Matt Faley knows that, according to statistics, 50 percent to 70 percent of college students may fall away from their faith. He also knows they could tap into faith to guide them during these years when they’re making important decisions about what to do with the rest of their lives. That’s why he talks with students he knows in dorms and cafeterias at the University of Illinois at Chicago, meeting their friends and chatting with them about what’s important in life. Then he invites them to attend a Bible study or an event to keep in touch with their faith — and maybe explore it more deeply. UIC presence Faley, 27, is a missionary with FOCUS, the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, a campus outreach organization with a presence on 45 college and university campuses in 25 states. The University of Illinois at Chicago has the only FOCUS program in the Chicago area, though they also have outreach at five other Illinois universities, including the University of Illinois at Urbana. Each campus has a team of four missionaries, two men and two women, who reach out to students, run events and serve as a spiritual resource for students. In late December, FOCUS missionaries, students and friends — a grand total of more than 3,500 people — attended a FOCUS conference, “Made for More,” in Florida. Held from Dec. 30 to Jan. 3, it included keynote speakers, breakout groups, Masses, confession and adoration. “It would be hard to find anybody who attends these who isn’t moved somehow,” said John Whitlock, a seminarian at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein. He attended the FOCUS conference to support fellow seminarians Michael Kearney and Derek Ho, who both got involved in FOCUS as students and then became FOCUS missionaries after they graduated. “At Masses, you could see on people’s faces it was real, that the power of the Holy Spirit was there,” Whitlock said. “The deep, sincere faith of these students is very encouraging for us. The church is alive, young and vibrant, and there’s a lot of hope in it.” Michael Kearney, his fellow seminarian, said the conference was “overwhelming,” that the talks were challenging and that it was quite a sight to see 2,000 people lined up to go to confession on Friday night. Moved by faith Most students will use their experience in FOCUS to deepen their Catholic faith, the seminarians said. Kearney says students can use the Catholic teachings they practice in FOCUS during these years when they are making the big decisions of their lives, such as what profession to pursue and, perhaps, whom to marry. He also sees FOCUS as helping form the future leadership of the church. Some of those future leaders will live secular lives, but many of them devote their lives to religious vocations as a result of FOCUS’ influence. Both Kearney and fellow seminarian Ho credit their experience in FOCUS for their discernment to the priesthood. “FOCUS was a primary means of my formation. They taught me how to pray,” said Ho, who has attended the University of St. Mary of the Lake since fall 2008. He started attending FOCUS Bible studies while an undergraduate, then decided to become a FOCUS missionary after graduation because “living a secular sort of lifestyle wasn’t that fulfilling.” After attending a vocations retreat, he felt God was calling him to the seminary. “FOCUS’ goal is to draw people closer to Christ and the church and live out your life to whatever vocation God is calling you. Though my story ended up with me being in the seminary, they’d be just as happy with having a student draw closer to God,” he said.