For the next year, Murray State’s Newman House and Catholic community will be the new home to missionaries.

A recent grant has brought Catholic missionaries to the Newman House to assist in developing community with Catholic Murray State students.

The grant was provided through Catholic Extension, which aids in funding and resources to dioceses and parishes.

The grant allows for Fellowship of Catholic University Students, also known as FOCUS, to come to campus and assist the pre-existing ministry.

Allison Loomis, the director of campus ministry for the Newman House, wrote the grant to bring a few FOCUS missionaries to campus and said she is excited to have them in Murray.

“They come and they help try to build up community and fellowship,” Loomis said. “We have four missionaries… they lead small-group bible studies, they meet with students and try to create relationships with them.”

The missionaries arrived on campus a week before classes began and will spend approximately a year in Murray.

During their time in the community, they will be interacting with several groups on campus and throughout the city.

After a year, the missionaries will either move to another campus or stay in Murray, depending on money, their willingness to stay and other factors.

Zach Krueger, the team director for the missionaries, leads the FOCUS group at Murray State.

“Our whole thing is to be available for students,” Krueger said. “We’re here to sit and listen and then share faith with anyone that desires for that.”

The missionaries hold Bible studies all over campus, including residential colleges and fraternity houses, Krueger said. FOCUS has worked with 83 universities nationwide, adding 11 to its list this year, including Murray State, only the second university in Kentucky to welcome the group.

Sophomores Ivy Anderson and Megan Tromley, choir members for Murray’s student mass, said they believe the arrival of the missionaries will be good for students.

Said Anderson: “I like the fact that they’re here because they’re younger, so I feel like I can connect with them more.”

Story by Mary Bradley, Contributing Writer