First FOCUS Team - Matt & Amy Koczur

Both Matt and Amy served with FOCUS for 3 years and one of those years was at St. Al's. They started dating after their time at St. Al's was offically done and were married soon after. 

Hear from the two of them on where they are now and a bit of advice: 

What is something that has stuck with you from your time as a missionary at St. Al's?

Amy: "A great appreciation for the BBC Pride and Prejudice! We watched it with Fr. Ben, our team mates, and some of the chapel rats. (I'm not sure if Richard was there? I know Maria was there for at least some of the episodes.) Fr. Ben laughed SO hard watching it! I (Amy) had never fully appreciated Jane Austen's humor until that moment! And because of that experience, Matt really likes it too!"
Matt: "Something that has stuck with me from my time at st. Al's has been the need for incarnational evangelization. Being able to give not just words, but your very self. St. Al's does an amazing job at this."

How have you been able to continue to serve the lord in your life since?

Amy: "I started working in our parish office not long after leaving FOCUS/St. Al's. Recently I've started to get more involved in marriage ministry, and I'm currently taking classes to become a FEMM teacher, so that I can teach NFP to the engaged couples at our parish. This is something I've wanted to do for a while, as I'm very passionate about women understanding their bodies and therefore being able to take charge of their health!"
Matt: "I currently teach Confirmation class at our home parish."
 
What advice would you give someone considering a missionary lifestyle?

Amy: "If you feel called to be a missionary, trust that God will take care of any major obstacles. I (Amy) felt that fundraising my salary would be impossible, but I was also certain that God wanted me to be a FOCUS missionary. I put in the time and effort to reach out to potential mission partners, but I had to trust that God would work on their hearts to say yes. And of course, He did.
Matt: " My advice would be to get involved. Build friendships with people you meet at st. Al's, for those are going to be friendships that will last, for you have something in common that is of most importance, Christ."