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CV NEWS FEED // Curtis and Michaelann Martin, co-founders of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), received the 2024 Mother Angelica Award by EWTN Global Catholic Network Dec. 12.
The Mother Angelica Award, named after the Network’s founder, recognizes individuals “whose lives reflect Mother Angelica’s dedication to evangelization and witness to God’s Providence,” according to a Dec. 13 press release from EWTN.
The Martins were honored for their groundbreaking efforts to reach young adults through their Catholic campus ministry, which has emerged as “one of the most influential forces for Catholic evangelization today,” the release stated.
“[The Martins’] passion for the new evangelization, especially in reaching young people on college campuses, is a testament to the enduring power of God’s grace in their lives,” EWTN CEO Michael P. Warsaw said in the release. “Just as Mother Angelica dedicated her life to bringing souls closer to Christ, the Martins have done the same, and in doing so, they have transformed countless lives.”
The Martins introduced their vision for FOCUS on a 1997 episode of EWTN’s “Mother Angelica Live.” Since its establishment in 1998, the ministry has expanded to serve more than 200 college campuses worldwide, inspiring more than 1,000 individuals to pursue religious vocations and equipping young adults to share the Gospel.
During the ceremony, which was held on the 44th anniversary of the network’s founding, the Martins commented on the story of Michelle Duppong, a former FOCUS missionary whose cause for canonization was opened in 2022.
“Michelle Duppong was a wonderful missionary with us for several years,” Curtis Martin said.
He added that it has been “amazing to watch” young people turning to one another in times of difficulty, asking for prayers for the intercession of Duppong.
Reflecting on the award, Michaelann Martin called it a “humbling honor,” emphasizing that the recognition belongs to the missionaries and students transforming the world through FOCUS.
“We are grateful to Mother Angelica for her example of faith and courage, and to EWTN for continuing her work of evangelization,” she said. “But this is not about us. It is about the countless missionaries who have given their lives to this work, and the students whose lives are being transformed by the Gospel.”
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