FOCUS Missions to host 150 trips in the U.S., around the world

Spring break trip deadline Nov. 30

DENVER – Since 2004, more than 13,000 college students, chaplains and FOCUS missionaries have served on more than 1,000 FOCUS mission trips around the world, making FOCUS Missions the largest Catholic missions program. During this past year’s program, despite pandemic restrictions, FOCUS Missions sent more than 1,100 participants on more than 60 trips, many of which were in the United States. 

For the 2021-2022 academic year, FOCUS Missions will host 150 mission trips around the world, partnering with local religious orders, apostolates and organizations that understand their communities’ greatest needs. 

College students, missionaries, alumni and chaplains on FOCUS mission trips serve the poor and share the message of the Gospel. Examples of service projects include providing patient care services at medical clinics, serving the homeless, and building and renovating community infrastructure. FOCUS Missions anticipates that more than 2,300 participants will serve on trips in the next year. The deadline to apply for spring break trips is Nov. 30. Applications for summer trips are due by Feb. 15, 2022. More information is at focusmissions.org. 

New FOCUS mission trip locations include a spring break trip to Suriname to serve with the Servidora Sisters (March 25-April 3). Participants on the new trip to Romania will serve along with the Missionaries of Charity (March 4-13). Two new locations in California offer both an opportunity in San Francisco to help the Missionaries of Charity (March 11-20) and a special California Missions Pilgrimage (March 11-20). 

Popular trip locations include Brazil (Petropolis and Amazon trips), Mexico and the Holy Land. FOCUS Missions coordinates several FOCUS Greek trips and Varsity Catholic Mission Camps for student-athletes. Medical mission trips to Peru, Argentina and Texas give students in the medical field an opportunity to share their skills and the love of Christ. A full list of trips is at focusmissions.org. 

FOCUS Missions prioritizes safety for participants on any mission trip and offers trips to locations only after they have been researched and vetted with people on the ground. Other precautions FOCUS Missions takes include consulting government agencies such as the U.S. State Department, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding traveler health. 

FOCUS Missions also has a number of resources dedicated to promoting safety and mitigating risk, including paying for a security consultant to monitor the safety of all trip locations, training every mission director in safety and risk management at the international Mission Director Leadership Summit, taking out insurance policies for each trip and equipping staff and students with safety guidelines at trip orientation. 


Photo: OCUS Missionaries in Peru with local children. Photo provided.