedule of services for times and locations.
Spiritual Direction
The Saint Benedict Institute offers spiritual counseling for Hope College students looking to deepen their prayer life, to be encouraged in the faith, and to be mentored by a mature disciple living the Christian life. Our priest chaplain, Fr. Nicholas Monco, O.P., meets with approximately fifty students weekly and countless others by appointment.
To request a meeting, contact Fr. Nick at nicholas.monco@saintbenedictinstitute.org.
Exodus and Genesis 90
The Saint Benedict Institute’s Exodus and Genesis 90 programs—Exodus for men, Genesis for women—help students develop a prayer life, form solid Christian friendships, and fight various vices while simultaneously growing in virtue.
After being developed by Fr. Brian Doerr and seminarians at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary (Emmitsburg, MD) the Exodus 90 program quickly became an international movement with participants from around the globe. The program is a challenging 90-day period of prayer and asceticism, supported by a small group of likeminded men or women, and draws heavily on the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
Soon after his arrival at the Saint Benedict Institute, Fr. Nick Monco proposed launching this program at Hope College. Given the program’s rigor, he expected a small cohort of participants. To his surprise, several dozen students, both Catholic and Protestant, signed up the first year. Eventually, we developed the Genesis 90 program to meet the needs of our female students, as Exodus 90 was originally conceived with men in mind. Now hundreds of students participate in the program every year, and some have joined our Exodus/Genesis 360 program, in which they practice a modified version of the 90-day practices year round.
FOCUS
In the fall of 2023, the Saint Benedict Institute began a partnership with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) that brought four 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.
Hundreds of Hope students have participated in our FOCUS Bible studies, attended FOCUS’s annual SEEK Conference, and participated in a wide variety of activities that foster faith and friendship.
The Lazarus Project
The Lazarus Project is a work of the Saint Benedict Institute and its donors to promote a culture of service and giving among the students of Hope College. Together we and our donors connect students to various initiatives, including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, local youth groups, and others. Our donors then provide financial support to these initiatives, following the students’ lead as they give their time, talent, and treasure.
Activities
In addition to our regular schedule of services, our chaplain and missionaries host a variety of activities with the goal of helping students grow in their faith and cultivating friendships among Catholics and other Christians on campus. We work closely with the student group Hope Catholics as well as community volunteers, together cultivating a joyful Christian community.
Campus Ministers
Fr. Nicholas Monco, O.P.
Chaplain
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Fr. Nicholas Monco, O.P. serves as the Saint Benedict Institute chaplain with a full-time ministry to the Hope College community. Fr. Nick offers daily Mass on campus, frequent confession, and weekly Eucharistic adoration. He also leads study and prayer groups and is available to students for individual spiritual direction.
Fr. Nick works closely with Hope College Campus Ministry and the student group Hope Catholics.
Fr. Nick may be reached via email at nicholas.monco@saintbenedictinstitute.org.
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Nicholas Fornarotto
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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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FOCUS Team Director
Katy Genna
FOCUS Missionary
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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 first year at Hope College. She can be reached at katelyn.genna@focus.org.
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Patrick McCoy
FOCUS Missionary
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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.
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Katie Pattee
FOCUS Missionary
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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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